For 2021 hemp registration and licensing activities, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will only accept a completed FBI identity history summary as verification of an applicant’s criminal history.

Background check summaries previously obtained from the Michigan State Police’s IChat tool will no longer be accepted.

To lawfully grow, process, handle, broker or market industrial hemp in Michigan, all applicants or key participants of a business must be free of felony drug convictions for 10 years preceding the date of the application. 

To obtain an FBI identity history summary, visit fbi.gov and follow the instructions provided.  

Although the FBI website states an identity history summary is “not intended for employment or licensing,” MDARD will accept this summary as long as it was prepared 60 days or less before submission of a grower registration or processor handler license application.

MDARD will not accept criminal history reports completed more than 60 days before the submission of an application.

The typical processing time for a grower registration or processor handler license is three to five weeks, depending on the accuracy and completeness of the application. All information submitted must be accurate, legible and complete.

If a deficiency is noted in an application, that deficiency will be communicated to the applicant by email using the address provided on their application. 

It is critical for applicants to include a valid email address and monitor their email for messages from MDARD. This makes sure that you can get any application deficiencies taken care of quickly and ensures timely issuance of your registrations and licenses.

Source: MDARD, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.