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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will introduce a bill to legalize the production of hemp by removing it from the list of controlled substances. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 would remove the need for a federal permit to grow hemp. Since 2014, the federal farm bill (Agricultural Act of 2014) has allowed state agricultural departments to designate hemp projects for research purposes, with 34 states subsequently authorizing research and production occurring in 19:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced a new bill on Monday that would legalize hemp as an agricultural product.
The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 would legalize hemp, removing it from the federal list of controlled substances and allowing it to be sold as an agricultural commodity, according to WKYT.
"Hemp has played a foundational role in Kentucky's agriculture heritage, and I believe that it can be an important part of our future," McConnell said in a statement.
See also: McConnell looks to complete hemp's comeback as crop
Hemp gains powerful ally to free it from marijuana ties
(Score: 3, Informative) by CZB on Thursday March 29 2018, @03:13PM (5 children)
As a farmer I'm all for growing hemp, it has some good soil and rotation qualities. Not sure how much of a market there will be for it. Probably will be like other third tier crops like millet or buckwheat.
The biggest drawback is hemp needs specialty harvesting equipment, and a factory set up to process it into products.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @05:19PM (1 child)
Also a farmer.
You're right about the machinery (although I expect that will be available real quick) but I'm not too worried about the market for it. Even if all the hemp-seed-oil-sexual-lubrican-and-dietary-supplement promises fall through, hemp rope and fabrics are still in demand.
Having said that, I'll bet you three wethers this is Mitch's way of showing some leg to the fans of Mary Jane, and opening the door to the drug trade. Not that I care - if we can make beer and whiskey, why not sweet leaf?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @12:07AM
Unfiltered hemp seed oil is better than most other products for fixing skin problems. From personal experience. It is worth looking in to.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday March 29 2018, @06:27PM
(Indian) Govt eyes increasing millet output to 45 mt by 2030 [thehindubusinessline.com]
Why affluent Chinese are mad for millet, and the ancient grain’s long history in China [scmp.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @10:50PM
Not sure how much of a market there will be for it
You said it right there. The market for it is pretty tiny. That could change, or not. The weed folk have been hyping it for years but they will say anything to get more weed out there. The thing is no one really knows what would/will happen. It could become huge or just be a 'so what' or somewhere in between. It should not have been scheduled in the first place. Selling weed on the other hand? That market is huge.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday March 30 2018, @03:08AM