FRANKFORT Watching the 2013 General Assembly is a bit like watching Kentucky's weather; if you don't like what you hear one day, just stick around for what they say the next. When lawmakers left town Friday, a bill sponsored by Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, to regulate hemp cultivation if the federal government allows it and pushed by Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer appeared dead in the Democratic-controlled House. Meanwhile, Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, told reporters he expected to share a House redistricting plan with the Democratic House caucus Monday. [continues 771 words]
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. [continues 494 words]
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, 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. [continues 493 words]
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. [continues 495 words]
Congress never intended for the cultivation of hemp to be halted. "The production and sale of hemp and its products for industrial purposes will not be adversely affected by this bill" was the assurance given to the U. S. Senate when the Marijuana Tax Act ( MTA) of 1937 was presented. Henry Anslinger, commissioner of narcotics at the Treasury Department, assured the acting chair of the subcommittee hearings, saying: "I would say they ( hemp growers) are not only amply protected under this act, but they can go ahead and raise hemp as they have always done it." [continues 655 words]
FRANKFORT, Ky. - State lawmakers would like to see a plant that is biologically similar to marijuana once again grow tall in Kentucky fields. The state Senate passed a bill to legalize growing hemp if the federal government - which currently bans growing the plant - legalizes its production or grants the state a waiver. Meanwhile, Kentucky's two Republican U.S. Senators, Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, along with Oregon Democratic Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, introduced legislation to allow American farmers to cultivate and profit from industrial hemp. [continues 65 words]
FRANKFORT If the Republican state Senate gets its way, hemp could once again grow tall in Kentucky fields the plant inhabited for years. The Senate passed a bill Thursday to authorize a regulatory "framework" for growing hemp if the federal government - which current bans growing the plant because it's biologically akin to marijuana - legalizes hemp production or grants the state a waiver. The bill passed 31-6 with four Republicans and two Democrats, mostly from southeastern Kentucky, voting no. At the same time in Washington Thursday, Kentucky's two Republican U.S. Senators, Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, along with Oregon Democratic Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, introduced legislation to allow American farmers to cultivate and profit from industrial hemp. [continues 565 words]
Public opinion in Kentucky seems to be becoming more receptive to the legalization of hemp in our state. Many people may not know this, but industrial hemp once flourished in Kentucky, especially during World War II, when farmers were encouraged to grow it for the war effort because other industrial fibers were in short supply. But the crop hasn't been grown in decades since the federal government moved to classify hemp as a controlled substance related to marijuana. Being able to legally grow hemp could be a huge economic boon for our state. [continues 305 words]
FRANKFORT, Ky. - In 1996 the actor Woody Harrelson, who has a sideline as an activist for legalizing marijuana, was arrested in Kentucky for planting four hemp seeds. Last month Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader, announced his support for growing hemp in Kentucky, his home state. Between those jarringly disparate events lies the evolution of hemp from a countercultural cause to an issue championed by farmers in the heartland and conservative lawmakers. On Monday, a panel of the Republican-controlled Kentucky State Senate unanimously approved a bill to license hemp growers. It was promoted by the state agriculture commissioner and three members of the state's Congressional delegation, including Senator Rand Paul, who removed his jacket to testify in a white shirt that he announced was made of hemp fibers. [continues 928 words]
Regulation Of Industrial Hemp The pitch was the same but an all-star cast of salesmen went before the Senate Agriculture Committee Monday advocating passage of a bill to authorize regulation of industrial hemp in Kentucky. Senate Bill 50, sponsored by the committee's chairman, Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, won unanimous approval, that in itself a minor surprise as two members thought to have questions about the bill, Sen. Sara Beth Gregory, R-Monticello, and Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Hopkinsville voted for it. [continues 468 words]
FRANKFORT - The pitch was the same but an all-star cast of salesmen went before the Senate Agriculture Committee Monday advocating passage of a bill to authorize regulation of industrial hemp in Kentucky. Senate Bill 50, sponsored by the committee's chairman, Sen. Paul Hornback, R- Shelbyville, won unanimous approval, that in itself a minor surprise as two members thought to have questions about the bill, Sen. Sara Beth Gregory, R- Monticello, and Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Hopkinsville voted for it. [continues 756 words]
