Legislature Approves Two-Year Study of Hemp
· No Comments · East Hawaii News, Featured Articles, News, North Hawaii News, West Hawaii News
A field of hemp in France. Wikimedia image.
by Dave Smith
State lawmakers today approved a toned-down bill authorizing the University of Hawaii’s college of agriculture to conduct a two-year study of hemp.
Senate Bill 2175 said the research will focus on the potential use of hemp as a biofuel feedstock and for use in phytoremediation, the use of plants to remove contaminants from soil.
The action was made possible by the passage earlier this year of the federal Agriculture Act of 2014, which authorizes states and universities to legally conduct hemp research.
According to the bill, the plant stock to be used in the study must be certified by the state Department of Agriculture as industrial hemp, as opposed to marijuana, its psychoactive cousin.
It said no one will be subject to any civil or criminal actions for growing or possessing the hemp as long as the person is participating in the hemp research.
The bill said only one test site will be used to cultivate industrial hemp.
The legislation had been opposed by the Honolulu Police Department, which said it would be difficult to distinguish hemp from marijuana.
Supporters of the bill included Rep. Cynthia Thielen, a Republican representing the Kailua and Kaneohe Bay areas of Oahu.
“This progressive, bipartisan bill will keep Hawaii on the cutting edge of agricultural research, help the state realize the economic capabilities of the crop, and potentially restore land previously damaged by earlier contamination,” Thielen said.
She said it could prove valuable in projects such as one currently being done by the City and County of Honolulu and Environmental Protection Agency to remove toxic chemicals from the Waipahu Ash Landfill.
“With its ability to cleanse the soil of toxins and heavy metals, industrial hemp could be an environmentally friendly alternative to existing methods,” Thielen said.
“Using industrial hemp as a phytoremediator also removes the need to excavate or relocate topsoil in contaminated lands, drastically decreasing costs and curtailing the spread of toxic waste to other areas.”
State Rep. Cynthia Thielen shows some products made from hemp. However, the bill passed today focuses on hemp’s use for biofuel and phytoremediation, and does not mention its already common usage for fiber, food and other products. Courtesy photo.
Maria Gallo, dean of the UH College of Agriculture and Human Resources, which would conduct the research, submitted testimongy noting that in its original form, the bill lacked funding to help CTAHR carry out the research.
The House Agriculture Committee on March 20 added $72,600 for the upcoming fiscal year to pay for the program, but that funding was removed during an April 1 hearing by the House Judiciary on Committee.
After SB 2175 was approved by the full House on April 8, the Senate indicated that it did not agree with the House amendments, which meant the bill was heading for a conference committee to iron out the differences.
However, last Friday Senate leaders changed their mind and scheduled the bill for a final vote.
They took that vote today with 24 of 25 senators voting in favor of the final House version. Big Island Sen. Gil Kahele was absent and excused.
However, the wording of the bill is not clear on exactly what is required of the college of agriculture. Its Section 2 said the CTAHR’s dean “may establish” the hemp research program and “may” work on the research with others including the US Army Corps of Engineers and the UH John A. Burns School of Medicinet.
However, it also said the dean “shall” submit a final report on the research no later than 20 days prior to the 2016 legislative session – a requirement put in place by the House Judiciary Committee.
If signed into law by the governor, the measure goes into effect on July 1.
biofuel feedstock·hawaii hemp research·Hawaii State Legislature·hemp as feedstock·hemp as hydr-accumulator·hemp in hawaii·hemp research·phytoremediation
- Bill Authorizing Hemp Research Moves to House
- Like House Version, Senate GMO Bill Stagnant
- Same-Sex Marriage Bill Moves Over to House
- UPDATE: Senate Amends PLDC Bill, Now Similar to House Version
- House Committee Approves Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
Events For Monday 04/14/2014
@ Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus
7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. $10.
@ Sangha Hall
Meet at 6:30 a.m.
@ Volcano Art Center, Niaulani Campus
Free one-hour guided rainforest nature tour travels through lush Hawaiian rain forest. 9:30 a.m.
View All Events
No comments:
Post a Comment