Vermont Passes Industrial Hemp Law

Vote Hemp reports today that the Hemp for Vermont Bill, H.267 was passed into law. Farmers across the nation have been working on passing laws allowing them to farm industrial hemp as a cover crop to alternate between (usually) corn harvests as it’s a quick-growing, sustainable plant which fixes nitrogen in the soil. All sorts of products can be made from hemp and it’s fiber and the market for these types of products is growing. In the U.S., makers of hemp products must import the raw material representing a missed economic opportunity for domestic farmers.

Vote Hemp also has a comprehensive section detailing the North Dakota Industrial Hemp legislation (passed) and resulting struggles with federal law, such as a lawsuit filed by North Dakota farmers against the DEA.

Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill in California, AB684, last year. You can find a brief history of California Industrial Hemp legislation at the CCOF website.