Legislation Passed

Hawaii

On July 7, 1999, Governor Cayetano signed Senate Bill 1248 into law, requiring the University of Hawaii to study industrial hemp. On December 14, 1999, the first hemp seeds were planted at the research facility that was funded with a $200,000 grant from hair care company Alterna. Governor Benjamin Cayetano proclaimed December 14, 1999 as Industrial Hemp Day in Hawaii.

December 1, 1999 - Hawaii Begins Hemp Experiment
December 14, 1999 - DEA Permits Hawaii To Plant Industrial Hemp

Illinois

On May 19, 1999, the Illinois House passed House Resolution 168, which forms a task force to "study the economic viability of industrial hemp production in this State" and "identify any legal or other obstacles to industrial hemp production."

May 19, 1999 - Illinois House Votes To Study Hemp For Agricultural Purposes

On March February 28, 2000, the Senate passed a similar bill, SB 1397, 49-9.

February 28, 2000 - Bill To Re-Introduce Industrial Hemp To Farmers Has Passed Senate

Kentucky

On March 15, 2000, the Kentucky House passed HB 855, which would require the Kentucky Agriculture Department and one of the state's research universities to grow industrial hemp for study, and to explore the economic benefits of hemp production.

March 16, 2000 - Ky. House Passes Amended Hemp Bill

Maryland

House Bill 1250 passed the House 128-8 on March 17, 2000 and the Senate 45-0 on April 3, 2000, and was signed into law by overnor Parris N. Glendening on May 18, 2000. The law creates the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program, authorizing state agriculture official to design a program to grow hemp on state owned land for research purposes.

May 19, 2000 - Md Authorizes The Production Of Hemp

Minnesota

On May 25, 1999, Governor Ventura signed House File 878, the House Omnibus State Government Finance Bill, which included an amendment requiring state officials to submit an application for federal permits to grow "experimental and demonstration plots of industrial hemp." The state must also "establish standards and forms for persons wishing to register for growing experimental and demonstration plots of industrial hemp."

October 1, 1999 - Minnesota's Hemp Plans Take A Few Steps Forward

New Mexico

On January 28, 1999, the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee referred House Bill 104 to the Appropriations and Finance Committee on an 8-0 vote. The bill allocated $50,000 to New Mexico State University to "study the feasibility of growing industrial hemp as a commercial crop." On May 19, 1999, House Bill 9, the General Appropriation Act of 1999, with the $50,000 hemp study appropriation, was signed by Governor Johnson.

North Dakota

House Bill 1428 passed the House 86-7 on April 5, 1999 and the Senate 44-3 on April 12, 1999. It was signed into law by Governor Schafer on April 17, 1999. The new law states that "any person in this state may plant, grow, harvest, possess, process, sell, and buy industrial hemp."

Resolutions Passed

Arkansas

On October 20, 1999, Arkansas Legislators passed Senate Resolution 13, calling for the University of Arkansas to study the potential uses of industrial hemp and kenaf. The Division of Agriculture will conduct studies regarding the uses and economic benefits of industrial hemp to determine the feasibility of growing hemp as an alternative and profitable crop in Arkansas.

The studies will include an analysis of required soils and growing conditions, seed availability, harvest methods and environmental benefits. The Division of Agriculture will report its finding to the House and Senate Interim Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development no later than December 31, 2000.

California

The California State Assembly passed House Resolution No. 32 on a vote of 41-30-9 on September 10, 1999. The resolution declares that industrial hemp is a vital resource and "the Legislature should consider action to revise the legal status of industrial hemp."

Montana

On February 17, 1999, the Montana House passed House Resolution 2 on a 95-4 vote, urging an end to federal prohibition of hemp.

Vermont

J.R.S. 98 was passed by the senate May 3, 2000 and the house on May 11, 2000. The resolution urges Congress, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and other federal agencies to adopt policies that recognize industrial hemp, and fund scientific and market research into hemp.

Virginia

House Joint Resolution Number 94 was passed by the House (76-23, January 25, 1999) and the Senate (40-0, February 18, 1999), calling for the federal government to "permit the controlled, experimental cultivation of industrial hemp in Virginia."

States that introduced legislation

Idaho

Rep. Tom Trial introduced three bills in the 2000 session regarding industrial hemp. All three failed in committee.

Lawmaker pushing for hemp legalization

Iowa

House File 320 was introduced February 18, 1999 and reerred to the Agriculture committee.

Senate File 340 died in the 1997 legislature.

Missouri

SCR 42 "requests the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration to review its continual denial of states' ability to authorize the growing of industrial hemp for research and commercial purposes. It was referred to the Rules, Joint Rules & Resolutions Committee on April 27, 1998, and never made it out.

Nebraska

Legislative Bill 1079 would allow reigstered person to grow industrial hemp. The bill was "indefinately postponed" on April 12, 2000.

New Hampshire

On January 5, 2000, the New Hampshire House approved House Bill 239 which would legalize industrial hemp. The bill went through various committees and failed 152-192 before the full house on it's second vote.

January 6, 2000 - House Gives Initial Ok To Legalized Hemp Industry
February 11, 2000 - House Shoots Down Hemp Bill

Oregon

House Bill 2933 was introduced on March 11, 1999 and a public hearing was held on April 22. It died in committee.

April 30, 1999 - Oregon Hemp Bill Appears Dead

South Dakota

House Bill 1267, introduced January 24, 2000, would allow any person registered with the Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp.

House Concurrent Resolution 1015 "urges the United States government to remove its barriers to the production of industrial hemp" and requests South Dakota State University to gather information on research being done on hemp and, "if federal requirements have been met, establish for research purposes an industrial hemp test plot not to exceed ten acres in size."

Tennessee

House Bill 864, introduced February 17, 1999, would authorize agribusiness to "develop industrial hemp seed varieties suitable for propagation in the United States" and import industrial hemp seed from Europe or Canada.

Wisconsin

On April 27, 1999, Assembly Joint Resolution 49 was introduced.

January 12, 1999 - State Lawmaker Attempting To Legalize Industrial Hemp