Kentucky Republicans and business leaders are promoting an unlikely way to boost the state’s economic development: Grow cannabis.

Cannabis Farming Has Kentucky Republicans Seeing Economic Boost

Kentucky leaders want their state to become the king of hemp, a plant that comes from the same species as marijuana, though doesn’t contain enough of the intoxicating ingredient to cause a high.

They want to help state farmers overcome the federal government’s treatment of hemp as an illegal drug, and produce it on an industrial scale, for use in items such as soap, horse bedding, building materials and auto body parts. Kentucky is one of at least five states, including Indiana and Vermont, where lawmakers have introduced measures allowing hemp farming.

The Kentucky effort is supported by legislative leaders, the state chamber of commerce, Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul and agricultural commissioner James Comer, a Republican who campaigned on bringing the crop to his state.

“It could produce thousands of jobs,” Comer said in an interview.“Industrial hemp is totally different than marijuana. It should be treated like corn or soybeans.”

U.S. retail sales of products with imported hemp were more than $452 million in 2011, according to an estimate by the Hemp Industries Association, based in Summerland, California.

All One God Faith Inc., a closely held company in Escondido, California, that markets Dr. Bronner’s soaps, is considering expanding to Kentucky if hemp is grown there, said David Bronner, the company’s chief executive officer. The soaps contain hemp.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by truth on February 1, 2013 at 9:03am

border 3 hr drive from me, go KY!

Permalink Reply by Maria De Wind on February 2, 2013 at 11:27am

HEMP HARVESTING INDUSTRY IN FRANCE

list of countries that it is legal to grow hemp.

Hemp Production in Saskatchewan

Growing Hemp

Permalink Reply by Tara on February 2, 2013 at 11:30am

It would be nice to see this come to fruition.

Permalink Reply by Maria De Wind on February 2, 2013 at 11:37am

Hemp Growing Was Once The Law In The US

Permalink Reply by Tara on February 11, 2013 at 11:52pm

Senate Committee Votes Unanimously to Approve Legal Hemp in Kentucky

Today the Senate Committee on Agriculture in Kentucky voted unanimously on Senate Bill 50, which would legalize industrial hemp in Kentucky.

Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on February 12, 2013 at 12:34am

Awesome!!

Permalink Reply by Tara on February 27, 2013 at 6:42pm

Democrats abruptly halt debate of hemp bill

FRANKFORT — Democrats abruptly halted debate Wednesday on a bill that would regulate hemp farming in Kentucky if the federal government legalizes the crop.

Permalink Reply by TheLasersShadow on February 27, 2013 at 6:59pm

Democrats halt bill lol... most leftys i know want hemp and see it as a no brainer. Very sad to see political cowardice on this level. Over 50% in nation wide polls want medical cannibis and depending on the state its now at 50% for out right legalization. No hemp? this is pathetic

Permalink Reply by guest_blog on March 5, 2013 at 1:04pm