House legislation, HB 1054, to redefine industrial hemp as an agricultural crop and establish licensing regulations for the plant’s cultivation has been tabled for the legislative session.
The legislation was approved by the full House in an 57-11 vote on Thursday, February 4th but unfortunately members of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources committee voted against it in a 5-4 vote.
Members of Congress recently approved language in the omnibus federal Farm Bill explicitly authorizing states to sponsor hemp research absent federal reclassification of the plant. Presently, 24 states have enacted legislation permitting licensed hemp cultivation in a manner that is compliant with this statute.
NORML would like to thank those of you who lobbied their state elected officials on behalf of the common sense legislation.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
