February 26, 2001 -- At least 12 states this year have proposed bills authorizing production of industrial hemp, implementing further research into its
potential, and calling on the U.S. Congress and Department of Agriculture to allow for its cultivation, according to the Carbohydrate Economy Bulletin.

California, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Oregon, Montana, Nebraska and Iowa seek to join Minnesota, North Dakota and Hawaii in authorizing the cultivation of industrial hemp at the state level. Similar legislation proposed in South Dakota was rejected this session by the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Virginia and Kentucky have bills pending that would allow further research into the use and production of industrial hemp. Kentuckyís bill, which has passed the House and the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, would allow state universities to grow and study industrial hemp. Similar legislation was recently vetoed in Illinois by Governor George Ryan after passing through the state House and Senate.

Idaho has a proposed resolution that would call on the U.S. government to acknowledge the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana and to assist U.S. producers by clearly authorizing the commercial production of industrial hemp.

For more information on these bills, including their text, and to track their status, visit the Global Hemp Web site.