Pubdate: Sun, 20 Jan 2013
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2013 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463
Note: from the Associated Press

OUT WEST, POT FARMING'S FUTURE STILL UNCERTAIN

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - Irrigation canals line Washington's Yakima Valley
east of the Cascade Range, transforming a desert landscape into one of
the most productive agricultural regions in the world - including
crops for some of America's biggest vices.

Thousands of acres of wine grapes dot the landscape, contributing to
Washington's No. 2 rank for premium wine production behind California.
Farmers grow more than twothirds of U.S. hops for big beer companies
and craft brewers alike, and a large tobacco field is
flourishing.

Now that Washington voters have legalized marijuana, will the region
become known as the vice belt? Not necessarily.

Too many questions remain about the new law, from how the state will
regulate it to whether entrepreneurs or large corporations should lead
the way. And the biggest question mark: the federal government's role
going forward.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Many states have approved
it for medical use, but only Washington and Colorado have legalized it
for recreational use.

The Justice Department has not said whether it will try to block the
two states from implementing their new laws, passed late last year.
For that reason, key land-grant universities that typically aid the
agriculture industry by researching such things as pest control and
crop yields - but rely on federal funding to do so - are avoiding the
marijuana industry altogether.

In addition, marijuana is a crop that can't be insured, and federal
drug law bars banks from knowingly serving the industry.

Those factors make farmers leery of planting marijuana in the near
term, said Bob Young, chief economist for the American Farm Bureau
Federation.

"At this stage of the game, it poses tremendous problems for growers,"
he said. "Quite frankly, I'd tell one of our members to approach this
with great caution." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D