hemp legalization Archives

U.S. Congress Approves Bill to Legalize Hemp, Sending it to President Trump

December 12, 2018December 12, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

Both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have passed the 2018 Farm Bill, which includes a provision to legalize hemp throughout the country.

The 2018 Farm Bill was passed by the House today by a vote of 369 to 47. The vote comes a day after the Senate approved the same bill 87 to 13. Now that it’s been passed by the full Congress it will be sent to President Trump, who has said he will sign it into law once given the opportunity.

The legislation is a wide-reaching bill that covers many facets of the farming industry. A provision in the measure, put forth by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel, removes hemp from the federal list of controlled substances. This effectively legalizes it throughout the country, allowing farmers to grow it as they can any other agricultural commodity such as tomatoes.

Nevada Legislature Approves Measure to Legalize Hemp

May 26, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation that would legalize hemp throughout Nevada has been given approval by the state’s full legislature.

Senate Bill 396 received unanimous approval in the Senate late last month, and it has now been passed by the full Assembly with a 34 to 5 vote. With it being approved through both chambers, it will now be sent to Governor Brian Sandoval for consideration. Sandoval has the option of signing it into law, allowing it to become law without his signature, or vetoing it (if he does veto it the legislature could override it with a 2/3rds majority).

Senate Bill 396 would expand upon a current law that allows hemp to be grown in the state for research purposes by creating “a separate program for the growth and cultivation of industrial hemp and produce agricultural hemp seed in this State”; this would allow hemp to be grown for commercial – and not exclusively research – purposes.

Arizona Legislature Approves Measure to Legalize Hemp

May 22, 2017May 21, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation that would legalize hemp has been given approval by the Arizona’s Legislature.

Senate Bill 1337 has been passed by Arizona’s full legislature, sending it to Governor Doug Ducey for consideration. Ducey now has the option of signing the measure into law, allowing it to become law without his signature, or vetoing it. It his was to veto it, the legislature could overturn it with a 2/3rds majority, which the bill seems to have (it passed the Senate 26 to 4 and the House 53 to 2).

If the measure does become law, it would be legal to produce, process, manufacture and distribute hemp; it would designate industrial hemp “as an agricultural product that is subject to regulation by the Department [of Agriculture]”. It would prohibit the state from “restricting a person from growing industrial hemp based on the legal status of industrial hemp under federal law.”

Washington Hemp Legalization Bill Signed by Governor

April 28, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation that legalizes industrial hemp has been signed into law by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

House Bill 2064 passed the House of Representatives at the end of February with a vote of 98 to 0, and earlier this month passed the Senate with a unanimous 49 to 0 vote. Yesterday it was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee.

The new law excludes industrial hemp “from the definitions of “controlled substance” and “marijuana” for purposes of the uniform controlled substances act.” The proposal establishes no regulatory framework or specific guideliens (such as grow or age limits), but simply makes hemp legal.

Washington Legislature Unanimously Passes Bill to Legalize Hemp with No License Required, No Grow Limits

April 15, 2017April 12, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation to legalize hemp with no license required and no grow limits has been passed by Washington’s full legislature.

House Bill 2064 passed the House of Representatives at the end of February with a vote of 98 to 0. Today, the measure passed the Senate with a unanimous 49 to 0 vote. This sends it to Governor Jay Inslee for consideration; Inslee has the option of signing it into law, allowing it to become law without his signature or vetoing it. It’s highly unlikely Inslee would veto the measure, but if he did the legislature could override it with a two thirds vote.

If the measure does become law, as expected, it would exclude industrial hemp “from the definitions of “controlled substance” and “marijuana” for purposes of the uniform controlled substances act.” Given that the measure establishes no regulatory framework, this would allow hemp to be grown in a manner similar to other agricultural commodities with no license required, and with no limit on the size of the crop.

Alaska Senate Votes Unanimously to Legalize Hemp

April 11, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation to legalize hemp has been passed by Alaska’s full Senate.

Senate Bill 6 received a unanimous 20 to 0 vote from the Senate yesterday. This puts it before the House of Representatives, where passage will send it to Bill Walker for final consideration. The proposed law would define industrial hemp as an agricultural product and would remove it from the state’s list of controlled substances.

“The commercial possibilities of hemp are numerous and versatile,” says Senator Shelley Hughes (R), who filed the bill with four cosponsors. “Hemp can be used for fiber products, such as clothing and paper, as well as for building materials and insulation, among thousands of other products.”

Washington Measure to Legalize Hemp with No License Required Advances

April 2, 2017April 2, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

A legislative proposal to explicitly legalize hemp has advanced in the Washington State Legislature.

House Bill 2064 has been placed on a second reading in the Senate by the Senate Rules Committee; if passed through its second reading, and then a final third reading, it will be sent to Governor Jay Inslee for consideration. This advancement comes less than two weeks after the proposal was given unanimous approval by the Senate Law & Justice Committee, and roughly a month after it was passed unanimously by the state’s House of Representatives.

The proposed law would exclude “industrial hemp from the definitions of “controlled substance” and “marijuana” for purposes of the uniform controlled substances act.” This would allow hemp to be grown in a manner similar to other agricultural commodities; with no license required, and with no limit on the size of the crop.

Washington Bill to Legalize Hemp Passed Unanimously by Senate Committee, Already Passed Full House

April 2, 2017March 22, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation that would explicitly legalize hemp in Washington State has been passed by its initial Senate committee.

House Bill 2064 was given unanimous approval this morning by the Senate Law & Justice Committee. Earlier this month it was passed unanimously by the state’s House of Representatives.

If passed into law, the measure would exclude “industrial hemp from the definitions of “controlled substance” and “marijuana” for purposes of the uniform controlled substances act.” This would legalize hemp in a manner similar to other agricultural crops such as tomatoes, as in their would be no limit on the amount grown, and no license required to begin cultivation.

Arizona House Committee Approves Hemp Legalization Bill, Would Explicitly Bypass Federal Law

March 17, 2017March 16, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

An Arizona bill to legalize hemp passed a House committee today with a 7 to 1 vote; it’s already passed the full Senate.

Senate Bill 1337 passed the House Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, moving it to the House Appropriations Committee. The measure passed the Senate earlier this month with a 26 to 4 vote.

The proposed law; “Authorizes industrial hemp production, processing, manufacturing, distribution and commerce”, and; “Designates industrial hemp as an agricultural product that is subject to regulation by the Department [of Agriculture]”.

Interestingly the measure “Prohibits the Director from restricting a person from growing industrial hemp based on the legal status of industrial hemp under federal law.”

Arizona Senate Passes Hemp Legalization Bill

March 6, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Arizona’s full Senate has given approval to the legalization of industrial hemp.

Senate Bill 1337 passed the full Senate with a 26 to 4 vote; this follows a 6 to 1 vote in the Senate Commerce and Public Safety Committee, and a unanimous 10 to 0 vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee. It now moves to the House of Representatives, where passage will send it to Governor Doug Ducey.

“It’s good policy. It’s economic development, and it’s good for the agriculture community,” says Senator Sonny Borrelli, the bill’s lead sponsor.

According to its official language, Senate Bill 1337: