Vote Hemp Holds Briefing with Rep. Massie, Rep. Polis and Commissioner Comer to Discuss State vs. Federal Laws on Industrial Hemp Farming

New Department of Justice Policy Change Regarding Enforcement of Federal and State Marijuana Laws Raises Questions for States Supporting Industrial Hemp Cultivation

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 11:00 am, Vote Hemp will hold a briefing and press conference on the recent policy change at the Department of Justice honoring state laws in specific states regarding marijuana production.  Members of the press will hear directly from Congressman Thomas Massie, Congressman Jared Polis, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer and others on the opportunity for industrial hemp farming and whether further legislative clarification is even necessary in light of the Justice Department's ruling.

Other topics of discussion will include the hemp farming amendment to the House Farm Bill, an update on the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, H.R. 525 and S. 359, the current market for and agriculture benefits of industrial hemp.

WHAT: Press Conference to discuss the conflict between State and Federal laws in regards to industrial hemp farming

WHEN: Tuesday, September 10, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Cannon 122 House office building

WHO:  Leading lawmakers on the industrial hemp issue: Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY), Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), Kentucky Department of Agriculture Commissioner James Comer

Nine states have enacted laws regulating hemp production, and ten others have urged Congress to remove federal barriers to hemp production.  Industrial hemp, a non-drug crop, is already a $500+ million industry in the U.S., representing over 4,000 jobs.  Commissioner Comer is leading the charge to move forward with hemp production in Kentucky, and it is his position that the Justice Department's ruling must honor state law in all states where the legislature has established a responsible administrative framework to license hemp producers. It is his hope that the Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission begins licensing hemp producers by 2014. In addition, Vermont just released its Hemp Registration Form that allows farmers to apply for hemp permits and the Colorado Department of Agriculture is developing regulations to license hemp farmers in 2014. North Dakota has issued permits for several years now.  

Vote Hemp is a national, single-issue, non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for low-THC industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow the agricultural crop.  More information about hemp legislation and the crop's many uses may be found at www.VoteHemp.com or www.TheHIA.org.  Video footage of hemp farming in other countries is available upon request by contacting Ryan Fletcher at 202-641-0277 or [email protected].

SOURCE Vote Hemp