Industrial hemp in Oregon: Farm Bill includes provision allowing states and universities to grow hem

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: Oregon Live

The U.S. Senate and House conference committee on the Farm Bill tonight released its report, which includes an amendment allowing colleges, universities and state agriculture departments to grow hemp for research purposes.

The amendment was authored by U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland, and U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colorado. All three represents states where industrial hemp production is allowed under state law.

Blumenauer late Monday called the inclusion of the industrial hemp amendment in the Farm Bill, which the U.S. House and Senate are expected to vote on Wednesday, a "bright spot in an otherwise disappointing bill." The bill cuts about $8 billion from the food stamp program over the next decade.

"Oregonians have made it clear that they believe industrial hemp should be treated as an agricultural commodity, not a drug," Blumenauer said in an email to The Oregonian. "By including language easing restrictions on industrial hemp in states where it is legal, Congress sends an important message that we are ready to examine hemp in a more appropriate way."


Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/industrial_hemp_in_oregon_farm.html

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Here's another link

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/industrial_hemp_in_oregon_farm.html

This would be pretty ground-breaking in terms of how this plant has been classified here in the U.S..

[Jesus Malverde]

2. Cheers...updated...nt

[7962]

3. Wonderful! Hopefully we'll see fields of it in the near future. SO many uses and possibilities.

This is long overdue and a good start

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. So we come full circle at last.

Most don't realize that the real reason marijuana originally became illegal is the textile manufacturers didn't like hemp cloth because it almost literally never wears out, thus clothing products made from it last forever, cutting their profits WAY down. It had absolutely nothing to do with the drug aspect of the plant- that became the excuse later on. It gave the government a convenient way to exercise control over a particular segment of the population.

Now that rationale is breaking down in the face of medical marijuana laws changing in many states, and now Colorado's decriminalization of it.

No more excuses. Legalize it. Tax it. Smoke it. Wear it. Have fun.

[Cha]

5. Yay, Oregon!

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. It's a baby step, but it is a step in the right direction.