Hemp for your heifers: Popular Colorado bill would make it possible

By Joey Bunch
Source: coloradopolitics.com

Colorado cows might soon be into edibles. Sort of. State Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, has momentum behind her proposal for the state to explore industrial-grade hemp for livestock and animal feed.

“Currently, it is illegal to sell animal feed that is deemed
adulterated,” Senate Bill 109 states. “The bill clarifies that the use of industrial hemp does not adulterate feed.”

Let’s be clear, I think. Industrial hemp isn’t getting you or your cow stoned, regardless of how funny it would be. People, not just Woody Harrelson, use hemp for everything, clothes, paper, biofuel, plastic, all sorts of things.

The bill passed the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee Thursday, 11-0. If it passes as easily on the floor of the Senate, it will fall to House sponsor Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins, to get it to the governor’s desk.

“Colorado has a reputation and tradition of tackling new issues, and bringing everybody together to the table to find solutions that simply work for everyone,” Donovan said in a statement after passing the bill out of its first committee. “We as a state lead the way on hemp use and need to chart a pathway that supports the industry’s continued growth, while also ensuring we set the standards for the rest of the country to follow.

“Agriculture is critical to my district and the state, and anything we can do to diversify and support those small family businesses is exciting.”

Sixteen states have legalized industrial hemp production, and 20 states have allowed research and pilot programs. Colorado is one of seven states with research and commercial production programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.