Unanimous Vote Moves Industrial Hemp Bill Forward in New Hampshire

[Suzanimal]

CONCORD, N.H. (Mar. 9, 2015) A New Hampshire state House committee approved a bill last week that would remove the ban on industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying the federal prohibition on the same. The vote was 16-0.

Introduced by Elizabeth Edwards (D-Hillsborough), Laura Jones (R-Strafford), Robert Cushing (D-Rockingham), and Michael Sylvia (R-Belknap) on Jan. 8, House Bill 494 (HB494) opens the door for a full-scale commercial hemp market in the state by treating it as any other crop for farming. The bill reads, in part, that “industrial hemp shall not be designated as a controlled substance.”

In short, industrial hemp would essentially be treated similar to tomatoes by government officials in New Hampshire.

Passage into law will ensure that New Hampshire will join join five other states – Colorado, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont – that have already passed similar measures. Farmers in SE Colorado started harvesting the plant in 2013, and farmers in Vermont began harvesting in 2014, effectively nullifying federal restrictions on such agricultural activities. On Feb. 2, the Oregon hemp industry officially opened for business and one week later, the first license went to a small non-profit group who hopes to plant 25 acres this spring. The Tennessee Agricultural department recently put out a call for licensing, signaling that hemp farming will start soon there too.

Experts suggest that the U.S. market for hemp is around $500 million per year. They count as many as 25,000 uses for industrial hemp, including food, cosmetics, plastics and bio-fuel. The U.S. is currently the world’s #1 importer of hemp fiber for various products, with China and Canada acting as the top two exporters in the world.

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http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.co...ndustrial-hemp-bill-forward-in-new-hampshire/

 

[NewRightLibertarian]

Fantastic news! And that's one excellently well-written bill report as well

 

[donnay]

Indeed it is fantastic news!

 

[Tinnuhana]

Is there a live link (or some FSPer in the capitol) who will give live feed or updates on the proceedings?

 

[Keith and stuff]

Is there a live link (or some FSPer in the capitol) who will give live feed or updates on the proceedings?

Both the NH House voting (not the committees) and the NH Senate voting are broadcast live on the Internet. Last year, the NH House was even live on local TV but I don't know if that is still happening.

The NH House is live right now. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/media/default.htm

Edit: Lunch just started. They will be back at 1:15pm.

 

[Suzanimal]

CONCORD, N.H. (Mar. 11, 2015) The New Hampshire state House approved a bill today that would remove the ban on industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying the federal prohibition on the same.

Introduced by Elizabeth Edwards (D-Hillsborough), Laura Jones (R-Strafford), Robert Cushing (D-Rockingham), and Michael Sylvia (R-Belknap) on Jan. 8, House Bill 494 (HB494) opens the door for a full-scale commercial hemp market in the state by treating it as any other crop for farming. The bill reads, in part, that “industrial hemp shall not be designated as a controlled substance.”

After passing out of committee unanimously last week, the House approved it today by a voice vote.

...

http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.co...hemp-farming-effectively-nullify-federal-ban/

 

[Keith and stuff]

Three cheers for the New Hampshire House. Today it passed Marijuana Decriminalization 297 to 67, Hemp Legalization, and created a committee to study Legalizing Marijuana.