Virginia Governor Signs Hemp Legalization Bills Into Law
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.”
Last year federal lawmakers approved a national spending bill which allows for the cultivation of hemp to be legally grown if it’s done as part of state-sanctioned research programs.
Last month Governor McAuliffe signed into law legislation to legalize the use of cannabis extracts for the treatment of seizure disorders.
– TheJointBlog
frankielee
Who do these politicians think they are, and just when did we give them the power to act this way? Where do they get off telling us we have to be licensed in order to grow hemp? We all need to focus and do what it takes to strip this oligarchic nature our elected officials are copping stronger each and every day. They work for us, NOT the other way around.
Hemp needs a stringent research program? Didn’t it used to be grown from fencerow to fencerow right here in the USA for a multitude of uses? University managed research programs? Why should big corporate players be allowed to shuffle to the top like they always do?
Back around 40 or 50 years ago here in the deep green Appalachian Mountains of SW Virginia, the government decided they were going to “manage” our corn crops, much like how they’ve always ruled over tobacco, by sending in field agents to do the government’s bidding. No sooner had their agents started showing up at farms with the intention of telling 5th generation farmers where and when they could plant corn than they found, instead, shotguns planted firmly on front porches from one side of the county to the other.
Sooner than later, we’ll have to “train” our elected reps in the old school ways if we’re all to get along with hemp and “licensed management”.