The number of licensed hemp farms in Kansas drops from 200 to 41

A recent report shows that there were once hundreds of licensed hemp growers in the state of Kansas, but that number has declined significantly. 2023 numbers show that there are currently only 41 licensed hemp growers operating in Kansas.

The increase in hemp growers was initially caused by the passage of the 2018 Hemp Farm Bill, which prompted over 200 growers to apply. Most of these growers prioritized the production of CBD hemp oil, but due to a recent decline in production (for health purposes or as a food product), only 41 growers are currently licensed.

According to Sarah Stephens, CEO of Kansas-based Midwest Hemp Technology, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just a sign that the industrial hemp industry is shifting its focus to growing hemp for fiber or animal feed. “The number of growers and the number of acres on the CBD side have declined,” Stephens told KAKE.com. “But on the fiber and grain side, the number of producers and the number of acres has increased.”

Kelsey Olson, assistant secretary of agriculture for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, also shared insight into the shift, explaining that hemp production has declined because other neighboring states legalized recreational cannabis. “The landscape has changed across the country in recent years,” Olson said. “I think that may have changed some of the usage.”

Another Kansas cannabis business owner, Melissa Nelson of South Bend Industrial Hemp, said she has always focused on growing hemp as a source of fiber. Now she sees the current trend of using hemp stalks to make bedding material for animals, which is stronger than traditional straw.

According to Stephens, there are many opportunities for the hemp industry to expand in Kansas, including hemp grain food products. Since most farmers do not grow hemp as a grain, a lot of hemp grain is imported from Canada. “We have the right land, the right farmer expertise, the right seasons and temperatures to be a leader in this industry,” Stephens said.

In early May of this year, Kansas State University (KSU) architecture students created a hemp structure (which they called the “K-state Hemp Casita”) that was displayed across the state. According to KSU assistant professor Michael Gibson, the house was built over a period of 16 weeks and measured 10 feet by 7 feet. “We started the semester by passing around a bag of hemp hearts so that students understood the full range of possibilities of hemp, in other words, that it is not just wood or other natural fibrous materials,” Gibson added. “[Hemp’s] Its value as human and animal nutrition, in the CBD industry and in the production of industrial fiber has been an important starting point in understanding why we should use it more often in buildings.”

Kansas Governor Laura Kelley recently said in June that she has no intention of using her executive authority to legalize medical cannabis. “I don’t think I can do it,” Kelley said in June. “I just don’t think it’s within my purview. … We’re just going to keep moving the legislative process forward.”

This is a significant difference compared to states like Kentucky, which also does not have legal medical cannabis. However, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order in November 2022 allowing patients with chronic or terminal illnesses to use medical cannabis. “With 37 states already legalizing medical cannabis and 90% of Kentucky adults supporting it, I am doing what I can to provide access and relief to those who meet certain conditions and need it to live their lives better and without pain can,” Beshear said in a statement last year. Although his executive order does not legalize medical cannabis nationwide, it does allow patients to purchase medical cannabis in another state that offers legal medical cannabis.

However, it is important to note that Governor Laura Kelly supports medical cannabis overall. “Three of the four states surrounding Kansas have legalized medical marijuana,” Kelly said on social media. “Legalizing medical marijuana would boost our economy and provide relief to Kansans suffering from serious illnesses.”

Cannabis-related bills have not gained much traction in the legislature. Earlier this year, House Bill 2363 was introduced to decriminalize cannabis across Kansas, but it failed to move forward.

Another bill was introduced by a Senate committee in Kansas in March that would have allowed doctors to approve medical cannabis products for patients with 21 different medical conditions (including cancer, epilepsy, spinal cord injuries and chronic pain). “I am disappointed that some lawmakers say they do not want to move forward with medical marijuana legalization this year – effectively turning their backs on our veterans and those with chronic pain and seizure disorders,” Kelley said. “If they get their way, thousands of Kansans will be forced to choose between breaking the law and living a life without pain for another year. I encourage Kansans to call their state legislators and tell them to legalize medical marijuana this session.”