Hemp bill gains momentum in the Senate Agriculture Committee

Senate Bill 50 (Hornback), which creates a structure for the regulation and production of industrial hemp, if and when the federal government allows it to be grown, passed the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously on Monday morning.  A bipartisan panel was present to testify in support of the bill, including hemp proponents Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. John Yarmuth , Rep.Thomas Massie,  former CIA Director James Woosley  and Agriculture Commission James Comer.

Commissioner Comer, who is leading the charge, testified hemp would give farmers another crop to grow and would create manufacturing jobs to turn hemp into products.  The Chamber supports SB 50 to position Kentucky as a leader in the production and commercialization of industrial hemp.