California legal term
hemp in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “hemp” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “hemp” mean in California criminal law?
“hemp” means types of the plant Cannabis sativa Linnaeus or any part of that plant with a total tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of no more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis and is limited to only agricultural products, including seeds, propagated plant material, immature or mature plants, harvested plants, mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, or any preparation that does not contain cannabinoids. (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11018.5)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.