US Senate passes bill to legalise industrial hemp farming

“This bipartisan bill would finally end an outdated ban that has held farmers back from participating in the industrial hemp market, allow states to decide the best way to regulate this emerging industry, and give farmers access to critical federal support to protect their investment. Legalizing industrial hemp production will bring new businesses to Virginia and create jobs,” senators Timothy Michael Kaine and Mark Robert Warner from Virginia said in a press release on the former’s official website.

“In addition, this legislation includes measures to continue successful Chesapeake Bay clean-up efforts, expand farm conservation, and preserve some of our most cherished public lands,” they said.

Hemp is used in more than 25,000 products spanning agriculture, textiles, recycling, automotive, furniture, food, nutrition, beverages, paper, construction materials and personal care.

The bill also includes measures to protect the US cotton industry, making cotton once again eligible to participate in federal crop insurance programs, which are used by farmers to protect themselves against either the loss of their crops due to natural disasters, or the loss of revenue due to declines in the prices of agricultural commodities.

The bill has now moved to the House of Representatives for consideration. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India