Industrial hemp bill being discussed in Arizona Senate Committee

By Lauren Reimer
Source: kvoa.com

TUCSON - It grows like corn and can replace cotton. Hemp could be the newest plant to come to Arizona fields, if it can first be made legal.

A new bill designed to study that possibility is in its early steps through the Arizona State Senate.

At Jean-Paul Genet's greenhouse on Tucson's south side, his marijuana plants stick to a strict light schedule, enjoy the breeze of two dozen fans, and even listen to classical music.

"Baroque music seems to work the best," said Genet.

His product is sold at 'Green Med' medical marijuana dispensary, and the business is growing.

"We'll have sativa, we'll have blends," said Genet.

There's just one more crop he'd like to add; hemp.

The plant is already imported to the U.S. in the form of usable products like clothes, oils, and even building materials, but it can't be grown here.

Blame it on the plant's family tree. Since hemp is related to marijuana, it's still considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance, and the state of Arizona has yet to put its own ruling in place.

One day, it just might.

"The amount of THC in the hemp variety of cannabis is minuscule; no matter how much of it somebody smoked, they would never get high from it," said Genet.

And growing it in the desert wouldn't be very difficult to do.

"Compared to cotton, it needs about a third to a quarter of what cotton needs, in terms of water," said Genet.

Add a specialized attachment to his, or her tractor, and a farmer could easily make the switch.

"He would have no problem selling his crop," said Genet.  "He could sell both the seeds and the flower, as well as the rest of the plant."

Brought in front of an Arizona senate committee Monday, the bill, SB 1225, proposes bringing together a 10 person study group to look at the benefits and economic opportunities of industrial hemp production.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, or NCSL, 19 states have already passed similar pilot programs. Eight of those now have laws allowing farmers to grow industrial hemp with a license.