Notification of Rulemaking Activity
The Washington State Dept. of Agriculture (WSDA) has initiated rulemaking to amend WAC 16-306, Hemp Program, by filing a CR-101 with the Office of the Code Reviser on November 17, 2025.
Overview of Rulemaking
The Department is considering rulemaking to increase clarity between Hemp Program rules and operations, increase program efficiency, and reduce the cost variability for licensees. It will also remove unnecessary portions of the chapter.
This rule implements the Department’s USDA approved hemp plan, in accordance with the federal laws that allow states to administer a program for licensed farmers to produce hemp. The program is 7 years into establishment and the Department has determined that the rule needs to be updated to reduce or remove multiple inconsistencies and inefficiencies in order to save time and increase clarity for both farmers and administrative staff of the hemp program, including, but not limited to:
- Eliminating time and milage fees that lead to inconsistent inspection charges from year to year and replacing it, as well as the harvest inspection fee, with a new “harvest certification fee” that encompasses the cost of entire administrative process from scheduling the inspection to certifying the crop;
- Aligning our definition of THC testing with the USDA definition of Total THC for clarity; and
- Removing references to testing that are not utilized by the program or marketplace in order to reduce confusion.
The Department will also consider other changes to the rule that help to streamline and clarify processes established by the Hemp Program including, but not limited to, background checks for hemp producer applicants.
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Documents Related to Rulemaking
Click on the link below to view the CR-101. Additional information will be provided as we progress through the rule making process.
CR-101
Participate in the Rulemaking Process
Stakeholder feedback is a vital component in the rule making process.
Please contact Trecia Ehrlich to discuss how you can participate in the development of the rule and formulation of the proposed rule language before publication.
By mail:
Trecia Ehrlich, Cannabis Programs Manager
Agricultural Environmental Services Division
Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
By phone: (360) 584-3711
By email: tehrlich@agr.wa.gov
For more information regarding WSDA’s rule making activities, please contact:
Gloriann Robinson, WSDA Agency Rules Coordinator
wsdarulescomments@agr.wa.gov
PO Box 42560,
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 902-1802
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