| ||
|---|---|---|
|
U.S. Senator from Kentucky
 |
||
The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 was a proposed law to remove hemp (defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC) from Schedule I controlled substances and making it an ordinary agricultural commodity. Its provisions were incorporated in the 2018 United States farm bill that became law on December 20, 2018.
In late March 2018, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced he would introduce legislation legalizing hemp production in his state, Kentucky, and nationally.[1][2][3] McConnell introduced the bill, S.2667, on the Senate floor on April 12, 2018, co-sponsored by Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.[4][5] McConnell announced that Representative James Comer of Kentucky would introduce a companion bill in the House of Representatives.[6] The companion bill, H.R. 5485, was introduced on April 12, with Colorado Representative Jared Polis co-sponsoring.[7]
In addition to removing low-THC cannabis from regulation under the Controlled Substances Act, the 2018 act would avail hemp farmers of water rights and federal agricultural grants, and make the national banking system (in a gray area for the cannabis industry[a]) accessible to farmers and others involved; and allow for other benefits of production of a recognized crop such as marketing, agronomy research, and crop insurance.[2][8][9]
- ^ McConnell announces hemp legislation with Ky. Ag. Commissioner, Lexington, Kentucky: WKYT-TV, March 26, 2018
- ^ a b Morgan Gstalter (March 26, 2018), "McConnell bill would legalize hemp as agricultural product", The Hill
- ^ Senator Mitch McConnell (March 26, 2018), Senator McConnell and Commissioner Quarles Announce Hemp Legislation (press release), United States Senate official website
- ^ Alicia Wallace (April 12, 2018), "Hemp Farming Act of 2018 introduced by Sen. Mitch McConnell", The Cannabist, The Denver Post
- ^ S.2667, United States Senate official website
- ^ Mitch McConnell (April 12, 2018), Senators McConnell, Wyden, and Merkley join efforts to support hemp farmers, processors, and product manufacturers to capitalize on this growing industry (press release) – via United States Senate official website
- ^ H.R. 5485, U.S. Congress official website
- ^ Elizabeth Nolan Brown (April 13, 2018), "Reason roundup: Congress moves to legalize hemp", Reason blog, Reason Foundation
- ^ Alicia Wallace (April 12, 2018), "Hemp Farming Act of 2018 introduced by Sen. Mitch McConnell", The Cannabist, The Denver Post
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).