Nebraska Legislature Passes Hemp Bill, Heads to Governor

Nebraska Legislature Passes Hemp Bill, Heads to Governor

Nebraska’s Legislature has voted 39 to 2 in favor of Legislative Bill 1001, a proposal to legalize hemp research in the state. The measure now heads to the governor who can either sign it into law, let it become law without his signature, or veto it.

Although the measure would have initially legalized hemp throughout the state, it was amended to become a research bill, where as the University of Nebraska and the state’s Department of Agriculture can legally cultivate hemp for research purposes. This would mean that the bill would be in compliance with federal law, given that federal lawmakers recently legalized hemp research in states that have done the same.

The bill was introduced by Senator Norman Wallman.

According to recent congressional research, the U.S. imports roughly half a billion dollars in hemp from other countries, primarily Canada and China, while retaining the illegality of its cultivation amongst its own farmers. The same research estimates the hemp market to consist of over 25,000 various products.

– TheJointBlog