This week, legislators in New York advanced a bill that would legalize smokable hemp flower - something that was left out of the state’s recent set of hemp regulations. The bill, A2682/S4340, recently passed the state legislature’s Health Committee and advanced to the Codes Committee. Read more
On the flip side, lawmakers in Wyoming have proposed a new bill that would prohibit the sale of smokable hemp to anyone under the age of 21. The bill also prohibits using smokable hemp in public. Read more
Meanwhile, the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) and Hemp Industries Association (HIA) have released the results of their joint survey taken of hemp producers about their views on the establishment of a national hemp checkoff program. With nearly eight out of every 10 farmers and processors supporting the checkoff program for research, promotion and consumer education, the groups are now moving forward with facilitating a formal proposal for the USDA. Read more
In other national news, the Hemp Feed Coalition has formally submitted an application to federal regulators with the goal of bringing hempseed cake and meal into the animal feed market. While hemp is not currently permitted as an ingredient in animal feed, researchers have made the connection between hempseed cake’s nutritional properties and the particular needs of animals raised for agricultural purposes. Read more
And over in Pennsylvania, Susquehanna Mills Co. is engaging in all three segments of the hemp market: cannabinoid, fiber and grain production. Company owner Josh Leidhecker, who has a long history of growing crops for various seed oils, spoke with Hemp Grower about what he’s learned in his transition to hemp. Read more
