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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: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @04:52AM (3 children)
Puts the republicans another step ahead of the democrats. Once again we'll be looking very small changes in congress
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @07:19AM (2 children)
You might actually see Democrats fight against this, with the pretend reasoning (rather than blatant partisanship) being that it would ruin the medical cannabis. Already a fight in Oregon about that.
http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2015/02/southern_oregon_medical_mariju.html [oregonlive.com]
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Thursday March 29 2018, @04:14PM (1 child)
There are some real potential issues here. It makes me wonder if there are any other crops where cross pollination carries such a risk, and if so how that is mitigated. The only thing close I can think of is cross pollination by roundup resistant crops, but everything I can find indicates that isn't the issue some people claim. Seems obvious there would have to be some sort of compromise.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Thursday March 29 2018, @06:09PM
That could be a two way street. Where pollen from someone's recreational Indica patch pollinates a field of fiber and seed hemp.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @05:12AM (2 children)
Something something broken clock.
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Gaaark on Thursday March 29 2018, @10:27AM (1 child)
Something something broke back mountain.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @12:29PM
Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. Say no more, say no more.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by khallow on Thursday March 29 2018, @06:19AM
(Score: 5, Interesting) by DonkeyChan on Thursday March 29 2018, @06:34AM (6 children)
Industrial hemp is legally importable. As much as you want. The fact that it's legally importable but illegal to grow is the most insulting thing about all of this.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @09:58AM (3 children)
Enjoy yer Freedoms that Men died fer. 'MURICA.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @09:59AM
Can't even hang myself with hemp rope I cri evertime
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @05:07PM (1 child)
no shit motherfucker now please tell us what bastion of liberty you hale from.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @07:43PM
Certainly not the U.S., then.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @02:26PM (1 child)
(Score: 3, Interesting) by captain normal on Thursday March 29 2018, @06:23PM
Back in their day hemp was important for for the fiber which could make very strong rope and cloth for ship sails and clothing. Every navy depended upon it.
Washington and others then may (or may not) have used some of their crop for it's herbal properties, but separating the female plants was more likely done for the seeds for the next years crop.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 29 2018, @02:35PM
I found out recently that a hemp product is very helpful with an ailment that affects half my family. Hemp, not Weed.
What these people need is a kick up the rear.
Banning products which have been used as medicine for centuries. Stupid.
(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
(Score: 4, Funny) by Hartree on Thursday March 29 2018, @04:40PM (1 child)
Mitch must prefer that "industrial strength" hemp. ;)
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Friday March 30 2018, @12:16AM
https://www.quotes.net/show-quote/33957 [quotes.net]