The current paper discusses the characteristics of principal growth stages of hemp (Canabis sativa), provides a  brief description of these stages and of the coding system according to the BBCH scale. The growing season of hemp is divided into nine principal growth stages: germination and sprouting (0), leaf development (1), formation of lateral shoots (2), stem elongation (3), inflorescence emergence (5), flowering (6), development of fruit (7), ripening of fruit (8) and senescence (9). The principal growth stages are subdivided into secondary stages based on their main distinctive features. The classification system of hemp growth stages presented in the paper is designed for hemp growers and researchers, including plant breeders, physiologists, entomologists and other agricultural producers. Using the  uniform coding system of the  phenological stages of hemp is a valuable tool to ensure a more efficient planning and implementation of crop and soil management practices and techniques.

The scientific results of the program executors are given, the current state of scientific research on breeding, cultivation technologies, harvesting and processing of industrial hemp and fiber flax, standardization, marketing and economic research is shown

The main ways of work of the coordination and methodical council on coordination of implementation of PSR 20 “Bast crops” are resulted: subjects of meetings, development of methodical materials, control over observance of methods, introduction of offers concerning definition of scientific and technical policy in the fields of flax- and hemp-growing, propagation of results of implementation of PSR, international cooperation.

This article analyzes the potential for growing and processing of industrial hemp in accordance with the goals and objectives of sustainable development. Of the 17 sustainable development goals, they meet at least nine. Today it is a niche crop grown by small agricultural enterprises, and the organization on their basis of simple value chains for processing seeds and stems allows to diversify crop production, create new jobs and appropriate economic development of rural areas. The total costs for growing and processing hemp raw materials from 100 hectares of crops directly in the agricultural enterprise amount to UAH 5,7 million, and the income from the products produced by a simple value chain will amount to UAH 12,9 million. Industrial hemp seeds and products made from it are a valuable source of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the optimal combination, so they serve as a basis for the development of the food industry for both regional and international markets. It is appropriate to involve the high nutritional potential of hemp seeds in the organization of a balanced diet, including children of different ages. The cannabinoid system of industrial hemp has a therapeutic and prophylactic effect on the human body, so the world community is actively involved in the raw materials of industrial hemp in the manufacture of biologically active additives and drugs. The development of this area in Ukraine requires appropriate changes in legislation. A hectare of industrial hemp is capable of forming more than 12 tons of dry biomass, containing up to 80 % of cellulose suitable for the production of various types of paper. The use of hemp in this direction contributes to the preservation of forests and is an effective measure to combat climate change and its consequences. Hemp is a traditional agricultural crop in Ukraine, the cultivation of which contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and agrobiocenoses. Their cultivation has a minimal environmental impact on the environment, and the processing of raw materials is characterized by waste-free production.

This article analyzes the international experience of forming a legislative framework in the field of hemp circulation. The primary source of its formation was the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), which recognized hemp as a dangerous drug. However, it also states that it does not cover the use of hemp for obtaining fiber and seeds. In recent years, thanks to scientific and technical progress, both varieties of hemp, which are not capable of narcotic excitement, and the raw materials produced from them have been widely introduced in various areas of production. The rapid development of scientific thought and technologies necessitated the improvement of the legislative framework of the hemp industry. Activities with hemp are most fully and comprehensively regulated in the legislation of Canada, Great Britain and other countries. First of all, the term “industrial hemp” was used to denote drug-free varieties of hemp, which must be introduced into the domestic practice of hemp cultivation. In addition, a clear differentiation of requirements for activities with narcotic drugs, cannabis, and industrial hemp has been established at the legislative level, and an exhaustive list of controlled parts of the hemp plant is added to the term “cannabis.” Cultivation of industrial hemp is regulated by a separate law, which is removed from the scope of the laws on the circulation of narcotic drugs. It was determined that domestic legislation on the cultivation of industrial hemp intended for the production of fiber, seeds and the production of other products with a tetrahydrocannabinol content in the dry mass of no more than 0.08% should be based on the best international experience in this field and establish clear requirements for the areas of activity with hemp raw materials with a differentiated licensing system.