Connecticut House Votes 142 to 2 to End Hemp Prohibition, Allow Unlicensed Cultivation

Connecticut House Votes 142 to 2 to End Hemp Prohibition, Allow Unlicensed Cultivation

Connecticut’s full House of Representatives has approved a bill to end hemp prohibition in its entirety, allowing farmers to cultivate the plant without the necessity of receiving a state license. The measure was approved with a drastic majority, 142 to 2.

House Bill 5780, filed by Representatives Melissa Ziobron (R-34) and Aundré Bumgardner (R-41), would “legalize industrial hemp by removing it from the state “marijuana” and “cannabis-type substances” definitions, thereby removing its status as a controlled substance”, according to an official summary of the bill. Thus, “the bill allows industrial hemp to be grown, used, and sold under state law”.

Yesterday the U.S. House voted to approve an amendment that would prevent the government from interfering with state-sanctioned hemp laws, meaning Connecticut, and other states, would be entirely free to implement proposals such as House Bill 5780.

According to congressional research, the United States imports approximately half a billion dollars in hemp from other countries, yet retains the illegality of hemp cultivation. The same research estimates the hemp market to consist of over 25,000 various products.

[Update: Shortly after being passed by the House of Representatives, House Bill 5780 was passed by the full Senate with a unanimous 36 to 0 vote. It now goes to Governor Dannel Malloy for consideration.]

– TheJointBlog