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senate Bill S. 2667

Should Hemp Farming be Legal?

Argument in favor

Hemp farming should be fully legalized as it is a versatile crop that can be used in many kinds of products and giving the nation’s agricultural communities another commodity to produce would yield economic growth.

Michael's Opinion
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05/04/2018
This crop was made illegal in the 20’s by collusion involving Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, DuPont (because they had invented Nylon), and Randolph Hearst (he wanted his logging operations to be the source of paper for his publications). The uses and benefits of this plant, even without the THC, are economically and environmentally significant. From impacting the opioid crisis by providing a CBD source to greener and stronger building materials to taking GHG out of the air to using less water to improving the soil where it is grown, it is quite challenging to find downsides to making the hemp plant legal. Please vote and pass ASAP!
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Christina's Opinion
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06/09/2018
Hemp is a versatile, sustainable crop that should never have been made illegal in the first place. Legalizing it would be great for the economy and American farmers.
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Darius's Opinion
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05/04/2018
Hemp is a fantastic crop that can be used for virtually everything from t-shirts to lotion. The founding fathers grew it, why shouldn't we?
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Argument opposed

Legalizing hemp farming would make it easier for growers of marijuana to produce their dangerous drug and sell it on the black market. Hemp wouldn’t be that popular of a commodity for farmers to grow.

William's Opinion
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06/09/2018
I support the farming and use of hemp but, the details of this law create more bureaucracy and government overreach. The Washington establishment seems incapable of doing anything without over complicating it.
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Jim's Opinion
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05/04/2018
Decriminalizing Marijuana is one of the first steps in the destruction of our Country.
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Cheryl's Opinion
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06/10/2018
Oh no!!! I accidentally voted no. How to change my vote??? I think this should never have been illegal in the first place. There are so many benefits! Why not make it legal and let farmers and the population reap the rewards?
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bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The house has not voted
  • The senate has not voted
    IntroducedApril 12th, 2018

What is Senate Bill S. 2667?

This bill — the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 — would allow hemp (defined as cannabis with less than 0.3 percent THC content) to be farmed and regulated as agricultural commodity that’d be eligible for crop insurance. It would exclude industrial hemp from the Controlled Substances Act’s definition of marijuana. Hemp fiber can be used to make many kinds of products including food, paper, cardboard, carpets, clothes, rope, and more.

States and Indian tribes would have the authority to regulate the production of hemp after providing the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) with plans to monitor land on which hemp is grown, test THC levels, dispose of hemp cannabis produced in violation of this section, and enforce related rules.

Negligent violations of hemp production rules would lead to growers being forced to comply with a corrective action plan. After three violations in a five year period, the grower would be ineligible to produce hemp for five years after the date of the third violation.

The USDA would be required to conduct a study of agricultural pilot programs related to the economic viability of domestic hemp production and the sale of industrial hemp and provide a report to Congress within 120 days.

Impact

Farmers and agricultural communities; business making products that use or could use hemp; states and Indian tribes; and the USDA.

Cost of Senate Bill S. 2667

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

More Information

In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced this bill in the hopes that hemp “can become sometime in the future what tobacco was in Kentucky’s past” for his state’s farming communities. He added:

“During the recent state work period, I talked to a number of farmers, manufacturers , and small business owners who expressed enthusiasm for hemp’s potential… Today, with my colleagues, I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Hemp Farming Act of 2018, which would build upon the success of the hemp pilot programs and spur innovation and growth within the industry. By legalizing hemp and empowering states to conduct their own oversight plans, we can give the hemp industry the tools necessary to create jobs and new opportunities for farmers and manufacturers around the country.”

Original cosponsor Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) added:

“It is far past time for Congress to pass this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to end the outrageous anti-hemp, anti-farmer and anti-jobs stigma that’s been codified into law and is holding back growth in American agriculture jobs and the economy at large. Hemp products are made in this country, sold in this country and consumed in this country. Senator McConnell, our colleagues and I are going to keep pushing to make sure that if Americans can buy hemp products at the local supermarket, Americans farmers can grow hemp in this country.”

This legislation has the support of 10 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate including six Democrats, three Republicans, and one Independent.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: jessicahyde / iStock)

AKA

Hemp Farming Act of 2018

Official Title

A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to provide for State and Tribal regulation of hemp production, and for other purposes.

