by Anndrea Hermann
This past week, during Hemp History Week, US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) sponsored an industrial hemp farming amendment (S.A.2220) to the 2012 Farm Bill (S.3240). Within a few days US Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) signed on as a co-sponsor of this amendment. Having an extremely conservative Republican from Kentucky and a Democrat from Oregon showed industrial hemp unity in which we had great hopes that the Farm Bill would be passed with the industrial hemp farm amendment intact. Sen. Wyden’s floor speech was to the point and straight forward.
Side Note: Rand Paul is the son of Ron Paul. Representative Ron Paul (R-TX14), as you may already know, introduced H.R. 1831: Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011 to the 112th Congress, 2011—2012. H.R. 1831 would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana, and for other purposes. This Act currently has 33 Co-sponsors. Contact your representative in the House asking them to co-sponsor H.R. 1831.
Now back to the Farm Bill. Even though the industrial hemp farming amendment was eventually cut out of the Farm Bill, Sen. Wyden was successful in bringing industrial hemp to ears of the US Senators. Our goal now will be to introduce a Senate companion bill to H.R. 1831. The Senate reconvened yesterday to start the task of voting on the Farm Bill. Of the 300+ amendments only 73, as per leadership agreement were voted on. During the remainder of the week the Senate floor will debate and roll call on 58 Farm Bill amendments with the remaining 15 by voice vote. You can track the Farm Bill floor updates at https://democrats.senate.
Please make a difference! Call your US Congresspersons. Support US Farmers, Businesses and Citizens- Help bring hemp cultivation back to the USA!
Article from National Cannabis Coalition and republished with special permission
