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Arizona Legislature Approves Measure to Legalize Hemp

May 22, 2017May 21, 2017

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

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

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.

Washington Measure to Legalize Hemp with No License Required Advances

April 2, 2017April 2, 2017

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

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

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.”

DEA Gives Washington State Approval to Import Hemp Seeds

March 14, 2017

**The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has received approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to import hemp seeds.**

“It’s a real, real possibility we’ll have a spring planting of hemp,” says WSDA’s hemp coordinator Emily Feblesy According to Feblesy the WSDA has proposed rules for hemp cultivation and hopes to issue licenses to growers, seed distributors and processors in May.

Washington now joins several other states – including Oregon – that have received DEA approval to import hemp seeds.

For now, the hemp grown in Washington will be for research purposes. However, a bill to legalize commercial hemp cultivation, without a license and without a grow limit, recently passed the state’s House of Representatives with a unanimous 98 to 0 vote. The measure must now be passed by the Senate in order to be sent to Governor Jay Inslee for consideration.

Colorado Legislature Unanimously Passes Hemp Animal Feed Bill

March 10, 2017

**A bill directing the Colorado Department of Agriculture to study the feasibility of allowing farmers to use hemp in animal feed has passed the state’s legislature unanimously.**

Senate Bill 17-109 was passed by the House of Representatives today with a unanimous 63 to 0 vote; it passed the full Senate last month, also unanimously. The proposal now goes to Governor John Hickenlooper for consideration.

Below is the official summary of Senate Bill 17-109:

Arizona Senate Passes Hemp Legalization Bill

March 6, 2017

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:

Washington House Votes 98 to 0 to Fully Legalize Hemp, No License Required

March 2, 2017March 2, 2017

The Washington State House of Representatives has unanimously given approval to legislation that would explicitly legalize hemp.

House Bill 2064 would exclude “industrial hemp from the definitions of “controlled substance” and “marijuana” for purposes of the uniform controlled substances act.”

This would make hemp as legal as any other agricultural commodity such as tomatoes or corn. The measure establishes no specific licensing system, meaning anyone would be allowed to grow the crop without first registering with the state.