Pubdate: Wed, 20 Feb 2013
Source: Richmond Register (KY)
Copyright: 2013 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmondregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4305
Author: Ronnie Ellis, CNHI News Service

NOT EVERYBODY IN FRANKFORT SOLD ON HEMP

FRANKFORT - There they were together, both promoting a new five-year 
strategic plan for Kentucky agriculture.

But neither Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear nor Republican Commissioner 
of Agriculture Jamie Comer mentioned the word on so many minds in 
Frankfort these days: hemp.

The plan, developed by the Kentucky Agriculture Council ( KAC), lists 
seven core strategies, none of them specifically tied to hemp: next 
generation farming; new market identification; regional agricultural 
and rural community development; agricultural education; consumer 
education; government policies; and policy-maker education.

But the printed plan also lists some "sidebars," one of which is 
titled "Opportunities for industrial hemp may promote continued 
diversification."

Comer has made passage of a bill to authorize the regulation of hemp 
growing in Kentucky a priority, but Beshear has voiced concerns about 
an available market for the biological relative of marijuana and law 
enforcement's ability to distinguish between hemp and marijuana.

Currently, the federal government bars cultivation of hemp, but 
Kentucky's Republican Senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, have 
introduced legislation to end that federal ban.

Beshear said he endorses the effort by the agriculture community to 
be pro- active in searching for new markets and diversifying crops, 
but that doesn't mean he agrees with Comer's or others' position on hemp.

"Hemp is certainly a possible an example of diversification," Beshear 
said. "We've got two issues we've got to address there; is there a 
market for it? I think there are some studies going on right now that 
might help us in that direction. And then there are law enforcement 
concerns. We need to solve both of those issues before we move hemp."

The Republican-controlled state Senate has already passed a bill to 
set up a "regulatory framework" to license hemp growers and 
production in Kentucky, but its prospects in the 
Democratic-controlled House are dicey.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D- Prestonsburg, has questioned the 
economic benefit of growing hemp and says any economic benefits must 
be sufficient to out-weigh law enforcement concerns.

He said the Senate bill will be assigned to the House Agriculture 
Committee chaired by Rep. Tom McKee, D Cynthiana.

McKee said his committee hadn't received the bill, although he 
expected it to be assigned to the committee Tuesday. He has scheduled 
a hearing on the bill for Feb. 27. McKee said he hasn't formed a 
settled opinion on the issue but seemed to have his own reservations.

"I'm going to listen to what we hear on Wednesday ( Feb. 27)," McKee said.

He said some committee members have discussed a committee substitute 
to the Senate bill sponsored by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman 
Paul Hornback, R- Shelbyville.

"I think maybe there's an education component that might be added to 
the bill," McKee said in response to a reporter's question about 
whether more study on the issue is needed.

"The thing I think we've got to remember is that it's against federal 
law, and what indications do we have that it will be changed this 
year?" asked McKee.

Comer said he planned to discuss the issue with McKee before the Feb. 
27 committee meeting.

McKee said his committee is not planning to hear from members of the 
Kentucky congressional delegation at its hearing on the hemp bill.

Paul and Congressman John Yarmuth, DLouisville, and Thomas Massie, R- 
Vanceburg, testified before Hornback's committee. The measure also 
has the endorsement of McConnell.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom