We encourage farmers and others who have a stake in the future of industrial hemp to attend a public listening session by the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
It will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Nightingale Creek conference room at the Department of Natural Resources, 1101 Riverside Drive in Jefferson City.
During this past legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill exempting industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana and the list of controlled substances, and creating an industrial hemp pilot program.
The purpose of the listening session is for the public to give input on how the department will implement that program. The department will gather input from the public as it develops regulations and begins the program.
We have previously editorialized in favor of hemp’s legalization.
Hemp isn’t marijuana. Hemp isn’t a gateway drug, or a drug at all. Neither is it a stepping stone for marijuana legalization.
It’s an environmental-friendly plant that has the potential to boost our agriculture and manufacturing industries.
Thousands of commercial applications exist for industrial hemp, including oil.
To comment at the listening session, you need to register at least 24 hours in advance of the public listening session by completing the form at the department’s website, Agriculture.Mo.Gov.
Comments must pertain to language in the bill specifying the program will be structured into two parts:
• Industrial hemp registration: Any grower or handler of industrial hemp must obtain a registration (license) from the state Department of Agriculture.
• Hemp seed production permit: Any grower or handler who produces hemp seed shall obtain an agricultural hemp seed production permit from the Department of Agriculture.
Hemp has the potential to give a good boost to Missouri’s economy. If you want to be a part of that, use this opportunity to tell the Department of Agriculture how the pilot program should be implemented.
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