"It reminds me of a blend between a sunflower and pumpkin seed," Owens says.

But nothing with hemp is easy.

Owens had to submit a "statement of purpose" to use hemp as an ingredient in the beer's recipe to the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. In addition, he had to submit verification to the agency about the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) level of the seeds. THC is the main psychoactive substance found in cannabis plants.

Hemp Oil Canada verifies the THC level of each seed package it sends. To satisfy federal bureau agents, Owens also needs to get the seeds tested at a lab in the United States. Each test costs $150. The test results don't need to be turned in to the alcohol and tobacco bureau, but the company needs to keep them on file in case of an inspection, or to prove to law enforcement the seeds are from hemp, not marijuana.

"I know the results of the hemp seed tests have been within the acceptable threshold, but I still don't know what that threshold is," Owens says. "I think that's really odd."

In fact, nowhere in the agency's four-page "Hemp Policy" does it state an acceptable level for the amount of THC that can be detected in hemp oil and seeds. The policy only says "to specify the amount of THC detected, or state that none was detected."