AUGUSTA – A local legislator’s bill to effectively legalize hemp in the state of Maine sailed through committee last week, setting up the possibility of floor votes within the next few weeks.
Rep. Lance Harvell (R – Farmington) sponsored LD 525, “An Act To Promote Industrial Hemp,” which was voted ought to pass by a 12 to 1 vote of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry committee on April 9. The bill removes several requirements, most significantly that the license to grow industrial hemp be contingent upon action by the federal government. Instead, Harvell said, the commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry would simply approve licenses.
“It basically takes the federal government out of the process,” Harvell said Friday.
Industrial hemp refers to varieties of the cannabis plant with low levels of THC, unlike marijuana, and is used in the creation of a number of products, ranging from paper to clothing to biodegradable plastics and bio-fuels. Hemp technically can be grown in the United States, but only with a Drug Enforcement Agency permit.
Recently, a number of states have begun legalizing the cultivation of hemp; as many as 30 states have made some shift in that direction according to Harvell. Much like medical marijuana programs or state efforts to outright legalize marijuana, industrial hemp cultivation lies in the somewhat gray area of being illegal federally yet legal locally.
Harvell sees the hemp bill as part of the ongoing discussion around the state’s marijuana policy, something he says needs reform. Practically speaking, Harvell said, the ban on growing hemp prevented Maine farmers from participating in a potentially lucrative agricultural opportunity. Pointing out that the majority of the world’s hemp was produced in China, Harvell said that missing out on that opportunity due to an “archaic policy” was counter-productive.
“If and when the feds back off [industrial hemp],” Harvell said, “the state would be positioned to take advantage.”
Harvell noted that seeds for industrial hemp would initially only be available through Canadian suppliers, and that those strains contain extremely limited amounts of THC.
“You’d have to smoke a telephone pole-sized joint to get high off this stuff,” Harvell said.
Harvell said he expected the bill to be taken up by the Maine Legislature within two to three weeks.
Thanks Lance…. Farmers need all of the support that you can muster
Telephone pole-sized Joint, interesting visual :)
Hemp is far more sustainable than cotton. Good move for Maine.
There is a bill in Washington to separate industrial hemp from cannabis in classification as well……
Good luck Rep. Harvell….now if u can get rid of the snow and cold it could be grown all year
good place to hide and grow the good stuff too without the helicopters finding it …lol
Thanks Lance.. We need more pepople in the goverment to think that way.
This is amazing – I never believed I would see the day when farmers again could grow hemp and marijuana could be used as medicine – now on to get the GMO’s labelled – thank you so much Lance – you are appreciated.
Good job Lance – I never heard of a good reason NOT to grow industrial hemp.
Think the only reason was the slippery slope point.
But that didn’t make sense unless there’s something else.
Broccoli & hemp were talked about years ago to replace lost potato crops.
As part of your research, how many states aloow and how much is grown currently?
Good job, good bill. Lets hope the governor sees fit to sign it.
no states allow it…..Hawaii has a waiver and can grow 1 acre…….
Hemp is a great crop for Mainers. Who wouldn’t want to order marijuana grown in the beautiful state of Maine? Maine is on the move! It just takes some people longer than others to understand how to get Maine to create a Maine economy that is sustainable without relying on Mainers to earn their living waiting on tourists and cleaning up after them every summer. (Mainers deserve better.) Thank goodness Lance is ahead of the rest.
Common sense legislation…hurrah!!!!
Good work Lance! We’re on your side.
Thanks Lance, “Let the Farmer’s Farm,”