Nevada Legislature Approves Measure to Legalize Hemp

By Anthony Martinelli
Source: thejointblog.com

Legislation that would legalize hemp throughout Nevada has been given approval by the state’s full legislature.

Senate Bill 396 received unanimous approval in the Senate late last month, and it has now been passed by the full Assembly with a 34 to 5 vote. With it being approved through both chambers, it will now be sent to Governor Brian Sandoval for consideration. Sandoval has the option of signing it into law, allowing it to become law without his signature, or vetoing it (if he does veto it the legislature could override it with a 2/3rds majority).

Senate Bill 396 would expand upon a current law that allows hemp to be grown in the state for research purposes by creating “a separate program for the growth and cultivation of industrial hemp and produce agricultural hemp seed in this State”; this would allow hemp to be grown for commercial – and not exclusively research – purposes.

The measure “requires a person who wishes to grow or handle industrial hemp or produce agricultural hemp seed to register with the Department [of Agriculture”, and “requires the testing of commodities or products made using industrial hemp by an independent testing laboratory”

The bill also “allows a facility for the production of edible marijuana products or marijuana-infused products and a medical marijuana dispensary to acquire industrial hemp from a registered grower or handler”, and “allows a facility for the production of edible marijuana products or marijuana-infused products to use industrial hemp to manufacture edible marijuana products and marijuana-infused product”.

In addition, Senate Bill 396 “allows a medical marijuana dispensary to dispense industrial hemp and edible marijuana products and marijuana-infused products containing industrial hemp”, and  “requires the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt regulations setting forth minimum requirements for industrial hemp which is used by a facility for the production of edible marijuana products or marijuana-infused products to manufacture such products or which is dispensed by a medical marijuana dispensary”.

Cllick here for the full text of Senate Bill 396