Oregon Issues Warning About Criminal Charges for Shipping Hemp Across State Lines

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (DOA) has issued a warning related to the transport of hemp and hemp commodities across state lines. The DOA has indicated that states bordering Oregon are stopping trucks that are carrying hemp products, and charging the drivers with criminal violations. Oregon is reminding state businesses that other states may still consider hemp to be a Schedule 1 drug, which would be considered illegal possession of cannabis. Businesses involved in the cultivation, processing, transport or sale of hemp or hemp products should review state laws to determine where industrial hemp has been exempted from the state’s definition of cannabis or marijuana. Failure to do so could result in criminal or civil charges.