By Zara Zhi
/
June 25, 2015 10:35
Maine Officially Legalizes Commercial Hemp Cultivation
A new decree that allows for the cultivation of hemp in Maine is currently in effect after a veto by Gov. Paul LePage was superseded, according to Governing.com.
"I am absolutely thrilled that this is now law," stated Rep. Deborah Sanderson, R-Chelsea. The veto was overridden by a vote of 135 in favor, 6 opposed and 10 absences on May 12 in the Maine House. The senate also chose to reverse the veto on June 16, by a vote of 28 in favor and 6 opposed.
"This was overwhelmingly overridden," she added on Monday of the veto. "It got big support in both the House and the Senate. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle really showed their support for it."
On Monday, Sanderson said the emergency statute would go into effect immediately so that cultivators can plant their seeds as early as possible.
The rule permits planters to buy hemp seeds from any qualified seed source, rather than only certified Canadian producers, as initially presented in the first version of the bill.
When Sanderson first introduced the bill, community members, farmers, organic growers, and agricultural researchers rallied behind the initiative. The measure will open new prospects to farmers and deliver local sourcing for many hemp-made products, according to the representatives.
Hemp fibers have many diverse uses including textile making, paper, insulation, building materials and composites for auto bodies. But hemp is also tainted in controversy because it comes from the same plant as cannabis, which is why it’s still classified as a drug under federal law. But proponents argue that industrial hemp contains far less THC than cannabis sativa and cannot be used to get “high.”
On Feb. 10, during a public hearing on the bill in the State House, Jon Olson of the Maine Farm Bureau testified that the farming of industrial hemp was deliberated at an Aroostook County Farm Bureau meeting and said that famers believed it would be “value added” crop to add to their rotation.
Ann Gibbs, acting Director of the Animal and Plant Health Division for the Maine Department of Agriculture, was neutral on the bill and stated that hemp is classified as a “drug” under the Federal Controlled Substance Act, and would be difficult to import for commercial use due to the restrictions. The DEA controls any hemp that is grown legally and has only given permission to the state Department of Agriculture or to universities for research so far.
The bill calls for licensing fees that should be "reasonable and necessary to cover the costs of the department" and would be set at the preference of the Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Colorado, Kentucky and Vermont have already legalized industrial hemp for cultivation and research.
