---
title: Hemp Legalization Stalled by Federal Bureaucracy - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, but federal delays block Wyoming farmers from planting; WyLib argues deregulation is key to economic diversification.
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\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) ## Learn About ### Government Regulation <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives/hemp-legalization-stalled-by-federal-bureaucracy?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # Hemp Legalization Stalled by Federal Bureaucracy \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) Thursday, 05 September 2019 \*by Austin Hein\* It has been almost a full year since the \[2018 Farm bill\](https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2) was signed into law by President Trump. One of the few good provisions of that bill legalized the production of hemp. This is especially good for a state like Wyoming, which has the opportunity to capitalize on this new and exploding market. Unfortunately, as it \[was reported in the Casper Star Tribune\](https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/red-tape-will-keep-wyoming-farmers-from-growing-hemp-for/article\_ec2ded9d-4f14-5ffc-9893-0bf1efad5d3d.html), federal regulations are still in the way of Wyoming producing hemp. In true federal government fashion, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been slow in responding to hemp plans as required in the 2018 farm bill. This means that farmers will be unable to plant hemp until next year at the earliest. All this is a perfect example as to the harms of red tape and government bureaucracy. It is no secret that the Wyoming economy is still struggling from the 2008 recession and has yet to experience full recovery. Meanwhile, the state government is seeking to "diversify" the economy by means of subsidies and grants at the expense of the taxpayers. I have been adamant that deregulation and free market capitalism are key factors in economic growth, and that cannot be more apparent in the case of hemp and the USDA. This is one area where Governor Gordon could have been more aggressive in working with the USDA to expedite the legalization process. If diversification and economic growth is a top priority of this administration, then the Governor should be on offense when it comes to tackling regulations. Who knows how much money farmers are missing out on because of this delay. For all intents and purposes, hemp legalization could be a large economic boost in our state's farming sector. Hemp is a versatile plant that can be used in a wide variety of products. Wyoming can and should capitalize on the exploding hemp market, but unfortunately federal ineptitude stands in the way. Economic opportunity comes through deregulation. This does not just simply apply to the hemp market, but rather the whole of the Wyoming economy. Wyoming lawmakers should keep a close eye on the hurdles the hemp industry is facing. Lawmakers should apply this lesson and look for more hurdles to Wyoming businesses that can be removed. \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[USDA\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/usda) \[President Trump\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/president-trump) \[Federal Bureaucracy\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/federal-bureaucracy) \[Hemp\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/hemp) \[Marijuana\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/marijuana) \[ Weekly Economic Report: An Experiment with Educati... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic/weekly-economic-report-an-experiment-with-education-savings-accounts) \[ Does Federal Aid create an Incentive to Expand Med... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs/does-federal-aid-create-an-incentive-to-expand-medicaid) #### Related Posts ### \[When Federal Marijuana Policy Meets Reality - Episode 102\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/when-federal-marijuana-policy-meets-reality-episode-102) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) ### \[Why Florida Voters Rejected Recreational Marijuana - What Wyoming can learn from historic win\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc/why-florida-voters-rejected-recreational-marijuanawhat-wyoming-can-learn-from-historic-win) \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) ### \[‘Just Say No’ - Remembering the past &amp; calling for leadership on drug policy\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc/just-say-no-remembering-the-past-calling-for-leadership-on-drug-policy) \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) ### \[Where the Drug Movement Is Going: Supervised Consumption Sites - Beware Wyoming\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency/where-the-drug-movement-is-going-supervised-consumption-sites-beware-wyoming) \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) ### \[Harris-Walz ticket first major party ticket to back legalization - What it means for Wyoming\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc/harris-walz-ticket-first-major-party-ticket-to-back-legalization-what-it-means-for-wyoming) \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) ### \[Newly disclosed facts about rescheduling marijuana - Imagine Wyoming newspaper &amp; magazine ads touting pot\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc/newly-disclosed-facts-about-rescheduling-marijuana-imagine-wyoming-newspaper-magazine-ads-touting-pot) \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) !\[logo white 002\](https://wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. Box 9 • Burns, WY 82053 Phone: (307) 632-7020 ##### Quick Links - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/legal-center) - \[ News Releases\](https://wyliberty.org/news-releases) - \[ Podcasts\](https://wyliberty.org/podcasts) - \[ Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/policy) - \[ Videos\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) ##### Support - \[ Blog Tags\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags) - \[ Contact Us\](https://white-clair-78.tiiny.site/) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Privacy Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/privacy-policy) - \[ Login/out\](https://wyliberty.org/login-out) Search Copyright © 2026 Wyoming Liberty Group. \[\](#)- \[ Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - <a>About</a> - \[ Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[ Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[ Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[ Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - <a>Topics</a> - \[ Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[ Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[ Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[ Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[ Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[ Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[ Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[ Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[ Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[ Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[ Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[ Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[ Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[ Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[ Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[ Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[ Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - <a>Get Involved</a> - \[ Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[ Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) \[\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0))