Time for the Federal Government to Act on Hemp

Last night, the Kentucky General Assembly passed SB 50 by a vote of 88-4 after having previously passed the Kentucky State Senate 31-6.

SB 50 creates a regulatory framework for industrial hemp in Kentucky, provided the federal government moves to decouple industrial hemp from marijuana by amending the 1970 Controlled Substances Act.

While Senator Paul stated in a congratulatory press release that he plans to seek a waiver from the administration once the regulatory framework is in place, the time for the federal government to act on the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, H.R. 525 and S. 359, is now.

Senator Paul (KY) and Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-4), sponsors of the federal legislation, both testified before the Kentucky Senate Agriculture committee in support of SB 50 back in February.

Read more about the history of industrial hemp and policymakers' "love-hate relationship with hemp" in Matthew Hurtt's piece in Reason.