TIME FOR KENTUCKY TO JOIN MARCH TOWARD HEMP FARMING

Now, nearly four years after then-Gov. Brereton Jones’ Task Force on
Hemp and Related Fibers was unceremoniously disbanded over farming
members’ objections, industrial hemp is thriving in Canada.

In 1998, our Canadian neighbors grew their first commercial crop in
nearly 50 years with the production of 6,000 acres of industrial hemp.
This year, Canadian farmers are projected to grow 30,000 acres of the
crop --- a five fold increase. A number of university studies,
including work by the University of Kentucky College of Business and
Economics, have indicated that industrial hemp production would have a
positive economic effect on farmers and rural communities across the
United States.

While Kentucky was busy dismissing industrial hemp as a viable crop, a
number of other states have continually moved the issue forward,
leaving Kentucky far behind --- again. North Dakota and Hawaii have
just passed legislation allowing their farmers and universities to
grow industrial hemp. A significant number of other states have
legislation and resolutions supporting the commercial production of
industrial hemp, while Kentucky continues to miss a golden opportunity
to become a leader in something other than ignorance and poverty.

Even the Drug Enforcement Agency is considering changing its draconian
rules and regulations relating to industrial hemp. In letters to
Hawaiian officials, the DEA says it “will consider setting the level
of THC content for Cannabis sativa L. hemp that may be grown for
industrial purposes. This review is based on the premise that public
and commercial interest may be better served if the cultivation of
Cannabis sativa L. hemp is authorized by the appropriate federal and
state entities."

Canada’s Bureau of Drug Surveillance reports “no law enforcement
problems related to the planting and cultivation of hemp in this country.”

As Kentucky farmers are facing a major lose of income from declining
tobacco production, why aren’t we very seriously considering
industrial hemp, the historic foundation of Kentucky’s agriculture and
our leading cash crop for more than 100 years?

With National Tobacco Settlement funds comes a frenzied grab for the
spoils of a dying industry. In Canada, tobacco diversification monies
were used for industrial hemp research and development projects to
help jump start their industries. Would it ever occur to Kentucky
leaders to consider emulating this Canadian model?

Understanding the Canadian model will take little time and effort. The
Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative will soon be providing a public
forum for legislators and all Kentucky leaders to become more informed
on industrial hemp. We are at a critical crossroad for determining the
direction of Kentucky’s agricultural future. Isn’t it time to review
the dissenters’ objections to the controversial conclusions of
Kentucky’s hemp task force?