Kansas Industrial Hemp Program — KDA-to-USDA Transition

Kansas separated industrial hemp from marijuana criminally in 2018–2019. The 2018 Alternative Crop Research Act (HB 2182) authorized a research program; 2019 HB 2167 (the Commercial Industrial Hemp Act) established the licensing framework codified at K.S.A. §§ 2-3901 et seq. Effective January 1, 2025, the Kansas Department of Agriculture ceased issuing state hemp grower licenses; primary regulation transferred to USDA. Kansas hemp acreage now ranks 5th nationally.

Legal Disclaimer: This information reflects Kansas cannabis law as of June 2026 and is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change — always verify current rules with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation or a qualified attorney. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Last verified: May 2026

The Two-Step Statutory Path

2018: HB 2182 (Alternative Crop Research Act) — authorized a state hemp research program.
2019: HB 2167 (Commercial Industrial Hemp Act) — codified at K.S.A. §§ 2-3901 et seq. Aligned Kansas with the 2018 federal Farm Bill, which removed hemp (cannabis with <0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis) from Schedule I.

The KDA Era (2019–2024)

The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) administered the Commercial Industrial Hemp Program from 2019 through December 31, 2024. Braden Hoch serves as KDA Plant Protection and Weed Control Area Supervisor and is the public face of the program.

Acreage and Licensee History

2019: 213 grower licenses.
2020: 218 grower licenses; 3,968 acres planted (the all-time peak).
2021: license counts began falling as the CBD bubble collapsed.
2023: only 40 grower licenses; 814 acres planted across 20 counties (15 reporting harvests). 71% of planted acreage was for fiber/grain (83% including tribal acreage).
2024: approximately 1,000 acres total. KDA issued the last round of state grower licenses.
2025: Kansas’s hemp acreage ranks 5th in the country per Hoch.

The Market Shift: CBD-Floral → Fiber/Grain

The Kansas market shifted from CBD-floral hemp (over 90% of acreage in 2019–2020) to fiber/grain (over 70% by 2023) as the floral CBD market collapsed nationwide. The pivot reflects the broader U.S. hemp market’s post-2020 contraction in the CBD-floral segment and the maturation of fiber/grain as commercially viable hemp categories.

The January 1, 2025 KDA-to-USDA Transition

Effective January 1, 2025, KDA ceased issuing state hemp grower licenses. Primary regulation transferred to the USDA’s Domestic Hemp Production Program; Kansas producers must now apply directly through USDA’s Hemp eManagement Platform (HeMP).

The transition reflects USDA’s broader consolidation of state hemp regulators under the federal Domestic Hemp Production Program. It also means KDA no longer publishes Kansas-specific licensee totals; aggregate Kansas data is available through USDA. The Office of the State Fire Marshal continues to register hemp processors under K.S.A. § 2-3907.

Hemp-Derived Intoxicants: The Gray Market

Federal Farm Bill loopholes have allowed hemp-derived intoxicants to flood Kansas convenience stores, vape shops, and CBD boutiques: delta-8 THC, delta-10, HHC, THC-O, hemp-derived delta-9 (in compliance with the 0.3% dry-weight limit at the product level), and THCA flower. See gray market page.

The October 2025 KBI Crackdown

On October 1–2, 2025, AG Kris Kobach and KBI Director Tony Mattivi announced a coordinated "marijuana enforcement operation" that executed at least 15 search warrants on smoke shops, vape stores, and CBD dispensaries across eight Kansas cities. Full October 2025 raids page.

The November 12, 2026 Federal Cliff

On November 12, 2025, President Trump signed Public Law 119-37 (the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026). Section 781 of Division B redefines hemp under federal law: products are limited to a "total THC" standard of ≤0.3% dry weight (inclusive of THCA), AND finished hemp-derived cannabinoid products may contain no more than 0.4 mg total THC per container. The provisions take effect November 12, 2026. See federal cliff page.

Kansas Hemp Legislative Attempts (2024–2026)

Several Kansas bills have attempted to ban hemp-derived intoxicants outright at the state level (HB 2502 in 2024 and similar measures); none has passed. Industry observers expect a renewed attempt in the 2027 legislative session as the federal cliff approaches.

Tribal Hemp: Prairie Band Ag

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation runs Prairie Band Ag, the most developed industrial-hemp processing operation in the region, focusing on fiber, hurd, and bioplastics. In 2025, Prairie Band Ag produced its first batch of compostable cutlery and straws under the brand "Mnokiwèn" (Potawatomi for "good earth"). See tribal page.