While Montrose County voters opposed Amendment 64 — a recently adopted measure that legalizes the possession, use and retail sale of small amounts of marijuana by adults — state lawmakers now may be opening the door for a potential cash crop for area farmers that is closely related to pot. Hemp, which is against the law to grow, is regarded in some circles as marijuana’s more useful cousin. And if you were to ask state Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, or Jason Lauve of the Industrial Hemp Remediation Pilot Program about he plant, both would cite some reasons local growers soon may consider planting hemp over corn or beans.Lauve was a guest speaker during Don Coram’s Town Hall meeting Saturday at the US Tractor building, and he kept the attention of audience with a variety of facts about the little-known plant.
