Pubdate: Fri, 22 Mar 2013
Source: Daily Independent (Ashland, KY)
Copyright: 2013 The Daily Independent, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573
Author: Ronnie Ellis, CNHI News Service
Page: A10

COULD HEMP BILL BE MAKING A COMEBACK?

FRANKFORT To listen to members of Kentucky's revived Hemp Commission 
Thursday, a compromise on a bill to regulate cultivation of 
industrial hemp is just around the corner.

That's not all. It sounded as if hemp can solve many of Kentucky's 
problems, adding jobs, producing clean energy and making Kentucky a 
leader in something other than basketball, whiskey and horses.

Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, is sponsor of Senate Bill 50 which 
would establish a "regulatory framework" within the Department of 
Agriculture for the licensing and cultivation of hemp if the federal 
government lifts its ban on the biological relative of marijuana.

The idea is pushed by Republican Commissioner of Agriculture James 
Comer and supported by U.S. Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell 
and U.S. Congressmen Thomas Massie, R-Vanceburg, and John Yarmuth, 
D-Louisville.

The bill passed the Republican controlled Senate easily but is 
stalled in the Rules Committee in the Democratic-controlled House 
where Speaker Greg Stumbo, DPrestonsburg, has questioned the market 
for the crop and the need for new legislation to replace a bill passed in 2001.

Stumbo has also said any bill which receives his backing must first 
overcome concerns by law enforcement officials, especially the 
Kentucky State Police, that legalizing the crop will make marijuana 
eradication and enforcement more difficult and expensive.

Minutes before the House recessed for 10 days last week, majority 
floor leader Rocky Adkins, DSandy Hook, said he will offer an 
amendment to call for a five-year study of hemp, make the KSP 
commissioner a co-chairman of the Hemp Commission; move the 
commission under the Center for Applied Energy Research at the 
University of Kentucky and offer tax credits for those who grow or 
process the plant.

Comer has said that amendment isn't acceptable.

"We're not going to support anything that would delay a (federal) 
permit and delay getting a permit would be doing a study," Comer said.

Additionally, Comer said, making KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer - a 
vocal critic of the legislation - co-chair of the commission would 
also make it less likely the federal government would offer Kentucky 
a waiver to grow the plant.

But Hornback told the commission he has met with Adkins and House 
Caucus Chair Sannie Overly, D-Paris, about the proposed amendment and 
planned to meet with them again Friday.

He described the first meeting as "a very good, open discussion," but 
added he told Adkins he couldn't agree with all the changes proposed 
in the amendment. Still, Hornback said, he is "very hopeful we can 
work out something.'

Commission member John Riley, who describes himself as a hemp 
advocate and real estate broker from Spencer County, made no bones 
about his opposition to Adkins' amendment.

"This is more than just an amendment," Riley said. 'This is a 
wholesale rewrite of the bill. I don't know what the justification 
for that would be. I would recommend we reject the Adkins amendment 
and pass Senate Bill 50 as is."

Riley, Katie Moyer, and Hornback all said they see no reason to 
include tax credits for growers or processors.

Moyer said her involvement in "grassroots movements" tells her those 
grassroots activists don't want tax credits.

"What we really want in the grassroots movement is to cut our budget, 
cut spending," Moyer said. "I think this crop can stand or fall on its own."

Comer said he is "optimistic" the measure can pass in the final two 
days of the session when lawmakers return to Frankfort on Monday and 
Tuesday. He said if Democratic House leaders allow a vote on the 
house floor the bill would pass 85-15.

Meanwhile several speakers extolled all the virtues of the plant, 
saying numerous companies are interested in relocating to Kentucky if 
hemp is grown here, everything from seed companies, food processors 
and those who wish to process hemp fibers for bio-fuels and 
automobile component materials.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom