Washington Hemp Legalization Bill Signed by Governor
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.
The full text of House Bill 2062 can be found by clicking here; it was filed by Representative Matt Shea with six bipartisan cosponsors.
According to congressional research, the U.S. imports roughly half a billion dollars in hemp from other countries while retaining the illegality of its cultivation among its own farmers. According to the same report, the hemp market to consist of over roughly 25,000 various products.
