Vote Hemp: Information: Political: Legislation

Political > Legislation

Vote Hemp has worked hard over the years to educate legislators on the local, state and federal levels. To date, 26 states have introduced hemp legislation and 16 have passed legislation; 5 have legalized its production. (See the chart below for more information.)

We are currently working with a U.S. Senator and Congressman to introduce legislation on the federal level — the Industrial Hemp Farming Act — which aims to distinguish hemp from marijuana and legalize hemp for American farmers to grow.

INDUSTRIAL HEMP LEGISLATION

State (click to view legislature site)	Session Year	Bill Number (click on bill number to view bill status)	Current Status
California	2005	AB 1147	Introduced 2/22/05.
New Hampshire	2005	HB 55	Establishes an industrial hemp special program fund. Currently in the Environment & Agriculture Committee. Heard by the committee on 2/1/05.
Oregon	2005	SB 294	Introduced 1/13/05.
State	Session Year	Bill Number	Current Status
New Hampshire	2004	HB 653	Authorizes the production of industrial hemp. Introduced on 1/15/04, but no vote taken.
State	Session Year	Bill Number	Current Status
Iowa	2003	SF 191	Died in committee.
Maine	2003	LD 53	Passed into law on 4/18/03.
New Hampshire	2003	HB 653	Authorizes the production of industrial hemp, but passed over (no action taken).
Oregon	2003	HB 2769	Permits regulated production of industrial hemp, but passed over (no action taken).
State	Session Year	Bill Number	Current Status
Arizona	2002	SB 1431	Passed in House Education Committee, but no action taken.
California	2002	AB 388	Passed on 8/15/02, but vetoed by Gov. Davis on 9/15/02.
Hawaii	2002	HB 57	Passed into law.
Minnesota	2002	SF 3395	Died in Committee.
New Mexico	2002	HB 350	Died in Committee.
South Dakota	2002	Initiated Measure 1	Voter initiative which failed to pass, as only 39% voted in favor.
Vermont	2002	SB 119	Died in Committee.
West Virginia	2002	SB 447	Passed into law.
Wisconsin	2002	AB 679	Passed by Agriculture Committee, but died in Rules Committee.
State	Session Year	Bill Number	Current Status
Arizona	2001	SB 1519	Passed on 4/19/01, but vetoed by Gov. Hull on 4/25/01.
California	2001	AB 448	Died in Assembly committee.
Idaho	2001	HJM 3	Killed in House 47-15.
Hawaii	2001	HB 57	Passed into law.
Illinois	2001	SB 1397 - HB3377	Passed, but vetoed by Governor Ryan twice despite changes to meet his objections.
Iowa	2001	SF 61	Referred to Agriculture Committee.
Kentucky	2001	HB 100	Passed into law and signed by Gov. Patton.
Montana	2001	SB 261	Passed into law and signed by Gov. Martz on 4/23/2001.
Nebraska	2001	LB 273	Died in House committee.
New Hampshire	2001	HB 293	Died in House committee.
New Mexico	2001	HB 582 HB 583	Died in House committee.
North Dakota	2001	HCR 3033	Passed into law.
Oregon	2001	SB 531 HB 3227	SB 531 died in Senate committee. HB 3227 died in House committee.
South Dakota	2001	SB 86	Voted down in Senate committee.
Vermont	2001	SB 119	Deferred to 2002.
Virginia	2001	HJ 605	Passed into law.
State	Year	Bill Number	Current Status
Illinois	2000	HR 553	Passed into law.
Kentucky	2000	HB 855	Legislative session ended with no action.
Maryland	2000	HB 1250	Passed into law and signed by Gov. Glendening.
New Hampshire	2000	HB 239 HJR 25	HB 239 died in committee. HJR 25 passed into law.
New Mexico	2000	HB 388	Died in House committee.
Vermont	2000	JRS 98	Passed into law.
State	Year	Bill Number	Current Status
Arkansas	1999	SR 13	Passed into law.
California	1999	HR 32	Passed into law.
Hawaii	1999	HB 32	Passed into law.
Hawaii	1999	HR 109	Passed into law.
Hawaii	1999	HR 110	Passed into law.
Illinois	1999	SR 49 - HR 168	Passed into law.
Minnesota	1999	SF 122 - HF 1238	Passed into law.
Montana	1999	HR 2	Passed into law.
North Dakota	1999	HB 1428 HCR 3038	Passed into law. Passed into law.
Tennesee	1999	HB 864	Died in committee.
Virginia	1999	HJ 94	Passed into law.
State	Year	Bill Number	Current Status
Colorado	1996	SB 67	Passed in Senate, but failed in House Agriculture Committee after the DEA lobbied against it.
Colorado	1995	SB 132	Failed in Senate Agriculture Committee.
Missouri	1998	SCR 42	Died in committee.
Missouri	1997	SB 79	Passed in Senate, but voted down on House floor after the DEA lobbied against it.
Missouri	1997	HB 283	Died in committee.
Missouri	1996	SCR 26	Died in committee.
Missouri	1996	SB 972	Died in committee.
New Mexico	1998	HB 222	Passed into law, but vetoed by Gov. Johnson.
New Hampshire	1998	HB 1576	Died in committee.
North Dakota	1997	HB 1305	Passed into law.
Oregon	1997	HB 3623	Died in committee.
Vermont	1996 1998	H 783 JRH 149	Passed into law, but Gov. Dean did not sign the bill. Nor did he veto it. Passed into law and sent to the DEA and Congressional delegation.
Virginia	1997	HJ 656	Passed over in Rules Committee (no action taken).