Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1975, c. 740, §96, is further amended to read:

1. "Marijuana" includes the leaves, stems, flowers and seeds of all species of the plant genus cannabis, whether growing or not;, but shall does not include the resin extracted from any part of such plant and every or any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation from such resin, including hashish, and further, shall does not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such mature stalks, fiber, oil or cake or the sterilized seed of such plant which that is incapable of germination. "Marijuana" does not include industrial hemp as defined in subsection 22.

Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§22 is enacted to read:

22.__"Industrial hemp" means any variety of Cannabis sativa L. with a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration that does not exceed 0.3% on a dry weight basis and that is grown under a federal permit in compliance with the conditions of that permit.

Sec. 3. Authorization for Maine Agricultural Experiment Station to study cultivation of industrial hemp. The Director of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station may develop a study to explore the feasibility and desirability of industrial hemp production in this State. The study may include an analysis of required soils and growing conditions, seed availability and varieties, including in-the- ground seed variety trials, harvest methods, market economies and environmental benefits. Prior to undertaking a study, the director, in consultation with the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, shall obtain all federal permits needed to legally grow industrial hemp for fiber or seed production prior to importing any nonsterilized industrial hemp seeds capable of germination into the State.

SUMMARY

This bill defines "industrial hemp." It authorizes, but does not require, the Director of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station to obtain the appropriate federal permits to study the feasibility of growing industrial hemp.