With just a few days left before changing oversight, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the hemp-regulation plans of Rhode Island and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians in southern California.

Rhode Island will charge interested hemp producers:

• $250 application fees.
• $2,250 license fees, with a license valid for two years.

Rhode Island doesn’t limit hemp acreage, nor does it count its total hemp acreage. The state requires growers to submit plans to “track hemp growth from seed to sale,” but the regulations don’t specify if each plant or each lot of hemp must be traced.

Rhode Island had 20 licensed hemp growers at the end of 2020.

The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians will charge interested hemp producers:

• $5,000 application fees.
• $2,500 annual license renewal fees.