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Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a variety of the cannabis sativa plant. While hemp and cannabis both derive from the cannabis sativa species and contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), hemp and cannabis are distinct strains with different compositions and uses. Hemp can be made into a variety of items, including clothing, paper, animal feed, and textiles.

In 2015, the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program became effective in Illinois law. This statute allowed for researchers and institutions of higher education to grow hemp for educational and research purposes. This Pilot Program was allowed under the 2014 Federal Farm Bill.

In August 2018, the Industrial Hemp Act became effective in Illinois. This Act expanded the growing and processing of hemp outside of higher education and researchers, and allowed for farmers and others to plant and process hemp in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Agriculture's Rules on that program can be found at 8 IAC 1200. Those Rules became effective in April 2019.

 In November 2020, Illinois, through the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), submitted a Hemp Plan to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which was approved. In March of 2021, a new set of rules was published by the federal government, which required revision of Illinois's hemp plan. IDOA has commenced the administrative rulemaking process to update our administrative rules in accordance with the amended Illinois Hemp Plan, which was USDA approved in 2024.