Kentucky Hemp Laws
Last updated: 2026-04-07
Kentucky runs a mature hemp program through KDA and allows cultivation, handling, and processing under state licensing tied to the USDA framework. The state also regulates hemp-derived cannabinoid products more closely than it once did, especially around packaging, testing, age limits, and retail sale of intoxicating products.
THC Limit
0.3% total THC on a dry-weight basis, aligned with federal production rules; pre-harvest compliance is based on total THC.
Licensing
KDA licenses growers and handlers or processors. Applicants identify sites, submit maps and reports, comply with sampling and testing, and destroy non-compliant crops.
Regulatory body: Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Key Legislation
Important Notes
SB47 in 2023 added a clearer framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Retail product compliance deserves separate review from cultivation rules.