Maryland Department of Agriculture
Program contact published by USDA: jim.drews@maryland.gov · 410-841-5960
State-specific research pending: USDA plan status and published program contact details are provided below. HempHQ has not independently verified Maryland's current application forms, fees, testing procedures, or local legal restrictions. This is a research checklist, not a verified state compliance guide. Contact the appropriate regulator before spending money. Rules and program authority can change.
STEP 1 · BEFORE YOU SPEND A DOLLAR
Check whether your growing plan is feasible.
Identify your proposed location, whether you intend to grow fiber or grain, and who may buy your crop. Before committing funds, verify the licensing program that applies to your location and planting year.
First official starting point
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service — Domestic Hemp Production Program
Find state and tribal plan information ↗USDA hemp program ↗See the USDA-sourced state program contacts below. Check which authority licenses your proposed operation.USDA NATIONAL DIRECTORY · VERIFIED SOURCE
Who oversees hemp production in Maryland?
USDA plan listing: USDA-approved state plan (USDA list updated February 17, 2026).
What this means
USDA lists a state hemp production plan for Maryland. Start with the state program, but verify the responsible licensing authority for your specific parcel, particularly on tribal land.
Contact details were published in USDA's March 2025 directory and have not been re-confirmed directly with the state for 2026. Check the linked agency page for changes.
USDA — State and Tribal Plan Status (updated February 17, 2026) ↗USDA — Hemp Program Contact Directory (March 2025) ↗
Scope: The plan designation and directory contact are supported by USDA listings; they do not verify application forms, fees, deadlines, county zoning, or the latest agency personnel. Those items remain subject to direct confirmation.
YOUR LOCATION
Where in Maryland will you grow?
Local zoning, land use, and municipal requirements can depend on your specific parcel. HempHQ has not verified county ordinances for this state. Enter a county to see a research reminder, not a zoning determination.
STATE REQUIREMENTS · TO BE VERIFIED
What you'll need to confirm
Identify the licensing authority
Use USDA's state and tribal plan directory to determine the relevant licensing program, then confirm directly with the agency that handles your location.
USDA plan directory ↗Confirm eligibility and applications
Ask the licensing authority about application requirements, deadlines, eligibility, background checks, growing-site registration, and approvals needed before planting. Confirm the latest Maryland requirements directly with the licensing authority; this checklist does not cover every rule.
Check planting and reporting rules
Confirm which varieties and seed records are required, how lots and growing locations are reported, and any applicable USDA Farm Service Agency reporting obligations.
Federal program information ↗Plan sampling, testing and harvest
Ask the applicable licensing authority how pre-harvest sampling, laboratory testing, harvest windows, handling, and recordkeeping work for your planting year.
FEES · NOT YET VERIFIED
What might the process cost?
HempHQ has not confirmed Maryland application, license, inspection, or testing fees. Obtain the current fee schedule directly from the responsible authority. Also budget for land, seed, labor, equipment, testing, storage, transport, and a realistic buyer or processor.
We do not publish estimated government fee totals without a dated official source; see the source-reviewed section where available.
YOUR FIRST ACTIONS
Use this checklist before planting
Your selections are saved in this browser on this device. They are personal planning notes, not evidence of legal compliance.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Start with primary federal sources
Verification status: USDA plan status (February 2026) and published program contact directory (March 2025) are cited above. Application requirements, fees, and local rules are not individually verified. No later state-agency contact verification is claimed.
Not legal advice or licensing approval. This research-stage guide covers industrial hemp fiber and grain, not cannabinoid products. Confirm requirements with the responsible state, tribal, federal, and local authorities before acting.