Cannabis Law Glossary
2014 Farm Bill
Definition
The Agricultural Act of 2014 that first authorized hemp pilot programs for research purposes in states with industrial hemp laws, creating the regulatory foundation that preceded full hemp legalization in 2018.
What Is the 2014 Farm Bill?
The Agricultural Act of 2014 (commonly called the "2014 Farm Bill") established the first federal pathway for hemp cultivation since the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 effectively made hemp production impractical. Section 7606 of the Act authorized state departments of agriculture and institutions of higher education to grow industrial hemp for research purposes in states where hemp cultivation was legal under state law.
Pilot Programs and Research
The 2014 Farm Bill created "agricultural pilot programs" — not a commercial market. Hemp cultivation under Section 7606 had to be:
- For research purposes
- Under the authority of the state agriculture department or a university
- Consistent with state law
- Limited to states that had enacted their own industrial hemp laws
Despite these restrictions, the pilot program framework allowed states like Colorado, Kentucky, and Oregon to begin building hemp supply chains and expertise that would eventually support the commercial market authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill.
DEA Conflict and Litigation
The DEA initially resisted the 2014 Farm Bill, attempting to block hemp seeds from entering the U.S. for Kentucky pilot programs. Congressional intervention and federal court decisions ultimately upheld the pilot program framework, setting important precedents for hemp's legality.
Section 7606 Sunset
The 2018 Farm Bill ended Section 7606 and replaced the pilot program framework with a comprehensive federal hemp program under USDA authority. Existing 2014 pilot programs were grandfathered for a transition period.
Related Terms
See also: [2018 Farm Bill](/glossary/2018-farm-bill), [USDA Hemp Program](/glossary/usda-hemp-program), [Controlled Substances Act](/glossary/controlled-substances-act)
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