hemp

State Senator Perry Clark Lauds Hemp, Pot Poll Results

Phillip M. Bailey — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:02:55 +0000

State Sen. Perry Clark, D-Louisville, is touting a Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll, which shows broad support for industrial hemp and medical marijuana.

The survey finds 65 percent of Kentuckians support hemp and 60 percent favor using the drug for prescription use. Clark filed a measure dubbed the "Gatewood Galbraith Medical Marijuana Memorial Act" that would move cannabis to the list of prescription drugs to treat illnesses.

Supporters rallied for the proposal earlier this year, but it faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Clark says he hopes fellow state lawmakers are paying attention to national trends and the shift in public opinion among Kentuckians.

"Clearly we’re forming a cannabis majority in this nation. You know 19 states have legalized medicinal marijuana, at least two states have gone total recreational and eight other states have passed industrial hemp," he says. "It’s time for us to think forward and realize this is not the top problem that we’re having in Kentucky."

Hemp Gaining Momentum in General Assembly

Kenny Colston — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Support is clearly growing behind Agriculture Commissioner James Comer's efforts for industrial hemp in Kentucky are growing.

Call it hempmentum.

With last week's endorsement from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Comer now has the majority of Kentucky's federal delegation behind him.

Industrial Hemp Gets New Kentucky Supporter: Mitch McConnell

Gabe Bullard — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:27:14 +0000

Updated: Joining his fellow Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell now supports industrial hemp.

In a statement released Thursday, McConnell said Paul and Comer—both Republicans, like McConnell—have convinced him that growing hemp for paper, oil and other purposes would be an economic boon for Kentucky farmers.

Kentucky Hemp Commission Supports Senate Bill; James Comer Responds to Critics

Joseph Lord — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:35:57 +0000

The Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission threw its support Monday behind a senate bill that would, among other things, establish a licensing procedure for growers of industrial hemp should the federal government allow for it.

This comes as the director of the Kentucky Narcotics Officers' Association argued against steps toward legalizing industrial hemp, citing concerns that hemp would overwhelm state drug-testing labs.

Kentucky Senate Ag Committee Chairman to Bring Hemp Up for Vote

Associated Press — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:45:36 +0000

FRANKFORT — A senate committee chairman is sounding upbeat about prospects for a bill that would regulate industrial hemp production in Kentucky if the federal government lifts its ban on the crop.

Legalized Hemp Would Overwhelm State Drug Labs, Narcotics Officers' Association Chief Says

Kevin Willis — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:42:39 +0000

The Kentucky Narcotic Officers' Association's director says his organization is opposed to the legalization of industrial hemp because of concerns that hemp may overwhelm labs used to differentiate the plant from its cousin, marijuana.

Yarmuth Joins Supporters of Legalization of Industrial Hemp

Kenny Colston — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:03:41 +0000

Republican advocates of industrial hemp in Kentucky are getting some across the aisle help.

Rep. John Yarmuth, a Louisville Democrat, supports efforts to legalize the plant in Kentucky, his spokesman said. U.S. Senator Rand Paul and Agriculture Commissioner James Comer are the two leading advocates for the move.

They want legalization to take advantage of the many goods that hemp can produce to create jobs.

Will U.S. Try To Snuff Out State Marijuana Laws?

Carrie Johnson — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:38:35 +0000

The Justice Department has a big decision to make.

Parts of new laws in Colorado and Washington that legalize small amounts of recreational marijuana will take effect early next month. The Obama administration needs to choose whether it will sue to stop the legislation or let those states go their own way — even though the drug remains illegal under federal law.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, says the message he got from voters is unambiguous.

"Our voters want marijuana to be regulated, like alcohol," Hickenlooper said at a recent news conference.

Hemp Commission Will Craft New Bill; Comer Confident It Will Pass in 2013

Kenny Colston — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:45:55 +0000

State Agriculture Commission James Comer -- a leading advocate for industrial hemp in

Kentucky -- said growing support will help their initiative in the next legislative session.

The Industrial Hemp Commission, for which Comer is chairman, held its first meeting in a decade on Wednesday.

The commission will work for the next few weeks on crafting -- and the commission will then lobby Kentucky lawmakers to pass it. Comer, who has helped lobby for previous industrial hemp bills, said the commission's proposals will differ from past bills.

Long Dormant Kentucky Hemp Commission Will Be Revived

Kenny Colston — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:55:53 +0000

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer says he is restarting the long-dormant Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission.

The General Assembly created the commission ten years ago to look into hemp's potential in the commonwealth, but it has never met. This morning, Comer announced that he is reforming the commission and, per state law, he will be the chairman.