Earlier this month, Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner announced he was co-sponsoring the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015.
If approved, the measure would not only legalize industrial hemp for commercial production, but it would also exclude the non-psychoactive cannabis plant from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act.
“Industrial hemp is a safe substance with many practical commercial applications,” Gardner said in a media release. “Removing it from the Controlled Substances Act is a commonsense move which would create jobs and get the government out of the way of farmers and our agricultural industry.”
Oregon Democrats and Kentucky Republicans introduced the bipartisan legislation.
Sharon Stewart, who spearheads a local industrial hemp advocacy group, was shocked to learn of Gardner’s support for industrial hemp.
“I’m incredibly surprised,” said the Founder of Hemp Talks/Western Slope Colorado.
Stewart has led area efforts to promote the benefits of industrial hemp for nearly two years. She hopes to piggyback on the news from the nation’s capital at the upcoming Four States Ag Expo in Cortez.
“Ryan Loflin is the first farmer in 57 years to plant and successfully harvest industrial hemp,” said Stewart. “He is coming to our little ole corner of Colorado, and I am thrilled that our farmers will have someone to ask questions to other than me.”
Also excited, Loflin said it’s critical to help educate others at events like the Four States Ag Expo.
“The federal government is very good at misinforming the American people, so I can’t blame people for not understanding the cannibis plant,” said Loflin.
Loflin planted 60 acres of hemp in 2013 despite federal and state laws against the practice. Facing a potential life sentence in federal prison, Loflin said his aim was to show that industrial hemp could be a viable crop option.
“I believe that the American farmer shouldn’t be threatened with the loss of their livelihood for growing a plant,” said Loflin.
Yet, other potential hemp farmers should wait, Loflin said.
“Wait until we have complete federal legalization of hemp farming,” he said.
Loflin, like others that have grown hemp locally, is not only concerned with seed supply and demand issues, but also needed regional infrastructure systems to process hemp.
“I believe hemp farming is the most important issue for the American farmer since the Soil Conservation programs of the dust bowl days,” said Loflin, who has lobbied on Capital Hill.
“We all need to contact our legislators and encourage them to federally legalize industrial hemp farming across America,” he added.
The U.S. is the planet’s top consumer of hemp products, but the only industrialized nation in the world not growing the commodity, which is used in food, cosmetics, clothing and industrial materials.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com
