Day 2 of the Hemp Parade Continues…

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We’re in the middle of another very productive day of lobbying on behalf of hemp legalization in DC. This morning, Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and I were joined by Kentucky State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Paul Hornback, who was the lead sponsor of SB 50, the groundbreaking legislation that was left for dead at least a half a dozen times, until it passed with overwhelming majorities in both houses on the very last night of the General Assembly session.

Today so far we have met with most of the members of the Kentucky delegation, securing co-signers for Congressman Thomas Massie’s legislation to legalize hemp. As of today, we have 38 Congressmen, of both parties, signing on to the Massie bill.

Commissioner Comer also held a press conference (see the picture above) attended by several inside-the-Beltway political journalists. I think they were quite surprised by the consistent theme of bi-partisanship, not only with our lobbying group, but especially among the Congressional supporters, and of course paving the passage of SB 50 in Kentucky.

Of course, we still have much more ground to plow (although I learned from Senator Hornback that you don’t need to plow ground to plant hemp). We have met with resistance from the Drug Enforcement Agency, and still far too many policymakers are not aware of the underlying facts about the value of hemp, and the clear distinction with marijuana.

But if our success in Kentucky, as well our few days here in Washington, demonstrate, all that stands between hemp legalization and final passage is just a little bit of education. We are still in the middle of our journey, but the finish line appears to be quickly approaching.

 

To get there, we need YOU  to get involved — NOW. Here are three very simple things that you can do — right now, at your computer — to register your support for legalized industrial hemp and pressure Washington to fulfill the people’s will:

  1. Contact your Senators to urge them to co-sponsor and support S. 359, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013. introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rand Paul (R-KY) that would exclude hemp from the definition of marijuana and allow states to legalize and regulate the product.  Here is a great link to contact them from Vote Hemp.
  2. Contact your Congressman and urge him or her to co-sponsor the companion bill in the House, H.R. 525, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013, introduced by Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY).  Here is a great link to contact them from Vote Hemp.
  3. Sign the following petition to President Obama, urging his Administration to lift the barriers to legalized hemp:

President Obama: Legalize Hemp!

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263 signatures

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Latest Signatures
263Mike VondraPlover, WisconsinFeb 14, 2015
262jacquelyn BishopWhite Plains, NYJul 19, 2014
261George PillingOrmond Beach, FloridaNov 11, 2013
260Robert SasickBellvue, ColoradoJul 24, 2013
259Charles KellyLexington, KYJul 10, 2013
258Jacqueline CavenderSyracuse, New YorkJun 17, 2013
257Diana FuentesWashington, DCJun 01, 2013
256Richard OzarkSaginaw, MichiganMay 26, 2013
255William BrammellLexington, KYMay 25, 2013
254Eric OstertagLexington, KentuckyMay 22, 2013
253william rosenbergbaltimore, marylandMay 18, 2013
252russell newtonroseville, MinnesotaMay 18, 2013
251Josie FischerSpring Hill, FlMay 18, 2013
250Denise HoustonMay 18, 2013
249megan guppyseattle, WashingtonMay 15, 2013
248Angie TidwellMcdonough, GAMay 15, 2013
247Pam GrayJacksonville, FLMay 15, 2013
246Laurie RotichRochester , New YorkMay 15, 2013
245Yogi RaoCumming, GAMay 15, 2013
244David WilliamsCamarillo, CaliforniaMay 13, 2013
243Ariana BranchDetroit, MichiganMay 13, 2013
242JIm StammSan Jose , Ca. May 13, 2013
241JAMES STRIEGELWeed, CaliforniaMay 13, 2013
240Aracely CoronadoPhiladelphia, PAMay 13, 2013
239joel gilbertson-whitepittsburgh, PennsylvaniaMay 12, 2013
238Lori FaffColorado Springs, COMay 11, 2013
237Vance Grossieca.May 11, 2013
236LeeAnn SchappeSaratoga Springs, New YorkMay 11, 2013
235Nick LoseMay 11, 2013
234David LandskovArlington, MassachusettsMay 11, 2013
233Allan AlsipFrankfort, KYMay 10, 2013
232Rosie SmickVancouver, WashingtonMay 10, 2013
231Michael GuillaumTucson, ArizonaMay 10, 2013
230Nalia NicholsMay 10, 2013
229Ivan Bumgarnerrochester, NYMay 10, 2013
228Dean HarrimanAtwater, OhioMay 10, 2013
227Stephanie Lana RamapriyanMalibu, CAMay 10, 2013
226Marilyn CluteBothell, WAMay 10, 2013
225PHILIP ILCZYSZYNArvada, ColoradoMay 10, 2013
224Curtis CupplesNaples, FLMay 10, 2013
223Norman MillerCosta Mesa, CAMay 10, 2013
222Daniel BruenNyack, New YorkMay 10, 2013
221Kathy HarpFrankfort, KYMay 10, 2013
220Richard DeCampLexington, KentuckyMay 09, 2013
219Holly Harris VonLuehrteLexington, KYMay 09, 2013
218Sally O'BoyleLexington, KYMay 09, 2013
217Shauna HareOttumwa, IowaMay 09, 2013
216Amber KiddRichmond, KYMay 09, 2013
215Hemp HurdPine Bluff, AR.May 08, 2013
214rich givanlou, kyMay 08, 2013

 

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