Hemp for Vermont Bill Becomes Law

[phantom power]

MONTPELIER, Vermont (May 30, 2008) — Vote Hemp, a grassroots advocacy organization working to give farmers the right to grow non-drug industrial hemp, is extremely pleased that Vermont Governor Jim Douglas allowed H.267, the Hemp for Vermont Bill, to become law without his signature yesterday afternoon.

The bill overwhelmingly passed both the House (126 to 9) and the Senate (25 to 1).

The new law sets up a state-regulated program for farmers to grow non-drug 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 and much more.

http://www.votehemp.com/PR/05-30-08_hemp_bill_becomes_law.html

[Kittycat]

1. Thank god... Hemp prices are increasing 40-55% from China, and

driving up the cost of cloth diapering products. I had to stop reordering some things, because the increases through a couple vendors were so high, I knew customers wouldn't even bother purchasing them any more.

[gateley]

It's my hope that this is just the first step.

When people realize what hemp can provide, and all the benefits, maybe we can start harvesting more in our country -- have it become "our" crop. We could become much more self-sufficient (I think). nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Me too

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. this is wonderful news

hemp cloth is the best. Glad it will be grown here now. Hope other states allow this, too. Would really help out farmers who used to raise tobacco.

[XemaSab]

5. Not just tobacco,

but cotton and other water-sucking crops in arid parts of the country.

The mnemonic here in California is CRAP:

Cotton
Rice
Alfalfa
Pasture

They're the biggest water-suckers in the state. :shrug:

[depakid]

3. As I recall, the state will need some sort of federal waiver

otherwise, they're subject to preemption.

As the article notes, North Dakota is currently before the court attempting to their own statutes.

And they will lose.

[diane in sf]

4. Good news. Looks like the states will be contesting the feds on this one.

Hopefully the fed tide will turn rapidly in January.

[Trillo]

7. Good. Maybe I'll be able to get those hemp jeans soon. n/t

[tridim]

8. No joke, cotton jeans all suck now IMO

They last about half as long as they used to.

[Fly by night]

9. There goes the opportunity for homegrown sensimilla in Vermont

I'm surprised that more drug warriors (sic) don't actively support allowing hemp to be grown everywhere in the US. All that unwanted pot pollen will make production of sensimilla virtually impossible in Vermont (and likely in neighboring states also.)

Glad the hemp bill passed. But folks should know the unintended consequences of this action.