Kentucky agriculture officials and the federal government have finalized an agreement on how industrial hemp seeds may be imported into the state.
After reaching the deal Friday, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture has agreed to drop a lawsuit filed in May over acquiring the seeds.
Under the agreement, the department will file an application with the federal government for a permit to import hemp seeds, and the federal government will process the Kentucky's application quickly. The federal government also agrees that the process established by the state will control the cultivation and marketing of hemp.
The department filed suit in May against several government agencies after seeds ticketed for Kentucky were held by customs in Louisville. The seeds were released in late May and distributed to universities and private farmers.
