Hemp Legislation Clears Senate Moves On To Inslee For Signature

On Wednesday, the Washington Legislature gave the final approval, permitting large-scale industrial hemp production.  Senate Bill 5276 creates an agricultural commodity program under the Washington state Department of Agriculture to regulate the production of hemp.  Ferndale Republican Senator Doug Ericksen sponsored the measure, and said this is a win for Washington farmers.

“Give people in Washington state another option on some agricultural activities that could be beneficial to home building to clothing and also to some medicinal aspects.”

Hemp was once a major crop in the U.S., but was banned from American farmland after Congress declared marijuana a controlled substance.  Hemp is a strain of the cannabis sativa plant species with minimal THC

However the 2018 farm Bill permits hemp to be grown again in the U.S.  In Washington, some small-scale hemp production has been permitted for about a year, thanks to a pilot project.

“I had a field of hemp grown just about two miles from my home," said Moses Lake Republican Senator Judy Warnick.  "And it’s a, um, very interesting crop.”

SB 5276 now heads to Governor Jay Inslee for his signature.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com