Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Hemp in Oregon: In surprise move, Senate rejects bill to pause production in Oregon

By Jeff Mapes
Source: oregonlive.com


This Google Earth view of the Murphy Creek Road area south of Grants Pass shows a new hemp farm in the lower left of the photo that has attracted the ire of nearby medical marijuana growers.


The Oregon Senate on Monday rejected a measure that would have placed a two-year moratorium on most hemp production in Oregon while cross-pollination concerns were worked out with marijuana growers.

The 13-17 vote against House Bill 2668 came after critics said the state Department of Agriculture should be left alone to work out these kinds of farming issues.

More immediately, the failure of the bill -- coming on what is expected to be the last day of the 2015 legislative session -- allows a controversial hemp farm in Josephine County to continue to operate.

The measure would have required the state Department of Agriculture to revoke all 13 of the hemp permits issued this year and reissue them only to growers who could meet tougher rules. Additional permits would not be granted until 2017.

State Agriculture Director Katy Coba said after the vote that there "are still a lot of questions" about hemp farming in Oregon and that she expects legislation in the 2016 session. In addition, she said department officials are visiting all hemp farms to make sure they meet existing state rules.

All 12 Republicans were joined by five Democrats -- Sens. Ginny Burdick, Elizabeth Steiner Hayward and Rod Monroe, all of Portland; and Lee Beyer of Springfield and Betsy Johnson of Scappoose -- in voting against the measure.

Beyer said "we should leave it to the professionals" at the Department of Agriculture to oversee hemp production.

Monroe, an opponent of legalizing marijuana, said he wasn't concerned that pollen from male hemp plants could adversely affect marijuana crops.

"I don't think it would be a particularly bad thing if marijuana was weakened a bit," said Monroe, adding that he thought it might save lives.

Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, said the two-year halt was needed to give the Department of Agriculture the time to study cross-pollination and ensure the state meets the requirements of federal law.

Among other things, the bill would have banned any hemp growing within 1,000 feet of a school.

That would have knocked out a new hemp farm near the southern Oregon town of Murphy in an area that also has several medical marijuana growers. Their trade group, the Oregon Sungrown Growers Guild, fought for the legislation.

Cliff Thomason, who heads a consortium of investors involved in the Murphy hemp farm, said he was ecstatic the bill was defeated. "This is a victory for hemp farmers," he said, adding that his group would now be able to proceed. 

Thomason said his group is maintaining a promise to grow male plants inside so pollen won't interfere with marijuana crops.

However, Coba said the department will check to make sure that hemp farms are at least 2.5 acres in size. Thomason said his group is farming two locations that are at least that large but that not all the ground is planted.  He said the group wants to grow in phases and is in discussions with state officials about the issue.

Thomason's group is politically well-connected since Josephine County Commissioners Simon Hare and Cherryl Walker, a former legislator, are both involved in the hemp farm.

Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, is sponsoring a bill that would put strict limits on hemp production in Oregon.


Kush Creams, based in Gig Harbor, are meant to be used for any skin issues, from bug bites to rashes. These tester bottles were on display at the Oregon Hemp Convention at the Portland Expo Center. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)



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