Minnesota House of Representatives Votes to Legalize Hemp
Minnesota’s House of Representatives voted 89 to 37 Tuesday to approve a proposal that would legalize the production and cultivation of industrial hemp.
The proposal, which was introduced as an amendment to an agriculture budget bill (H.F. No. 1437), was put forth by Representatives Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) and Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis). If passed into law, it would allow those wanting to produce and cultivate hemp to do so after receiving a license from the state’s Department of Agriculture.
“The legislature finds that the development and use of industrial hemp can improve the state’s economy and agricultural vitality and the production of industrial hemp can be regulated so as not to interfere with the strict regulation of controlled substances in this state”, states the measure’s intent section. “The purpose of the Industrial Hemp Development Act is to promote the state economy and agriculture industry by permitting the development of a regulated industrial hemp industry while maintaining strict control of marijuana.”
In addition to allowing farmers to become licensed hemp cultivators, the proposal would authorize the state’s agriculture commissioner to “grow or cultivate industrial hemp pursuant to a pilot program administered by the commissioner to study the growth, cultivation, or marketing of industrial hemp.” In addition, the commissioner may:
“(1) authorize institutions of higher education to grow or cultivate industrial hemp as part of the commissioner’s pilot program or as is necessary to perform other agricultural, renewable energy, or academic research; and
(2) contract with public or private entities for testing or other activities authorized under this subdivision.”
The full text of the amendment can be found by clicking here.
– TheJointBlog