Bill Introduced to Lift Federal Ban on Hemp Production
Federal lawmakers are convinced the time has come to put a stop to the Reefer Madness that led to the criminalization of American hemp production almost 80 years ago. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, along with Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky recently filed a piece of legislation on Capitol Hill that would, once again, give farmers across america to have the freedom and access to cultivate and profit from industrial hemp.
The bill entitled “The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015” would take away the federal statures that make up the domestic production of industrial hemp a problem with the law, which would provide some economic comfort for farmers having hard times to make ends meet with less profitable commodities. The goal of this measure is to remove hemp from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Schedule I controlled substance classification, and label it a “non-drug” as long as it meets the THC requirements of less than 0.3%.
The bill’s supporters, which represent two of the 20 states in america that have already classified that industrial hemp is different from marijuana, and since lifted production restrictions, believe it is un-American to inhibit the farming community from profiting on a harmless, non-intoxicating product in which thousands of products can be produced.
“The U.S. ban on hemp farming is an outrageous restriction on free enterprise and does nothing but bring down economic growth and job creation,” said Senator Wyden in a statement. “Our bipartisan, common-sense bill is pro-environment, pro-business, and pro-farmer. Congress must make moves to empower farmers and bring up economic activity across the country. As I’ve always said, if you can buy it in the state of Oregon, you should be able to grow it in Oregon.”
There is high hypocrisy in the regard to this ban, because while growing and manufacturing cannabis is a felonious offense, it is legal to buy and sell products created from its fibers also called hemp. However, this obsolete law provides no assistance or protection for the American people, it only acts as disability to the national economy. “Allowing farmers throughout america to grow industrial hemp and aid from its many uses will up our economy and bring much-needed jobs to the agriculture industry,” said Senator Paul.
Industry experts are thrilled about the introduction of this bill and believe it could bring our nation closer to ending prohibition. “This is another step closer to full legalization,” said Hemp Inc. CEO Bruce Perlowin. “Industrial Hemp is really been taking off in the news lately, all over the U.S. This industry won’t subside.”
A similar measure entitled “The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013” was widely unsuccessful, but advocates believe the latest initiation of the bill will move forward since public impression surrounding the cannabis issue continues to loosen.
Although Congress recently passed a farm bill that allows hemp cultivation for research purposes, this has done nothing to help the average American farmer. Meanwhile, the nation sits in the dark ages in regards to the production of industrial hemp, while it remains a profitable cash crop for more than 30 other countries.
The final 2014 Farm Bill agreement involved a plan that would allow institutions of higher education and state departments of agriculture to grow or harvest industrial hemp.
It also requires that the sites used by universities and agriculture department be certified by—and registered with—their state department of agriculture. This provision will allow universities and agricultural departments the ability to study industrial hemp for its possible future use as a commercial product.
Nineteen states–California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia—currently have laws to provide for hemp pilot studies and/or for manufacturing as described by the Farm Bill stipulations.
Eight of these states—California, Colorado, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont and West Virginia—support hemp resolutions and have laws to improve the growth and marketing of industrial hemp
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