New rules, regulations and testing for CBD products a big first step. New York farmers are getting a hemping hand with new law signed Monday by Gov. Cuomo allowing the state to regulate the growth and sale of products containing hemp extracts, such as CBD oil.

The measure requires all growers, manufacturers and extractors to obtain a license through the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets and sets strict guidelines regarding the labeling and testing of all products. “The hemp industry in New York is exploding and with that growth comes a responsibility to regulate the industry in a way that helps ensure its long-term viability and protects consumers,”Cuomo said. The law does not, however, say whether cannabidiol, or CBD — a non-psychoactive compound touted for its health benefits — can be used as an additive for food and beverages, according to the governor. Cuomo also announced the state will host a summit in January to explore other hemp-related policies and priorities.

The law, passed in the final days of the legislative session, is a win born out lawmakers failure to approve legislation legalizing recreational use of marijuana. Hemp, a species of cannabis that contains very little of the “high"-inducing THC found in marijuana, was taken off the federal controlled substances list by Congress last year and is quickly becoming a cash crop for upstate farmers.

There are currently more than 400 farms across New York licensed to grow industrial hemp, up from just about 100 two years ago, according to the state.

The Orange County Industrial Development Agency’s Accelerator recently turned a portion of the former New York Mid-Orange Correctional facility into a hemp processing and testing facility, where farmers bring their crop to be turned into CBD products.

An important development advocated by Northridge Corporation.

Building infrastructure is a key component for the long term success of the hemp industry. Unregulated hemp processors have compromised farmers from day one. With the state overseeing hemp processing and testing, even on this limited basis, the data gathered can be useful to design a standardized program offering farmers full disclosure of what their crops contain and their true worth.