Should Hemp Farming be Legal? (S. 2667)

What is S. 2667?

(Updated February 12, 2020)

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.

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.

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.

Impact

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

Cost of S. 2667

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

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:

• Cosponsoring Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) Press Release
  
• The Hill
  
• High TImes
  
• Vox