Source: kaaltv.com
(ABC 6 News) -- Farmers may soon be able to grow a controlled substance as part of pilot project with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
The move stems from the Minnesota Industrial Hemp Development Act, which was passed in last year's legislative session.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration granted Minnesota a permit to begin work on an industrial hemp pilot project to study the crop. State agriculture officials say soon they will be taking applications for Minnesota farmers to participate.
Farmers would need to purchase hemp seeds from Canada or another country, because they are not legally sold in the U.S.
Participants would also need to submit security and research plans to the state as part of the pilot project vetting process.
Both officials and Zumbrota farmer Andrew Johnmeyer hope to start planting the crop as soon as this spring, the first time legally in more than 50 years.
"Industrial hemp is a crop that contains only trace amounts of THC, or psychoactive substances, so people can come in and steal it, but it wouldn't get them much," Johnmeyer said.
He wants to grow industrial hemp for livestock feed and, with commodity prices so low, he will only be planting beans and barley this year.
But the clock is ticking, because soon, Johnmeyer will have to buy seed for the crops he plans to grow this year, which would put his hemp dreams on hold.
"You've already paid for it,” Johnmeyer said. “So, you might as well plant it."(ABC 6 News) -- Farmers may soon be able to grow a controlled substance as part of pilot project with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
The move stems from the Minnesota Industrial Hemp Development Act, which was passed in last year's legislative session.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration granted Minnesota a permit to begin work on an industrial hemp pilot project to study the crop. State agriculture officials say soon they will be taking applications for Minnesota farmers to participate.
Farmers would need to purchase hemp seeds from Canada or another country, because they are not legally sold in the U.S.
Participants would also need to submit security and research plans to the state as part of the pilot project vetting process.
Both officials and Zumbrota farmer Andrew Johnmeyer hope to start planting the crop as soon as this spring, the first time legally in more than 50 years.
"Industrial hemp is a crop that contains only trace amounts of THC, or psychoactive substances, so people can come in and steal it, but it wouldn't get them much," Johnmeyer said.
He wants to grow industrial hemp for livestock feed and, with commodity prices so low, he will only be planting beans and barley this year.
But the clock is ticking, because soon, Johnmeyer will have to buy seed for the crops he plans to grow this year, which would put his hemp dreams on hold.
"You've already paid for it,” Johnmeyer said. “So, you might as well plant it."
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