Growing hemp is not as crazy as it may sound

Before anyone jumps from their chair, let’s make it clear that we’re not pushing for our farmers to start growing marijuana.

Let’s make it clear that we’re not pushing for our farmers to start growing marijuana.

In fact, industrial hemp and the growing of industrial hemp has very little to do with marijuana and its, ahem, recreational use.

According to an article in the Hanover Evening Sun, industrial hemp, known scientifically as Cannabis sativa L., contains no more than .3 percent of the psychoactive agent tetrahydrocannabinol. THC levels in hemp’s cousin, the marijuana plant, tend to range from 7 or 8 percent to as high as 20 percent, according to the Hawaii Industrial Hemp Research Project. This means industrial hemp is incapable of getting a user high, according to the project

However what could get farmers very excited (but not necessarily “high”) is the notion of the legalization of hemp cultivation in Pennsylvania.

State Rep. Dan Moul is co-sponsoring a bill in the House of Representatives that could legalize hemp cultivation in our fair state.

According to the Evening Sun, the bill, which has not yet been presented to the House for consideration, would permit cultivation and processing of industrial hemp in Pennsylvania under the state’s Department of Agriculture or through an agricultural pilot program with an institution of higher learning.

Given hemp oils and raw materials are currently being imported from countries like China, the decision to cosponsor the bill was any easy one, said Moul, R-Conewago Township, according to the Evening Sun article.

“One of my assistants has a bottle of hemp lotion on her desk so we’re already buying it,” he said. “If farmers can find another crop to grow to help them, I’m all for the farmer.”

Though the proposed bill would not allow the average farmer to cultivate hemp just yet, its approval would be a step in that direction, Moul said. Following the passing of the federal Agricultural Act of 2014, which opened the door for hemp cultivation, more than 20 states jumped on the opportunity to begin production, he said.

State Rep. Russ Diamond, a Republican representing parts of Lebanon County and primary sponsor for the legislation, said various groups helped develop the bill.

“Pennsylvania has a history of growing hemp and we also have especially fertile ground for this crop,” Diamond told the Evening Sun. “So we thought let’s just jump on this before the other states have the chance.”

Another bill pertaining to hemp cultivation in Pennsylvania, Senate Bill 50, is being reviewed by legislators, Diamond said. Still, he said, there are differences between Senate Bill 50 and the draft.

The bill draft will remain open to co-sponsors for about two more weeks before it is officially presented to the House for consideration, Diamond told the newspaper.

As our farmers seek out new ways to work the soil and produce sellable crops, there’s no reason not to investigate the industrial hemp as a crop. As soon as our narrow minded legislators can get past the notion that this isn’t the same as growing marijuana, Pennsylvania can actually move into the new century. And helping out our farmers would be a wonderful thing.

The state of pernickety ... otherwise known as Pennsylvania ... needs to wake up, get its head out of the sand and start looking for ways to move us forward other than fracking and extraction taxes. Think outside of the box for once, eh?

“One of my assistants has a bottle of hemp lotion on her desk ... so we’re already buying it.”

— Rep. Dan Moul