Kentucky Hemp Bill now goes to Governor Steve Beshear

The many lives of Hemp Bill 50 now has another one at the end of session.  Thought to be dead, many including Commissioner Comer had left, but Adkins and others kept the talks going.  The main sticking point appeared to be the connection to the university system and their respective agriculture departments.

Commissioner Comer also lost his position during the late compromise, although Comer had been the strongest proponent for Hemp in Kentucky, he will now reside as Vice Chair on the Hemp commission.

With all of the excitement, something had gotten lost.  The bill still needs to be signed, and with opposition from the police and others like Greg Stumbo, the Governor has yet to decide how he would respond to a Hemp Bill.

If there is any merit to these proceedings, it has given the American voter the chance to witness politicians and their respective skill and intellect.  The voters of Kentucky now know who the body politic serves.  They also know what they fear.

The House passed with a vote of 88 – 4 and the Senate passed with 35 – 1. 

Governor Steve Beshear is now in play.

West Virginia follows Missouri and others into Industrial Hemp

Charleston, WV (March 23, 2013)—West Virginia Vice Chair of  Agriculture committee Mike Manypenny (D—Taylor, 49) has introduced WV House Bill 3011.  The bill would remove parts of the current state law language which would enable West Virginia to redeploy the Industrial Hemp Development Act of 1931.

Richard Nixon placed jurisdiction of Industrial Hemp under the Drug Enforcement Agency.  By law, the DEA can currently issue certificates to farmers to make it legal to cultivate and take Hemp to full harvest maturation. HB 3011 would remove the requirement for federal permission to farm Hemp.  HB 3011 currently has 4 cosponsors.

Earlier in the month, the National Farmers Union made a reclassification to officially remove Industrial Hemp from the controlled substances listing currently used by the Federal Government and all subsequent agencies.

Steven Wilson of the Missouri Hemp Network had this to say about the move from ManyPenny, “This year we have seen a strong ground movement into industrial hemp.  In past years, the bills would be few from agro-centric states and they would have no cosponsors.  Not only do these bills have cosponsors, but they have support from local farm groups and national farm organizations.  Things have changed.  The body politic is coming after us this time, in the past we normally had to chase them.”

Wilson also noted that each state seems to be addressing Hemp from different angles.  Some are moving from agriculture and others are moving from law.  Jason Holsman (D—Kansas City) has sponsored SB 358 in the Missouri senate.  It is also a reclassification bill and it has a hearing scheduled for March 26 in SCR 1.

Asked why it seems to be happening now, Wilson replied, “With information about food for weapons, the Doha round and subsidy programs, and the market viability of hemp in other countries, farmers seem to want results rather than rules.  Farm sovereignty is becoming a major issue not just for states, but also for families. It also seems to be immune from party affiliation.  Hemp is not activism.  It is about economy.”

To contact Mike ManyPenny: mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov

To contact Jason Holsman: http://www.jrholsman.com/index.php/contact-us

General Law Committee Hearing set for Missouri Industrial Hemp farming Bill

A General Laws Committee hearing is set for March 26^th at 3:00 pm and it will be held in SCR 1.  Senate Bill 358 is on the schedule for this hearing.

Senator Jason Holsman (D—Kansas City) has sponsored this bill and its main goal to get Industrial Hemp reclassified as to allow Missouri farmers the right to farm Industrial Hemp.

This is a public hearing that allows for testimony in person or in writing if given ahead of time.  For those interested in testifying at this hearing please contact sweb@senate.mo.gov

The following are the members of the General Laws Committee:

• Brian Nieves, 26th, Chairman
• Rob Schaaf, 34th, Vice-Chairman
• Doug Libla, 25th
• Gary Romine, 3rd
• Ryan Silvey, 17th
• Jason Holsman, 7th
• Jamilah Nasheed, 5th

Steven Wilson of the Central Missouri Hemp Network said “Hearings like this give people a chance to voice their opinion outside of the ballot.  Informed citizenry is what managed this country and it is how we can reclaim farm sovereignty and farm freedom.  I encourage all who care about the working man to come out and tell the Senate what they think, either way.  Citizen up or citizen down.”

For more information you may contact Jason Holsman at http://www.jrholsman.com/index.php/contact-us

Greg Stumbo makes Kentuckians sickle while he goes Reaper for Industrial Hemp Senate Bill 50

With their session almost over, Greg Stumbo (Democrat—Prestonburg) won’t allow a floor vote on Industrial Hemp Senate bill 50.

He has been opposed to the bill for many reasons and that had taken place even though the bill passed the Kentucky senate and both sub-committees in the Kentucky House.

At a recent town hall Rep. McKee (Democrat—Cynthiana)  had to face over 70 Kentucky farmers and their support for Hemp farming in Kentucky before he bowed to their commands.

Many analysts believe that any public servant seen as an obstruction to agro-centric job creation bills such as this will get no mercy when it comes time to vote in the next election.  Americans are more and more removing party affiliation and replacing it with Pro-jobs moniker.  American voters are no longer prepared to forgive such votes for party loyalty.

In a recent survey by the Louisville Courier Journal, 65% of Kentucky respondents said it was time for Industrial Hemp to bring Kentucky back to the forefront of agriculture in America.

Steven Wilson of the Central Missouri Industrial Hemp Network said, “With a history of Hemp production and a willing farmer base to harvest the raw material, it makes no sense to keep fighting over a simple issue.  Both Democrats and Republicans in state and Federal positions are going to have to answer what they stand for—Government or family?  With 31 countries farming Hemp and annual sales over 400 million the window for entry is going to close.  American farmers can’t wait forever to save America.”

Senator Jason Holsman (Democrat—Kansas City) has proposed a Hemp farming bill for Missouri.  With states like Colorado and Washington moving ahead with reform, the first states to do so will benefit greatly from the job and wealth creation.

American Firm earns “Bio Preferred” Placement from US Department of Agriculture for Industrial Hemp

Colorado based EnviroTextiles has earned the right to sell and promote Industrial Hemp final products from the United States Department of Agriculture.  The program is featured as a beginning to Americans operating in environmental markets of scale. 

Barbara Filippone, owner of EnviroTextiles, has been working with Industrial Hemp for twenty years and has created thousands of jobs in other countries due to the Federal mandate that Hemp is considered a controlled substance.  The placement is significant because now Filippone can use her expertise to aid the American economy still trying to work itself out of the hole of Recession.

 Americans can invest in themselves and their neighbor.  Instead of sending wealth and jobs abroad, Industrail Hemp can get America back to a stable growth pattern even as a mature economy.

Currently, there are no firms in Missouri allowed this placement for Industrial Hemp by the Department of Agriculture.  Senator Jason Holsman of Kansas City has sponsored a Missouri Industrial Hemp bill, but it appears to be in limbo.

Industrial Hemp has built economies of scale and secured the Middle class in countries like Canada, Poland, China, and it is now starting in the Philippines.  It has also aided former soviet block countries like the Czech Republic with environmental issues as well as trade.

To contact EnviroTextiles please go to their website at www.envirotextiles.com

To contact Jason Holsman please go to http://www.jrholsman.com/index.php/contact-us