An amendment to legalize hemp production for research has made it into the Farm Bill that will be up for a vote soon in Congress. The amendment, co-sponsored by Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, allows universities and state agriculture departments to grow hemp for study purposes.
Eric Steenstra is president of the advocacy group Vote Hemp, and says it’s worth looking into.
“Hemp has this long history in the U.S., but that history pretty much ended in the 1950s, and all the genetics are lost. We need to have research on new varieties. A lot of things have changed in the last 60 years, and there are new markets and opportunities.” –Eric Steenstra
Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill last year to allow industrial hemp production but only if the federal government lifts its ban. Hemp was banned decades ago when the government classified it as a controlled substance related to marijuana.
