virginia hemp Archives - TheJointBlog

Virginia Subcommittee Unanimously Passes Bill to Allow Anyone to Grow and Sale Hemp Without a License

February 9, 2018February 9, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

A Virginia House subcommittee passed a bill Wednesday that would allow anyone to grow and distribute hemp without being required to first receive a license from the state.

A subcommittee of the House Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources & Technology Committee voted 8 to 0 to pass House Bill 532, which was filed by Delegate Nicholas Freitas (D).

Under current Virginia law hemp cultivation is legal for licensed growers participating in a hemp research program. House Bill 532 removes the restriction that hemp must be grown for research, and “Eliminates the licensure requirement for growing industrial hemp and allows any person to sell industrial hemp”. In other words, hemp would be treated like any other agricultural commodity, such as tomatoes or corn.

Hemp Was Once Used as Currency in America

July 5, 2016July 5, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

In the United States, the cultivation of hemp is illegal. Hypocritically, this is despite the fact that Americans legally purchase hundreds of millions of dollars worth of hemp products; hemp cereals, lotions and clothing line the shelves of places like Wal-Mart and Costco. The ridiculousness becomes even thicker when you take into account the fact that hundreds of years ago, before modern science and research can tell us the benefits of hemp, our ancestors understood it.

In 1619, one of the first ever hemp laws was established in the then-named Virginia Assembly. The law required many colonists to grow hemp, fining those who didn’t. They did this because they felt it was so drastically important to the welfare of their society.

Virginia House Votes 98 to 0 to Legalize Hemp

January 27, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

Yesterday Virginia’s full House of Delegates passed a bill to legalize the cultivation and production of hemp. The vote was a unanimous 98 to 0.

House Bill 699, introduced by Delegate Brenda Pogge (R-Norge), would end the state’s prohibition on industrial hemp farming, while mandating that the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services “adopt regulations as necessary to license persons to grow and process industrial hemp for any purpose.”

In Virginia, thanks to a law passed last year, cultivating hemp for research purposes is legal; HB 699 would expand this to allow cultivating hemp for commercial and personal purposes.

Virginia Governor Signs Hemp Legalization Bills Into Law

March 27, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has signed into law legislation to legalize the production and cultivation of industrial hemp.

House Bill 1277 and Senate Bill 955 would redefine hemp as an agricultural commodity and allow for the plant’s cultivation by licensed growers as part of a university-managed research program.

“Hemp is good for agriculture, it is good for the environment and is good for jobs”, says Delegate Joseph Yost, the bill’s primary sponsor. “[The bill] sets up the necessary framework for Virginia to begin immediately moving forward on researching industrial hemp and eventually moving towards full commercialization.”

Hemp Legalization Bill Approved by Virginia Legislature, Sent to Governor

February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation to legalize hemp cultivation has been approved by Virginia’s full Legislature, and has been sent to Governor Terry McAuliffe for consideration.

“I am thrilled with the progress this bill has made and the support it gained since its beginnings eight months ago,” says Delegate Joseph Yost, the bill’s primary sponsor. “Hemp is good for agriculture, it is good for the environment and is good for jobs”. Yost explains that the bill “sets up the necessary framework for Virginia to begin immediately moving forward on researching industrial hemp and eventually moving towards full commercialization.”

Virginia Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015

February 16, 2015February 16, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Virginia’s Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee has voted unanimously to approve the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015, a proposal to establish a hemp research program. The measure, which has already been approved unanimously by the state’s House of Delegates, will go to Governor Terry McAuliffe once passed by the full Senate.

If approved into law, House Bill 1277 would direct the Virginia Department of Agriculture to establish an industrial hemp research program, including determining specific regulation. Universities in the state would be authorized to cultivate and study the plant.

Hemp Bill Approved by Virginia’s House of Delegates

February 4, 2015February 3, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Virginia’s full House of Delegates has given approval to House Bill 1277, a proposal to legalize the cultivation and production of industrial hemp for research purposes.

“Industrial hemp can be used as a cheaply produced alternative component in numerous modern products, including fabrics, building materials, composites used in cars and insulation,” says Delegate Joseph Yost, the measure’s primary sponsor. “Virginia has a long history of safe industrial hemp production, as early settlers in Jamestown grew hemp for paper, rope and clothing.”

Virginia House Committee Approves Hemp Bill

January 30, 2015January 30, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Virginia’s House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resource voted 13 to 7 Thursday to approve House Bill 1277, a proposal to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp for research purposes.

“If you look at the potential economic advantages that industrial hemp would provide for the state, particularly the Southside and the Southwest, it could be an economic boon in terms of the amount of research we could do on it,” says Delegate Joseph R. Yost, the measure’s primary sponsor.