The Wythe County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously voted to adopt a resolution urging Congress to pass the Industrial Help Farming Act and grant states the authority to license and regulate the production of hemp.Montgomery County asked Wythe County officials to vote on the resolution. Jim Politis, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, is a strong advocate for hemp farming in the United States.
According to the resolution, the long, tough, fibrous plant is used in more than 25,000 products, including, paper, clothing, plastics and body care products. American farmers grew hemp until lawmakers outlawed it as part of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.
After that, it was banned in the Controlled Substance Act of 1970.
Farms around the world have farmed hemp for thousands of years.
Politis has circulated his resolution in support of hemp farming to numerous governments and agencies throughout Virginia, including Blacksburg; the counties of Floyd, Giles and Buckingham; and the Virginia Association of Counties. So far, only Christiansburg has not approved the resolution, and Politis plans to present a second resolution to officials there.
Politis hopes if the Industrial Hemp Farm Act comes up for a vote in Washington, D.C., again, lawmakers will approve it.
Bills supporting the act, one in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives, died in the last session of Congress, which ended in late 2012. Supporters plan to reintroduce the bill.
To reach Millie Rothrock, call 228-6611, or email mrothrock@wythenews.com.
Hemp is member of the cannabis family, like marijuana, but contains miniscule amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
After that, it was banned in the Controlled Substance Act of 1970.
Farms around the world have farmed hemp for thousands of years.
Politis has circulated his resolution in support of hemp farming to numerous governments and agencies throughout Virginia, including Blacksburg; the counties of Floyd, Giles and Buckingham; and the Virginia Association of Counties. So far, only Christiansburg has not approved the resolution, and Politis plans to present a second resolution to officials there.
Politis hopes if the Industrial Hemp Farm Act comes up for a vote in Washington, D.C., again, lawmakers will approve it.
Bills supporting the act, one in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives, died in the last session of Congress, which ended in late 2012. Supporters plan to reintroduce the bill.
To reach Millie Rothrock, call 228-6611, or email mrothrock@wythenews.com.
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