FRANKFORT - Erin Hopkins, an Eastern Kentucky University premed biology major from Corbin, understands marijuana won't cure all ills. But that's no reason, she says, to ignore the compassionate medical uses of the illegal drug. "We can't cure everyone with cancer; we can't cure anyone with AIDS," Hopkins told about 100 people gathered in a room at the Capitol Annex Wednesday to voice support for passage of a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky. "But the least we can do is to allow them to relieve some of the side effects with a plant that grows naturally," she said. [continues 505 words]
FRANKFORT - Erin Hopkins, an Eastern Kentucky University pre-med biology major from Corbin, understands marijuana won't cure all ills. But that's no reason, she says, to ignore the compassionate medical uses of the illegal drug. "We can't cure everyone with cancer; we can't cure anyone with AIDS," Hopkins told about 100 people gathered in a room at the Capitol Annex Wednesday to voice support for passage of a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky. "But the least we can do is to allow them to relieve some of the side effects with a plant that grows naturally," she said. [continues 504 words]
What a nation of hypocrites we Americans have become. While our elected officials use tragedies like the massacre of schoolchildren to push for gun control, ignoring the Second Amendment, Jan. 22 marked the anniversary of an atrocity equal to the Holocaust and all the war dead in all our American wars plus all murders. I am referring to the premeditated slaughter of millions of children as a result of the Roe v. Wade ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. We will never know what wonderful people - maybe even a few presidents - we have lost in this slaughter, maybe even someone who could have cured cancer. I believe the so-called "justices" who made this decision possible should be tried for crimes against humanity, as well as those who continue to uphold it. [continues 112 words]
Frankfort seems suddenly enveloped in a haze. It's not a purple haze but it's close. Hemp is all the rage and those for it and those against it are raging. For a person of my age and generation, there's something funny here but I haven't quite cut through all the smoke to figure out exactly what it is. But the folks once known as the law-and-order bunch are fighting the Kentucky State Police and others over whether to legalize industrial hemp. [continues 537 words]
Hemp, perhaps Kentucky's biggest cash crop in the 19th century, could be commercially viable for the state's farmers in the 21th century. Agriculture Commissioner James Comer visited the Madison County Courthouse to meet with local 4- H and FFA members and encourage local residents to make a voluntary $ 10 donation when they renew their farm license plates. That's the opinion of state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer who visited Richmond on Friday morning during a swing through central Kentucky to promote sales of the license plates that generate funds for the Kentucky Proud, 4- H and FFA programs. [continues 555 words]
I remember when the late Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith made his first run for statewide office in 1983. He ran for agriculture commissioner on a platform based largely on legalizing the growing of industrial hemp in the commonwealth. Not surprisingly, he was dismissed as a kook and placed dead last in a four-candidate Democratic primary with only 12 percent of the vote. The fact that Kentucky's current agriculture, James Comer, is touting the exact same idea 30 years later as a potential savior of the state's farm economy - and is being taken quite seriously - proves Galbraith was a true visionary and a man ahead of his time. [continues 589 words]
FRANKFORT Frankfort seems suddenly enveloped in a haze. It's not a purple haze, but it's close. Hemp is all the rage and those for it and those against it are raging. For a person of my age and generation there's something funny here, but I haven't quite cut through all the smoke to figure out exactly what it is. But the folks once known as the law-and-order bunch are fighting the Kentucky State Police and others over whether to legalize industrial hemp. [continues 534 words]
Frankfort seems suddenly enveloped in a haze. It's not a purple haze, but it's close. Hemp is all the rage and those for it and those against it are raging. For a person of my age and generation there's something funny here, but I haven't quite cut through all the smoke to figure out exactly what it is. But the folks once known as the law and order bunch are fighting the Kentucky State Police and others over whether to legalize industrial hemp. [continues 534 words]
LOUISVILLE ( AP) - Efforts to re-establish industrial hemp in the state where it once flourished won support Thursday from U. S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said its legalization would benefit farmers and produce jobs to convert the plants into products. Hemp supporters trumpeted the timely thumbs-up from Kentucky's most powerful Republican. It comes amid a lobbying campaign by hemp backers and detractors before state lawmakers resume their regular 2013 session next week in Frankfort. "I am convinced that allowing its production will be a positive development for Kentucky's farm families and economy," McConnell said in a statement. "The utilization of hemp to produce everything from clothing to paper is real and if there is a capacity to center a new domestic industry in Kentucky that will create jobs in these difficult economic times, that sounds like a good thing to me." [continues 414 words]
Inside Kentucky
