Source: thedailychronic.net
BISMARK, ND — The North Dakota state Senate voted overwhelmingly Monday to give final approval to a bill authorizing the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state.
The Senate voted 46-1 Monday to approve House Bill 1436, which passed 87-5 in the House last month, sending the bill to the desk of Gov. Jack Dalrymple.
HB 1436 sets up the framework for state agriculture officials to establish a hemp farming program in the state, and eliminates any need for federal approval for the program to begin. The bill reads, in part: “A license required by this section is not conditioned on or subject to review or approval by the United States drug enforcement agency.”
Farmers worldwide grow hemp commercially for fiber, seed, and oil for use in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including food and clothing. The United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop on a large scale, according to the Congressional Resource Service.
Over thirty countries produce industrial hemp, including Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine.
With an estimated market of over $500 million per year, the United States is the world’s largest importer of hemp fiber and products. The majority of hemp sold in the United States is imported from China and Canada, the world’s largest exporters of the crop.
The governor must sign or veto legislation within 3 business days after transmittal from the legislature, or it becomes law without his signature.
The full text of HB 1436 can be found here.
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