This news doesn't hurt us any. Notice they covered partially what I said I saw on my local news last week about Vermont.
12:06 PM ET 1/29/16 | Marketwired
More and more states are realizing the economical advantages of the hemp plant. Hemp can be used in the manufacturing of thousands of products, thus legalizing hemp farming can increase jobs and provide additional revenue for farmers and the state.
In Vermont, the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote this morning on whether or not to advance marijuana legislation. According to Sen. Dick Sears, the judiciary committee members "penciled" in a date for the proposed rules to take effect on January 1, 2018. "Waiting until then would enable communities, law enforcement, and prevention groups to prepare for the changes," said Sears. The judiciary committee of the Vermont Senate is also drafting language aimed at easing access to supplements for children who need access to certain cannabis-based therapies. Per Sears, the language would be added to marijuana legalization proposals already under consideration at the Statehouse.
In Kansas legislature, the Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice committee passed two bills this week concerning marijuana. Senate Bill 147 would legalize hemp oil for treating seizure disorders. The other Bill, House Bill 2049, would lower penalties for possession of marijuana.
The House approved the bill with the hemp oil portion last year but because of marijuana's federal status as a Schedule 1 drug, the FDA cannot study it. More interestingly, prior to this past Tuesday's committee meeting, House Bill 2049 had three parts: It lowered marijuana possession penalties, legalized hemp oil treatment for seizure disorders and created a program to research industrial hemp.
In Maine, a new law legalizing industrial hemp cultivation is in effect after the legislature in June 2015 overrode a veto by Gov. Paul LePage. According to Newsmax.com, "The new law authorizes individuals and businesses to engage in the farming, production, and commerce of hemp in Maine, and not just planting crops for research purposes, as is the case in other states such as Kentucky. The new law also allows growers to purchase hemp seeds from any certified seed source, rather than only approved Canadian producers, as originally introduced in the first version of the bill."
In Kentucky, while legislation to legalize recreational and medicinal marijuana is unlikely to be addressed during the current legislative session, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said he expects 200 farmers to plant more than 4,000 acres this year which is about 4 times as much as in 2015. State officials are encouraging more local companies to use local hemp grown products.
In Montana, officials saw the economic value of legalizing hemp farming, as the state became one of the first states to legalize hemp for industrial purposes, changing the law even before the federal government eased restrictions on its ban with the 2014 Farm Bill. Read more information regarding Montana in an article posted by Newsmax.
In Missouri, legislation is pending in the House of Representatives and in the Senate to expand the state's industrial hemp research program. According to the Missouri House of Representatives, House Bill 1973, House Bill 2038, and Senate Bill 584 all seek to expand efforts to permit the licensed cultivation of industrial hemp. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), founded in 1970, noted in an article, "In 2014, lawmakers passed House Bill 2238 which permitted the Department of Agriculture to license farmers to grow industrial hemp for research purposes. Pending legislation this session seeks to expand this program to stimulate hemp cultivation and commerce."
In Hawaii, state officials are beginning to see industrial hemp is a viable alternative. Lawmakers have introduced a bill that would legalize industrial hemp production in the state. "State reps. Kaniela Ing (D, Kihei, Wailea, Makena) and Cynthia Thielen (R, Kailua, Kaneohe Bay) introduced the bill, which would legalize a crop still considered a controlled substance and outlawed by the federal government." Due to the current exemption to growing hemp that was established under the 2014 Federal Farm Bill, scientists at the University of Hawaii Waimanalo Research Station have been growing hemp for research purposes.
Other states have also started growing hemp, and 33 states have proposed pro-hemp legislation. See yesterday's press release regarding Virginia.
12:06 PM ET 1/29/16 | Marketwired
More and more states are realizing the economical advantages of the hemp plant. Hemp can be used in the manufacturing of thousands of products, thus legalizing hemp farming can increase jobs and provide additional revenue for farmers and the state.
In Vermont, the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote this morning on whether or not to advance marijuana legislation. According to Sen. Dick Sears, the judiciary committee members "penciled" in a date for the proposed rules to take effect on January 1, 2018. "Waiting until then would enable communities, law enforcement, and prevention groups to prepare for the changes," said Sears. The judiciary committee of the Vermont Senate is also drafting language aimed at easing access to supplements for children who need access to certain cannabis-based therapies. Per Sears, the language would be added to marijuana legalization proposals already under consideration at the Statehouse.
In Kansas legislature, the Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice committee passed two bills this week concerning marijuana. Senate Bill 147 would legalize hemp oil for treating seizure disorders. The other Bill, House Bill 2049, would lower penalties for possession of marijuana.
The House approved the bill with the hemp oil portion last year but because of marijuana's federal status as a Schedule 1 drug, the FDA cannot study it. More interestingly, prior to this past Tuesday's committee meeting, House Bill 2049 had three parts: It lowered marijuana possession penalties, legalized hemp oil treatment for seizure disorders and created a program to research industrial hemp.
In Maine, a new law legalizing industrial hemp cultivation is in effect after the legislature in June 2015 overrode a veto by Gov. Paul LePage. According to Newsmax.com, "The new law authorizes individuals and businesses to engage in the farming, production, and commerce of hemp in Maine, and not just planting crops for research purposes, as is the case in other states such as Kentucky. The new law also allows growers to purchase hemp seeds from any certified seed source, rather than only approved Canadian producers, as originally introduced in the first version of the bill."
In Kentucky, while legislation to legalize recreational and medicinal marijuana is unlikely to be addressed during the current legislative session, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said he expects 200 farmers to plant more than 4,000 acres this year which is about 4 times as much as in 2015. State officials are encouraging more local companies to use local hemp grown products.
In Montana, officials saw the economic value of legalizing hemp farming, as the state became one of the first states to legalize hemp for industrial purposes, changing the law even before the federal government eased restrictions on its ban with the 2014 Farm Bill. Read more information regarding Montana in an article posted by Newsmax.
In Missouri, legislation is pending in the House of Representatives and in the Senate to expand the state's industrial hemp research program. According to the Missouri House of Representatives, House Bill 1973, House Bill 2038, and Senate Bill 584 all seek to expand efforts to permit the licensed cultivation of industrial hemp. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), founded in 1970, noted in an article, "In 2014, lawmakers passed House Bill 2238 which permitted the Department of Agriculture to license farmers to grow industrial hemp for research purposes. Pending legislation this session seeks to expand this program to stimulate hemp cultivation and commerce."
In Hawaii, state officials are beginning to see industrial hemp is a viable alternative. Lawmakers have introduced a bill that would legalize industrial hemp production in the state. "State reps. Kaniela Ing (D, Kihei, Wailea, Makena) and Cynthia Thielen (R, Kailua, Kaneohe Bay) introduced the bill, which would legalize a crop still considered a controlled substance and outlawed by the federal government." Due to the current exemption to growing hemp that was established under the 2014 Federal Farm Bill, scientists at the University of Hawaii Waimanalo Research Station have been growing hemp for research purposes.
Other states have also started growing hemp, and 33 states have proposed pro-hemp legislation. See yesterday's press release regarding Virginia.
