Pubdate: Thu, 05 Feb 2015
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2015 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: Maria Taracena

HEMP TIME

State Lawmaker Is Interested in Growing Industrial Hemp in Arizona

State Sen. Lynne Pancrazi, a Democrat from Yuma, recently introduced 
a bill asking for the creation of an industrial hemp study committee 
to examine the economic opportunities associated with the industry.

The one-page bill, SB 1225, lists the people who should be part of 
this study committee, including two members of the state Senate 
appointed by the Senate president, two members of the state House 
appointed by the speaker, the director of the Arizona Department of 
Agriculture, and the dean of the UA's College of Agriculture and Life 
Sciences. It also includes representatives of a statewide farm association.

This committee would have to look into the benefits of establishing a 
hemp industry here, and then present their results on or before Sept. 1, 2016.

One of the gubernatorial hopefuls last year, Americans Elect 
candidate John Lewis Mealer, used the hemp industry as one of the 
platforms to improve the state's economy should he had been elected.

During his campaign, he reinforced his support for the 
"trillion-dollar industry." Mealer actually owns an automobile 
company, where he hopes to incorporate car panels made from 
industrial hemp one day.

Also, industrial hemp research is mentioned in the Agriculture Act of 
2014, or the Farm Bill. A section of the law authorizes university 
institutions or state departments, where hemp is legal, to grow hemp 
for research purposes. Hemp hasn't been grown in the U.S. since 1957, 
according to the advocacy group Vote Hemp.

Arizona lawmakers pushed for a bill last year that would have given 
hemp farming the green light in the state, but that didn't survive. 
It was rejected by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2014.

This one will likely not survive either in our very conservative 
state Legislature. Although, it should not be blown off, since the 
hemp industry could bring great revenue.

Countries like Australia and Canada grow hemp, and in a few states, 
among them Hawaii and Oregon, it is legal to farm industrial hemp. 
It's used to make paper products, medicine, body care products and even fuel.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom