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Senate gives initial approval to Munzlinger’s industrial hemp bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Senate is moving forward with Brian Munzlinger’s bill legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp in the Show-Me State.

SB 547 would establish an industrial hemp pilot program, which would allow the state to issue licenses for industrial hemp cultivation and processing and allow the products to be marketed.

The bill takes advantage of a provision within the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill that allows states to pass their own legislation regarding hemp.

“[Hemp] could be an economic engine for Missouri,” said Sen. Jamilah Nasheed.

There certainly is a lot of potential for the product that can be processed into paper, rope, concrete, and hundreds of other productions. And there are potential economic benefits to the crop, as it would give farmers another crop when commodity prices have declined in recent years.

Sen. Denny Hoskins introduced an amendment that would protect retailers if pesticides and herbicides were improperly used in the cultivation of hemp.

“Basically, if someone sells a product that is misused, the seller wouldn’t be held liable,” Munzlinger said. Currently, there are no approved pesticides or herbicides for industrial hemp.

The amendment was adopted by a voice vote.

In the legislation, it would limit statewide cultivation acreage to 200 acres. Sen. Bill Eigel called this a “fraction of the total till-able ground” and an “unreasonable restriction.”

As such, he filed an amendment that increased the statewide limit to 2,000 acres. A minimum of 10 acres and a maximum of 40 acres per license holder was set with the bill.

“Generally don’t start with the moon,” Munzlinger said. “Let’s get this off the ground.”

Currently, there are 34 states that have legalized industrial hemp, with 19 activity grow the crop. The Show-Me State is really looking to Kentucky as an example as they are one of the leaders in the cultivation of the crop.

In their first year, less than 40 acres of Kentucky farmland was planted in industrial hemp and as the years have progressed they increased the acreage.

“These pilot programs take off relatively slow,” said Onder.

The acreage limitation in Missouri is tied to the 2014 Farm Bill. This prevents the legislator from having to alter it as the need arises and set’s guidelines while the program gets off the ground.

The legislation needs another vote by the Senate before moving to the House, who have already passed their own version of the bill.