Hemp Bill Introduced in Virginia

Requesting the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Department of
Environmental Quality, and the Virginia State Police to develop
guidelines for the growth and production of industrial hemp in
Virginia.
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Patrons-- Orrock and Van Yahres
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, although industrial hemp is derived from the Cannabis sativa
plant, it is distinctive from its better know relative, in that it
contains less than one percent of the chemical responsible for its
psychoactive properties; and

WHEREAS, similar to jute and flax, industrial hemp's three principal
raw materials--fiber, hurds, and seeds can be used in over 25,000
products, including textiles, rope, cellulose plastics, resin,
particle board, paper products, shampoo, vitamins, and oil; and

WHEREAS, faltering agricultural economies in a number of states have
created pressure to investigate alternative crops, including
industrial hemp; and

WHEREAS, the 1996 Farm Bill has reduced and will continue to reduce
government subsidies, pushing farmers to examine alternative cash
crops; and

WHEREAS, increased foreign competition in established markets, such
as tobacco, as well as innovative work with industrial hemp by Canada
and the European community, has prompted increased interest in the
economic vitality of industrial hemp; and

WHEREAS, the histories of the United States and Virginia are replete
with examples of the utility of and dependence on industrial hemp,
which was legally cultivated in Virginia and many other states until
the late 1930s; and

WHEREAS, the industrial hemp industry has recently experienced a
revitalization, with worldwide hemp sales continuing to increase; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, the American Farm Bureau Federation, representing
4.6 million farmers nationwide, passed a unanimous resolution urging
research into the viability and economic potential of industrial
hemp; and

WHEREAS, the growing of industrial hemp in the United States has been
allowed only by federal permit, and the conditions of such a permit
are so restrictive as to make the experimental cultivation of hemp,
even under the auspices of a state university with strict controls,
essentially impossible; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration correctly states
that it has never turned down an application for the experimental
cultivation of hemp, but it is equally true that due to the excessive
restrictions placed on the required permit, only the State of Hawaii
is currently authorized by the federal government to cultivate hemp;
and

WHEREAS, during the 1998 Session, the General Assembly passed HJ 94,
urging the federal government to revise the necessary regulations so
as to permit the controlled, experimental cultivation of industrial
hemp in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, U. S. Drug Czar and the U. S. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) raised objections to even the controlled,
experimental cultivation of industrial hemp; and

WHEREAS, in May 2000, the State of Maryland enacted legislation to
establish a four-year pilot program to grow industrial hemp on
state-owned land under tightly controlled circumstances; and

WHEREAS, legislatures in both North Dakota and Minnesota have
recently enacted legislation allowing farmers statewide to cultivate
hemp and the Illinois legislature is likely to reconsider a bill
referred during the last session to allow two state universities to
study the feasibility of cultivating industrial hemp; and

WHEREAS, increased interest by states in the cultivation and
production of industrial hemp has prompted the DEA to review its hard
line stance, and expected changes in the administration of the agency
due to the recent election, may result in the easing of current
restrictions; and

WHEREAS, other states are positioning themselves to produce
industrial hemp and the Commonwealth of Virginia should be prepared
to cultivate industrial hemp if the current restrictions are eased;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia
Economic Development Partnership, the Department of Environmental
Quality, and the Virginia State Police be requested to develop
guidelines for cultivating industrial hemp; and be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit
copies of this resolution to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the
Secretary of Natural Resources, and the Secretary of Public Safety,
so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly on
this matter.


Industrial Hemp - Virginia
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 605
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled January 10, 2001