Senate Appropriations includes hemp measure
June 05, 2014 | 06:03 PM
The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved an amendment that would stop the government from interfering with hemp research at land grant colleges.
The amendment was included in the fiscal year 2015 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill.
It was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. and passed by a vote of 22-8, McConnell said in a news release.
McConnell noted that Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., secured an identical version in the CJS bill passed by the House last week.
The 2014 farm bill included a provision allowing hemp research at universities, but importation of hemp seeds has remained illegal because hemp is classified along with marijuana as an illegal drug even though hemp, which is used to make rope and other products, does not have the same effect as marijuana.
Customs officers recently seized hemp seeds intended for research in Kentucky.
“This measure will help prevent our legal hemp seeds secured by state departments of agriculture and used for legal pilot programs from being blocked by DEA or other federal agencies in the future,” McConnell said. “These legal pilot programs authorized by my legislation could help boost our state’s economy and lead to future jobs.”
▪ National Journal — Hemp Unites McConnell and Merkley
The amendment was included in the fiscal year 2015 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill.
It was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. and passed by a vote of 22-8, McConnell said in a news release.
McConnell noted that Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., secured an identical version in the CJS bill passed by the House last week.
The 2014 farm bill included a provision allowing hemp research at universities, but importation of hemp seeds has remained illegal because hemp is classified along with marijuana as an illegal drug even though hemp, which is used to make rope and other products, does not have the same effect as marijuana.
Customs officers recently seized hemp seeds intended for research in Kentucky.
“This measure will help prevent our legal hemp seeds secured by state departments of agriculture and used for legal pilot programs from being blocked by DEA or other federal agencies in the future,” McConnell said. “These legal pilot programs authorized by my legislation could help boost our state’s economy and lead to future jobs.”
▪ National Journal — Hemp Unites McConnell and Merkley
