Industrial Hemp to be Grown in Arizona after Governor Ducey Signs Off
The hemp industry is gaining a lot of momentum for its textile properties. After Sen. Mitch McConnell out of Kentucky backed the legalization of industrial hemp in his home state and promised to push a bill to legalize it nationally, other states are looking into it as well. Arizona’s Governor Doug Ducey just signed off on SB 1098 which will begin the development of Arizona’s industrial hemp industry.
Hemp advocates have for a long time promoted the incredible possibilities that a legal regulated hemp industry could bring to the economies of both states and the country as a whole. The fibrous material that makes up hemp has tremendous strength for all sorts of products including clothing and even planes.
Governor Doug Ducey today signed SB 1098, providing funding for the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s (AZDA) agricultural pilot program allowing universities and those with a license from AZDA to begin cultivating industrial hemp – the fiber form of cannabis. Specifically, the hemp would be required to remain below 0.3 percent THC.
“This bill opens Arizona to the possibility of a new agricultural product,” said Governor Ducey. “I’m glad to sign a bill that could have a positive economic impact for the state.”
The marijuana legalization movement seems to have carried the hemp legalization movement with it, which only makes sense considering the two plants are so alike. Hemp though has very small trace amounts of THC in it which is the main separator between the two cannabis plants.
A recent court decision clarified that CBD products extracted from hemp are still illegal federally. Producers have been selling hemp-based CBD nationally since the law was not entirely clear concerning CBD pulled from hemp versus the actual marijuana plant. CBD has shown real ability to alleviate pain and inflammation and is one of the fastest growing industries in the country.
read more at azgovernor.gov
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arizonaArizona Department of AgricultureCBDGovernor Doug Duceyhemphemp legalizationindustrial hemplatest cannabis newsmarijuana legalizationSB 1098
