Hemp

Gov. Steve Beshear: Law Enforcement Issues with Hemp Must Be Worked Out

Kenny Colston — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Before he joins the call for legalized industrial hemp, Gov. Steve Beshear wants law enforcement officials to resolve their concerns about the issue.

The issue: Some Kentucky officials believe legalized industrial hemp would be good for Kentucky's economy, but law enforcement officials are concerned that such a move would conflict with efforts to crack down on marijuana growers.

“I think we’re going to have to answer those questions before we can really move forward in the industrial hemp area,” Beshear said.

Kentucky is central in the movement to legalize hemp as an agricultural crop, largely thanks to the advocacy of Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul.

Kentucky Hemp Commission Will Work on Proposal, Economic Impact Study

Kenny Colston — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:59:21 +0000

The second meeting of the state’s Industrial Hemp Commission will include picking out some details of panel’s efforts. The commission, chaired by Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, will dive Friday morning into specifics of a new legislative proposal.

They include the bill’s language and which legislators will sponsor it during the 2013 session.

Comer says a state university will be selected to conduct a new economic study of legalizing industrial hemp in Kentucky.

In Debate Over Hemp, a Question about State vs. Federal Drug Laws

Kevin Willis — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Recent calls by high-ranking Kentucky officeholders to legalize industrial hemp have put the spotlight on the crop and what it might mean for Bluegrass State farmers. Both U.S. Senator Rand Paul and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer say they want to see federal and state law changed to allow farmers to grow hemp legally.

Long Dormant Kentucky Hemp Commission Will Be Revived

Kenny Colston — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:09:55 +0000

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer says he is restarting the long-dormant Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission. The General Assembly created the commission ten years ago to look into hemp's potential in the commonwealth, but it has never met.

Sen. Paul, Agriculture Commissioner Want Industrial Hemp Legalized

Kenny Colston — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:59:34 +0000

Two of Kentucky’s highest profile Republicans are teaming up to rally for industrial hemp. U.S. Senator Rand Paul and Agriculture Commissioner James Comer will hold a news conference on Thursday to double down on their support for the crop, which can be used for textiles or oil.