Hemp Cultivation Bill Killed in Idaho House Committee

Senate Bill 1345 passed the Idaho Senate in a 27-3 vote, but it failed in the House State Affairs Committee. The vote came following a few days of testimony. Idaho farmers were hoping to be able add hemp to their crop rotations.

Farmers testified stating their wishes to grow hemp, according to East Idaho News. If the bill had passed, the state would have had to create a plan to test, license and transport the crop in the state. The lack of support in the House is disappointing to many in the state.

Representative Caroline Troy said, “Our founding fathers grew hemp, and a draft of the U.S. Constitution was written on hemp paper. George Washington pushed for the growth of hemp as it was a cash crop commonly used to make rope and fabric.”

Representative Jerald Raymond said, “Why am I standing here testifying in favor of Senate Bill 1345? It’s because the USDA has allowed (hemp) to be grown in the United States. It’s because creating a state plan is much better than hoping that the USDA will monitor and guide the production of it in the state of Idaho.”

Idaho joins Mississippi as the only 2 states in the U.S. that have not been able to pass hemp farming legislation.