"At USDA, we are always excited when there are new economic opportunities for our farmers, and we hope the ability to grow hemp will pave the way for new products and markets," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
Hemp production has resurged in the U.S. because of an increase in demand for products containing CBD oil, a side product of hemp, which is used for relieving pain, anxiety and the effects of certain medical conditions. Clinical trials have shown CBD to be effective in the treatment of epilepsy. Included in the program will be the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill, which reclassified hemp and allowed for its growth as an industrial product.Getty