As America becomes more environmentally conscience, more and more states are considering hemp reform. Hemp is an extremely versatile plant, and can do anything that petroleum products do, without the undesirable effects on the environment. The hemp industry in America is huge, and is getting bigger every year that goes by. Right now entrepreneurs have to import their hemp from other countries to turn it into the things that they sell. In a better scenario, they would be able to grow it on their own domestically.
North Carolina has become the latest state to be on the verge of legalizing industrial hemp. Per The Joint Blog:
North Carolina’s full Senate – with an 101 to 7 vote – has given approval to an amended version of Senate Bill 313, which allows industrial hemp to be cultivated in the state for the first time in decades. Having already passed the House of Representatives, it now heads to Governor Pat McCrory for consideration.
If signed into law by Governor McCrory, or allowed to become law without his signature, the measure would establish an Industrial Hemp Commission which would oversee a hemp pilot program. The commission would be tasked with granting licenses to farmers as well as the state’s A&T University to cultivate industrial hemp.
“I did run an industrial hemp bill several years ago and had opposition from the law enforcement community,” said the bill’s primary sponsor Senator Stan Bingham. According to Bingham, law enforcement no longer objects.
It’s very encouraging to hear that law enforcement has backed off of their opposition to hemp reform in North Carolina. I wish more members of law enforcement in other states would follow their lead. There is zero reason for law enforcement to fear hemp. I heard a federal official say that ‘hemp is just a cute name for marijuana.’ Is popcorn just a cute name for corn syrup? No, because while they are both corn based, they are completely different things. If you live in North Carolina, now is the time to contact your Governor and urge them to sign this bill!
