MA Industrial Hemp Program Licensing

To submit an Industrial Hemp License application, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Review the Hemp Production Regulation (330 CMR 32.00) and the 2024 Hemp Processor Policy to understand the program requirements, risks and additional considerations.
2. Review the Policy Statement on the Sale of Hemp-Derived Products in the Commonwealth, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Policy regarding CBD and THC in Food Manufactured or Sold in Massachusetts for information about what types of hemp and hemp-derived products can be manufactured and sold within the Commonwealth. 
3. Review the United States Department of Agriculture Final Rule for U.S. Domestic Hemp Production 
4. Download, complete, and sign the appropriate application form. There are three types, see below. 
5. Provide a map for each growing and/or processing site. See instructions in Downloads section of this page. 
6. If you are applying for a Producer or Dual License, provide a FBI Identity History Summary Report for each Individual Applicant and/or Key Participant current to within 60 days of your application submission. FBI reports may be obtained via this page from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and should be included with your application. Processor-only applicants are not required to submit a FBI report. For more information on obtaining your FBI report, please see the guidance document in Downloads section of this page. 
7. If you are applying for a Processor or Dual License, MDAR will require proof of permits or approvals from both the municipal fire safety official and the municipal building official that the proposed activities are in compliance with applicable fire codes, safety codes, and applicable building and other zoning requirements. Hemp Processing must be located in areas zoned for such use and conducted in accordance with any other applicable legal requirements including, but not limited to, the State Building Code, the Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, the Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations promulgated at 527 CMR 1.00, and any other state or local regulation that governs the type of processing activity proposed. 
8. Submit a $100 application fee by check or money order, payable to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

Table 1. Hemp License Applications and Associated Fees

Hemp license applications are available from December 1 - April 30. To be notified when license applications are available, please sign up for the MDAR Hemp Program mailing list: 
https://www.mass.gov/forms/join-the-hemp-program-mailing-list