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A bill has been passed by the Virginia state House of Delegates to make industrial hemp legal throughout the state, overriding federal government interference. While this is a positive step in the right direction, it comes with quite a few obstacles for industrial-hemp advocates that Congress has been slow to address.
According to the Alternative World News Network:
“Introduced by Del. Brenda Pogge (R-Norge), House Bill 699 (HB699) would change state law and remove a provision forcing hemp farmers to get federal approval before licensing their farm.”
On the federal level, legislation is at work through Congress to have hemp removed from the list of Schedule I drugs with marijuana, a level of illegality that is the same as that of heroin, LSD, ecstasy and peyote, however there are complaints that it is not moving as fast as it should. Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) has hindered the process, claiming there hasn’t been enough research on industrial hemp production.
In the meantime, until hemp is removed from this list, it makes it much more difficult for Virginia farmers, as well as university researchers, to procure seeds to plant since the seeds would need to be licensed first, and the licensure would have to come from the federal government. Obtaining seeds from other countries can prove difficult as well as they can be “sluggish” in sending their seeds to American farmers, however this has been attributed to the fact that they recognize the financial potential should the U.S. embrace the hemp industry.
Regardless of the current obstacles, however, many are staying positive, such as small business owner, Marty Phipps, who sells hemp bedding designed for various farm animals. In his statement:
“The U.S. is going to pass this law and hemp is going to move its way into the market. It’s going to make a dent. Other countries realize this so they’re hesitant in presenting us a seed so we don’t destroy their hemp export market.”
In fact, if passed through the senate, Virginia would join Colorado, Oregon, South Carolina, Connecticut, Maine, North Dakota, and Vermont in ignoring federal prohibition and legalizing the production of hemp.
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