Mitch McConnell and the DEA

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was joined by most of Kentucky's federal delegation, in a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration seeking clarification on the industrial hemp issue.

Kentucky passed a law earlier this year that would allow industrial hemp farming -- but only if the DEA ever lifts restrictions on the plant.

Kentucky passed a law earlier this year that would allow industrial hemp farming -- but only if the DEA ever lifts restrictions on the plant.

Sen. Rand Paul and Reps. Andy Barr, Brett Guthrie, Thomas Massie, Ed Whitfield and John Yarmuth co-signed the letter with McConnell on Thursday. They asked whether the DEA has reconsidered its hemp regulation in light of legislative action in Kentucky and elsewhere. Rep. Hal Rogers didn't sign.

Hemp is similar to marijuana, but has a negligible amount of the psychoactive compound that gives marijuana users a high. Proponents say it could be an important crop for Kentucky.