Two industrial hemp bills have been introduced in the 113th Congress so far. H.R. 525, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013," was introduced in the U.S. House on February 6, 2013. A companion bill, S. 359, was introduced in the U.S. Senate on February 14, 2013. The bills define industrial hemp, exclude it from the definition of "marihuana" in the Controlled Substances Act, and gives states the exclusive authority to regulate the growing and processing of industrial hemp under state law.

Please see the Quick Links below for much more information.

On February 6, 2013, Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced H.R. 525, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013, along with 27 original cosponsors. Please see below for further details.

Quick Links Concerning H.R. 525
The "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013"

Read the full text of H.R. 525 as introduced (PDF file 254k)

THOMAS (Library of Congress) bill information for H.R. 525 - Bill Summary & Status - 113th Congress

Vote Hemp's automatically updated page of the THOMAS information

CRS Report: Hemp as an Agricultural Commodity, December 18, 2012 (PDF file 483k)

Read Rep. Massie's press release

On February 14, 2013, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced S. 359, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 525, along with original cosponsors Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Note that the bill language of S. 359 is not identical to H.R. 525. Please see below for further details.

Quick Links Concerning S. 359
A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana, and for other purposes.

Quick Links Concerning the Senate Companion bill to
The "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013"

Read the full text of S. 359 as introduced (PDF file 250k)

THOMAS (Library of Congress) bill information for S. 359 - Bill Summary & Status - 113th Congress

Read Sen. Wyden's Senate floor comments from February 14, 2013. (PDF file 127k)

Read Senator Wyden's press release Senators Seek to Lift Restrictions on Industrial Hemp announcing the introduction of the Senate companion bill.

Read Senator Paul's press release Sens. McConnell and Paul Co-sponsor Industrial Hemp Legislation.

Read Senator McConnell's press release Senators Seek to Lift Restrictions on Industrial Hemp.

Read Senator McConnell's press release Sens. McConnell and Paul Co-sponsor Industrial Hemp Legislation.

Read our press release announcing the introduction of the Senate companion bill.

Watch Sen. Wyden's Senate floor comments on June 13, 2012 after the introduction of his hemp farming amendment to the Farm Bill. (Youtube HD)

History of Modern Federal Hemp Legislation

In 2005, we reached a major milestone ... for the first time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States, a federal bill was introduced that would remove restrictions on the cultivation of non-psychoactive industrial hemp. At a Capitol Hill lunch on June 23, 2005 marking the introduction of H.R. 3037, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2005," Congressional staffers were treated to a delicious gourmet hemp lunch while listening to various prominent speakers tout the myriad benefits of encouraging and supporting a domestic hemp industry.

The bill was written with the help of Vote Hemp by chief sponsor Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), and it garnered 11 additional cosponsors. The bill defined industrial hemp, excluded it from the definition of "marihuana" in the Controlled Substances Act, and assigned authority over it to the states, allowing laws in those states regulating the growing and processing of industrial hemp to take effect.

On February 13, 2007 Rep. Ron Paul introduced H.R. 1009, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007," with nine original cosponsors. The bill was assigned to comittee, but never received a hearing or a floor vote. At the end of the 110th Congress the bill had 13 cosponsors.

On April 2, 2009 Rep. Ron Paul introduced H.R. 1866, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009," with ten original cosponsors. The bill was assigned to comittee, but never received a hearing or a floor vote. At the end of the 111th Congress the bill had 25 cosponsors.

On May 12, 2011 Rep. Ron Paul introduced H.R. 1831, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011," with twenty-two original cosponsors. The bill was assigned to comittee, but never received a hearing or a floor vote. At the end of the 112th Congress Rep. Ron Paul and Rep. Barney Frank retired and the bill had 37 cosponsors. A Senate companion bill was introduced on August 2, 2012 by Sen. Ron Wyden.

On June 7, 2012 Sen. Ron Wyden introduced an industrial hemp amendment to S. 3240, the Farm Bill. This amendment failed to be attached to the Farm Bill, but did help to find original cosponsors for the introduction of S. 3501, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2012."

Quick Links Concerning S. 3240
"The Senate Farm Bill"

Read the amendment full text as introduced (PDF file 25k)

THOMAS (Library of Congress) bill information for the hemp farming amendment (S.AMDT.2220)

Text of the hemp farming amendment (S.AMDT.2220) Congressional Record, Text of Amendments -- (Senate - June 07, 2012) (PDF file 106k)

THOMAS (Library of Congress) bill information for the Farm Bill (S.3240)

Read Sen. Wyden's Senate floor comments from June 13, 2012. (PDF file 106k)

Watch Sen. Wyden's Senate floor comments from June 13, 2012. (Youtube HD)

Read our press release announcing the amendment