    Michael's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/04/2018
    This crop was made illegal in the 20’s by collusion involving Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, DuPont (because they had invented Nylon), and Randolph Hearst (he wanted his logging operations to be the source of paper for his publications). The uses and benefits of this plant, even without the THC, are economically and environmentally significant. From impacting the opioid crisis by providing a CBD source to greener and stronger building materials to taking GHG out of the air to using less water to improving the soil where it is grown, it is quite challenging to find downsides to making the hemp plant legal. Please vote and pass ASAP!
    Like (268)
    Follow
    Share
    William's Opinion Against
    ···
    06/09/2018
    I support the farming and use of hemp but, the details of this law create more bureaucracy and government overreach. The Washington establishment seems incapable of doing anything without over complicating it.
    Like (49)
    Follow
    Share
    Christina's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    06/09/2018
    Hemp is a versatile, sustainable crop that should never have been made illegal in the first place. Legalizing it would be great for the economy and American farmers.
    Like (103)
    Follow
    Share
    Darius's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/04/2018
    Hemp is a fantastic crop that can be used for virtually everything from t-shirts to lotion. The founding fathers grew it, why shouldn't we?
    Like (74)
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    Brian's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    06/09/2018
    This is such a simple and really harmless act. Hemp is extremely valuable as a base ingredient for everything from food to clothing to fuel. It eliminates our need to deforrest our land. Which in turn leaves more of the Earth's natural air scrubbers to do their thing. The foods are high nutrient and antioxidant in nature. The materials made are as strong as anything we make from cotton and other plant based fibers, while being less labor intensive. Hemp derived products can often replace petroleum based products while adding the benefit of biodegradablity. It was once and should be again a cornerstone of American agriculture. Our founding fathers were no dummies, and many of them farmed this crop. Also contrary to myth it's not an intoxicant. So why we would continue it's prohibition is nothing more than raw ignorance.
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    clayrosenthal's Opinion In Favor
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    05/04/2018
    It's non-psychoactive, let it have a shot in the free market to be a better product.
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    Robert 's Opinion In Favor
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    06/09/2018
    I support the legalization of hemp. It has many commercial uses, such as paper, rope, biofuel, clothing, and health foods. And, it grows like a weed.
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    Jennifer's Opinion In Favor
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    05/04/2018
    Hemp farming should be fully legalized as it is a versatile crop that can be used in many kinds of products and giving the nation’s agricultural communities another commodity to produce would yield economic growth.
    Like (24)
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    SneakyPete's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    06/09/2018
    “Hemp Farming Act of 2018” I’d recommend supporting passage of S. 2669 — the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 — would allow hemp (defined as cannabis with less than 0.3 percent THC content) to be farmed and regulated as agricultural commodity that’d be eligible for crop insurance. It would exclude industrial hemp from the Controlled Substances Act’s definition of marijuana. Hemp fiber can be used to make many kinds of products including food, paper, cardboard, carpets, clothes, rope, and more. Hemp farming should be fully legalized as it is a versatile crop that can be used in many kinds of products and giving the nation’s agricultural communities another commodity to produce would yield economic growth. 6*9*18
    Like (20)
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    Leo's Opinion In Favor
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    06/09/2018
    Hemp should never have been illegal.
    Like (17)
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    Luke's Opinion In Favor
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    06/09/2018
    It should never have been made illegal
    Like (14)
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    Toni's Opinion In Favor
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    05/04/2018
    it should have been legal a long time ago
    Like (13)
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    Colagid's Opinion In Favor
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    04/18/2018
    The bill deschedules CBD grown from hemp, opening up the free market to allow for legal interstate commerce without risks from the DEA
    Like (11)
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    Page's Opinion In Favor
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    06/09/2018
    Hemp is one of the most versatile and easy to grow crops. You get everything from cloth and paper to food and oil used for biofuel. There is not one valid reason to keep it illegal.
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    Chimmy's Opinion In Favor
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    05/04/2018
    Yes this has massive environmental impact, hemp grows faster than trees and produces more pulp per acre, all while using less water, fertilizer and pesticides. Long long long overdue!
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    Kimberly 's Opinion In Favor
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    06/09/2018
    Possible health benefits aside, opening up the possibility of this as a legitimate crop option and all the other avenues that could be possible from it, yes. Make this legal.
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    Janice e's Opinion In Favor
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    05/05/2018
    Hemp can be used for so many, many useful items ... Toilet paper, clothing, paper of all sorts & it is renewable, unlike cutting down trees !! Also, hemp is quick & easy to grow !
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    Sandy's Opinion In Favor
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    05/04/2018
    If we were able to grow Weed freely, maybe we wouldn't have all these heroin over doses and it would decrease the inmate populationthat are in there for cannabis infractions, which in turn would keep the cost down for the state where the inmates are.
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    Deirdre 's Opinion In Favor
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    06/09/2018
    Hemp is a sustainable product that has so many uses. Yes it should be legal to farm it
    Like (7)
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    operaman's Public Comment
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    06/10/2018
    My mama has told stories of weeding rows of hemp by hand in the 1920s. Offers jobs and incomes to farmers. And the hemp plant grows in poor soils. Water and dirt is all you need
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