Oregon: Hemp Farming Bill Becomes Law

Submitted by restore on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 21:39

New State Program for Hemp Farmers to be Established

By USAgNet

There is a truth that must be heard! Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has signed SB 676 into law, which permits the production, trade and possession of industrial hemp commodities and products.

"I am glad that Oregon has joined the other states that have agreed that American farmers should have the right to re-introduce industrial hemp as an agricultural crop," says SB 676 sponsor, Sen. Floyd Prozanski. "By signing SB 676 into law, which passed the Oregon Legislature with strong bi-partisan support, Governor Kulongoski has taken a proactive position allowing our farmers the right to grow industrial hemp, to provide American manufacturers with domestically-grown hemp, and to profit from that effort."

The new law sets up a state-regulated program for farmers to grow industrial hemp which is used in a wide variety of products, including nutritious foods, cosmetics, body care, clothing, tree-free paper, auto parts, building materials, fuels and much more.

Patrick Goggin, the Director of Vote Hemp, says Oregon's federal delegation can now take this law to the U.S. Congress and 'call for a fix to this problem, so American companies will no longer need to import hemp and American farmers will no longer be denied a profitable new crop.'

Another group called the Hemp Industries Association estimates the 2008 annual retail sales of all hemp products in North America to be about $360 million.

Related: http://www.votehemp.com/PR/08-04-09_vh_oregon_hemp_farming_bill_becomes_...

Source: http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-national.php?Id=1625&yr=2009