representative russ diamond Archives

Pennsylvania: After 233 to 0 Vote in Legislature, Governor Signs Hemp Bill

July 21, 2016July 21, 2016

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has signed into law a bill that legalizes the cultivation and production of industrial hemp for research purposes. House Bill 967 was given unanimous approval by both the House of Representatives (184 to 0) and Senate (49 to 0).

The new law allows those who receive a license from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to legally cultivate and produce hemp for the purpose of researching it; state universities would also be allowed to grow, produced and study the crop.

Pennsylvania Legislature Votes 233 to 0 to Legalize Hemp Research

July 11, 2016July 11, 2016

Pennsylvania’s full legislature has given unanimous approval to House Bill 967 which legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp if done for research purposes. The vote in the House of Representatives was 184 to 0, while the vote in the Senate was 49 to 0. The measure now goes to Governor Tom Wolf for consideration; he’s expected to sign it into law.

Once the legislation takes effect, farmers who receive a license from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will be authorized to cultivate and produce hemp for the purpose of research. Unfortunately the proposal doesn’t allow for commercial cultivation, something the bill’s proponents say they’ll continue to fight for.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Unanimously Pass Hemp Bill

April 7, 2016

A bill to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp for research purposes has been given unanimous approval by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The measure – House Bill 967 – now heads to the state’s Senate, where it’s expected to be quickly approved (the Senate last month gave unanimous approval to a separate but similar hemp bill).

“We put a lot of effort into educating other legislators about the usefulness of this crop and its positive economic and environmental promises for Pennsylvania,”says Representative Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon). “While the passage of House Bill 967 is cause for some celebration, we still have a lot of work ahead of us to get the Senate to concur, the governor to sign it into law, and to create a hemp industry from scratch. This is the very first step on what I hope to be very long and prosperous journey for the people of this Commonwealth.”

Pennsylvania Committee Unanimously Approves Hemp Legalization Bill

October 6, 2015

Pennsylvania’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee has given unanimously approval to House Bill 967, a proposal to allow for the production and cultivation of industrial hemp.

The measure, sponsored by Republican State Representative Russ Diamond, would create a pilot program for industrial hemp research which would be conducted by university researchers and the state’s Department of Agriculture.

“There’s an enormous amount of confusion and misinformation around industrial hemp”, says Representative Diamond. “It’s not marijuana and you can’t get high from it… It’s a naturally occurring plant that’s incredibly strong and durable, making it ideal for use in a wide variety of consumer products.”