Industrial Hemp Bill Sails Through the State House

Washington is a step closer to allowing the growth of industrial hemp. The State House unanimously passed House Bill 1888 yesterday 97-0 and it now heads to the State Senate, which is considering it's own industrial hemp bill.  The House bill authorizes the Director of the Department of Agriculture to issue licenses to grow industrial hemp. The department would be designated as the only source and supplier of seeds used for industrial hempproduction.

The measure also requires the state Department of Agriculture to work with the Liquor Control Board to prevent cross-pollination between industrial hempand recreational marijuana. Hemp, like marijuana, comes from the cannabis plant but has much less THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that makes people high.

Washington State currently imports hemp from other countries.