Amended Hemp Regulations Available for 30-Day Comment Period
Oct 22, 2021
AKWESASNE -- The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) is notifying tribal members that a 30-Day Comment Period is being provided for the SRMT Hemp Production Regulations. The comment period is intended to gain feedback on amendments made to the regulation at the request of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In accordance with the 2018 U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act (known as the “Farm Bill”), tribal nations were authorized to pursue hemp cultivation through the development and adoption of regulations, which are subject to the USDA’s approval. Those tribal regulations were drafted and presented to membership for comment in February 2021 prior to being submitted to the federal agency pursuant to TCR 2021-08.
At the recommendation of the USDA, the regulation is being amended to permit the Tribe to exercise exclusive jurisdiction to issue licenses and regulate hemp cultivation by tribal members and non-members within the Tribe’s jurisdiction, along with other amendments. That jurisdiction is defined by the federally recognized boundaries of the 1796 Treaty.
A copy of the amended tribal regulations, titled “SRMT HEMP PRODUCTION REGULATION - USDA APPROVED - MAY 19 2021” is available for membership to view on the Tribal Members Portal. The amended regulation is also available upon request from the Tribal Clerk’s Office, Office of the General Counsel or the main reception desk at the Ionkwakiohkwaronon Tribal Administration Building.
Written comments must be submitted by Sunday, November 21st by email to the Tribal Clerk’s Office at tclerk@srmt-nsn.gov or can be mailed to:
Re: Amended Hemp Production Regulations
Office of the Tribal Clerk
71 Margaret Terrance Memorial Way
Akwesasne, New York 13655
The date and time for a virtual presentation of the amended hemp regulation is being scheduled and will be announced in a future notice.
For more information, please contact the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Office of the General Counsel at (518) 358-2272.
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People.