July 2018 is the deadline for the legalization of recreational marijuana across the country.

That opens the door to a potential new crop for some producers.

Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart says the Federal Government is entirely responsible for the regulations around growing marijuana.

"Permits are only available to greenhouse growers," he said. "I don't know if we will ever get to a point where it can be grown in open fields. I know the greenhouse growers are still a little bit in the dark about how the rules are going to work out."

In Saskatchewan, over 37 thousand acres were seeded to hemp seed in 2015, with 400 total licenses issued to grow conventional and organic hemp.

Hemp varieties with low THC levels have been grown as a source of fibre for rope, sail, and clothing while the seed is crushed for oil, food and feed.