HemperFi

If you didn't know, California and Vermont are currently spearheading industrial hemp legislative efforts. Before anyone gets too excited, pro-hemp state legislation is half the battle...getting the federal government (read DEA) to administer a licensing program is the real challenge. Why? The US Code does not distinguish between industrial, low-THC hemp and high-THC marijuana. In the US code (Title 21 USC Section 812) "Marihuana" is defined as a "Schedule I" drug, making it bedfellows with Cocaine and Heroin (although Marijuana is in a slighlty less severe subsection which acknoledges potential medical purposes).

Here's the three-pronged approach states have taken to date:

1. Resolutions urging the President and the U.S. Congress to redefine marijuana vs. hemp. A great example is North Dakota's HCR 3033.
2. State laws legalizating hemp cultivation for research purposes. A good example is Kentucky's House Bill, HB100.
3. State laws legalizing commercial hemp cultivation. California's recent Assembly Bill 1147 is the most recent example. Vermont's Industrial Hemp bill also attempts to establish a commercial hemp industry.

It's important to note that Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana and West Virginia already have pro-hemp laws on the books. However, only West Virginia and Montana laws allow full-scale commercial hemp farming. If California and Vermont's efforts succeed, there will be a total of four.

A great site with current status on the U.S. state-by-state legislative efforst is Vote Hemp.