Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jun 2009
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2009 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Michelle Cole, The Oregonian
Referenced: Senate Bill 676 
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measures/sb0600.dir/sb0676.a.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/industrial+hemp

SENATE VOTES TO PUT OREGON IN THE HEMP BUSINESS

SALEM -- When the history of the 2009 Legislature is written, it may 
record that this was the year lawmakers put Oregon in the industrial 
hemp business.

The Senate voted 27-2 Friday to approve a bill that clears the way 
for hemp to be grown and processed in Oregon if and when the federal 
government gives growers a green light.

Senate Bill 676 still must pass in the House before the session ends 
later this month. But its sponsor, Sen. Floyd Prozanski, says he's 
convinced it will pass.

The bill would authorize the production, possession and commerce of 
industrial hemp and products. It would put the state Department of 
Agriculture in charge of regulating growers.

Industrial hemp is a cousin to marijuana. But it contains just trace 
amounts of THC, the psycho-active chemical in marijuana.

Hemp seeds are cultivated for food and other products in China, 
Canada and other countries. Hemp was grown in the United States until 
1970, when it was redefined by the federal government as marijuana.

Prozanski, a Eugene Democrat, said he first learned about industrial 
hemp while campaigning in 1994. He's convinced it would be an 
economic boost for Oregon and has been pushing legislation to promote 
the industry since 1997.

Prozanski brought a variety of hemp products to the Senate floor 
Friday to illustrate his point, including hemp chocolate milk and 
hemp chips. He also waved a T-shirt that read: "Industrial hemp is 
rope. It's not dope."

"Senate Bill 676 will allow farmers to re-establish industrial hemp 
as an agricultural crop in Oregon," Prozanski said.

A couple of Republican senators who are also farmers voted in favor 
of the bill. Sen. Larry George, R-Sherwood, groused that "this may be 
the only way we can pay the taxes you all have passed."

And Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, complained: "This may be the only 
crop left for me."

Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, had a question for Prozanski: 
Do they make a hemp brownie mix?
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake