BIG NEWS! Senate passes bipartisan Farm Bill 86-11 including Hemp Farming Act provisions
Yesterday, June 28th, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the Farm Bill including language from the Hemp Farming Act (S. 2667)! The Senate version of the Farm Bill includes language that transfers federal authority for hemp farming to USDA and allows it to be regulated by states under the supervison of USDA. The bill defines hemp as distinct from marijuana, removes it from the Controlled Substances Act and replaces the DEA with USDA for federal oversight. It ensures that native American tribes are included, funds hemp research, funds a hemp seed bank and authorizes federal crop insurance for hemp crops.
The House passed its partisan version of the Farm Bill on June 20th on a party-line vote of 213 -211. Next the House and Senate leaders will appoint a Conference Committee made up mostly of senior members of the Agriculture committees. The Conference will work to reconcile the two bills before it is approved and sent to the President for his signature.
Thanks for your support which made a huge difference in ensuring that hemp farming language was included in the final bill! We also thank Senator Wyden and Senator McConnell for leading this effort as well as the other 27 Senators who cosponsored the Hemp Farming Act.
We are close to a big win but may still need your help to push this over the finish line. If so, we will send out an Action Alert to let you know how you can help.
Please consider making a donation to help us ensure that American farmers can grow hemp once again. There are still 10 states which have not passed legislation to allow hemp farming. Our goal is to see hemp farming legal across America.