House Approves Industrial Hemp Amendment

This week, the House of Representatives adopted my bipartisan amendment in support of industrial hemp. Hemp is a valuable agricultural commodity that can be found in more than 25,000 commercial products including food, paper, beauty products, and more. Despite the many uses of hemp, the federal government considers it a Schedule I drug. When law enforcement goes after industrial hemp, it does not further public safety; instead it deprives farm economies of a potentially multi-billion dollar crop that is used to make everything from rope to soap.

My bipartisan amendment would protect people in states like Oregon that have passed laws in support of industrial hemp. It would prohibit the Department of Justice and the DEA from using resources to prosecute farmers in states that have legalized the growth or cultivation of industrial hemp. This simple change will help not only farmers, but also everyone who makes or buys hemp products.

The Bonamici-Massie-Blumenauer-Polis amendment to H.R. 2578 was adopted with strong bipartisan support.