By Monterey Bud

 

On Tuesday, the Washington State Legislature voted 98-0, progressing a bill that would eradicate hemp from the state’s “uniform controlled substances act.”

Provided it’s passed into law, H.B. 2064 could plant the seeds of federal nullification for the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp for Washington’s farmers.

Germinating the necessary legislation for a full-blown commercial hemp industry in the Evergreen State, Rep. Vincent Buys (R) and a bipartisan alliance of state representatives introduced House Bill 2064 on Feb. 9th.

Despite the Obama administration’s passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, which permits certain states to develop limited academic and agricultural research programs under the “hemp amendment,” the farming of industrial hemp for commercial purposes by individuals and business remains prohibited.

Currently, the hemp plant’s long demonized cousin, marijuana, is legal for adult-use in Washington State. Meanwhile, back on the farm, the industrial hemp plant is still regulated as a “controlled substance” with its cultivation heavily scrutinized.

Potentially reigniting one of America’s oldest industries with the passage of H.B. 2064, the Washington State Legislature would assure this valuable plant is no longer regulated as a controlled substance under state law.

View HB 2064: Washington State Hemp Legislation by Monterey Bud on Scribd