Pubdate: Mon, 06 Apr 2015
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2015 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Deborah Baker

BILL WOULD ALLOW HEMP CROPS IN NEW MEXICO

Governor to Decide Fate of Legislation; Federal Bill Paved the Way

SANTA FE - With the federal government loosening its grip on 
industrial hemp, there's a resurgence of interest in growing it in 
New Mexico - and a bill on the governor's desk to kick-start that.

It authorizes the state Department of Agriculture to oversee and 
license the growing of industrial hemp for research and development purposes.

That would be a big breakthrough for the pl a nt that has been out 
lawed for decades because it's part of the marijuana family.

The way was paved by the 2014 federal Farm Bill, which gave the 
go-ahead for such research programs.

"Farmers in New Mexico and throughout the nation are no longer 
reluctant to advocate for it," said state Sen. Cisco McSorley, 
D-Albuquerque, who has been promoting hemp development for 15 years.

Twenty states have passed laws establishing some sort of industrial 
hemp programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Hemp is used in a wide array of products, from clothing to food to 
automobile interiors to construction materials, but manufacturers 
must import it.

It can't make you high, but because it contains trace amounts of THC 
- - the hallucinogen found in marijuana - it is classified by the 
federal government as an illegal drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

There's a move afoot in Congress to change that: A bill cosponsored 
by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would legalize the 
cultivation of industrial hemp.

McSorley says the shift in federal policy meant that this year, for 
the first time, he encountered no organized opposition to his 
legislation. Senate Bill 94 passed the Senate 33-8 and the House 
54-12. Gov. Susana Martinez has until Friday to sign or veto it.

Asked what action the governor planned to take on the bill, a 
spokesman for Martinez said Sunday the hemp legislation was still under review.

Supporters say hemp doesn't require as much water as other crops and 
is pest-resistant.

"Today a lot of farmers are looking to diversify their options, and 
looking for additional sources of income, and in the future this 
could potentially bring that opportunity," said Chad Smith, CEO of 
the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, which supported the bill.

Jerry Fuentes, a part-time farmer in Truchas, has been trying to get 
hemp legislation passed for years.

"My grandfather grew it many years ago. ... They made ropes, they 
made saddle blankets," recalled Fuentes, who would like to grow it as 
a cash crop.

The state Department of Agriculture didn't take an official position 
on the issue but worked to ensure that the legislation complied with 
federal law, said Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte.

He noted that there are plenty of hurdles - including the need to 
import hemp seed - to be cleared if the governor were to sign the legislation.

The most immediate hurdle, however, might be the sponsor himself. 
According to senators who saw the governor right after the session, 
Martinez was angry with Senate Democrats for blocking tax and capital 
outlay legislation, and singled out McSorley, who had filibustered.

McSorley said he's optimistic that won't matter.

"The issue before the governor is the importance of hemp to New 
Mexico," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom