For industrial hemp supporters, Thursday’s farm bill vote in the U.S. House is a case of good news and bad news.
The good news: a bi-partisan amendment passed a floor vote and was added to the $940 billion farm bill package.
The bad news: that farm bill was ultimately voted down, with 195 House members voting in favor, and 234 voting against.
The hemp amendment was co-sponsored by Kentucky’s Fourth District Representative Thomas Massie, and would allow colleges and universities to grow and cultivate hemp for academic and agricultural research purposes. It would apply to states where industrial hemp growth has been legalized.
Nineteen states have passed pro-hemp legislation, while nine others—including Kentucky—have removed certain barriers to the crop’s production.
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and Monroe County native James Comer recently led a delegation to Washington D.C. to lobby lawmakers and White House officials on behalf of hemp legalization.
