By Robb Kidd
Hemp For Victory!
In light of he overwhelming passage of legislation favoring
Industrial Hemp farming, Rural Vermont is pleased to see that Vermont
farmers are now one step closer to growing hemp. The recent passage of
H.747 authorizes the Vermont Agency of Agriculture to begin the process
of allowing Vermont
farmers the economic opportunity to cultivate Industrial
Hemp.
Although, the legislation is still dependent on the removal
of federal prohibitions, Rural Vermont is pleased that a third
consecutive Vermont Legislative Biennium overwhelming displayed strong
support for Vermont
farmers to cultivate industrial hemp as a cash crop.
In celebration of Hemp History Week (June 4- June 11) Rural
Vermont will host a special presentation on the economic potential of
industrial hemp with Netaka White on Wednesday June 6 at 7:00 pm. The
talk and discussion will be held at the Addison County Regional
Planning Commission office on Seminary Street in Middlebury, VT. The
discussion will highlight the uses of industrial hemp and how the crop
can fit into Vermont’s agricultural landscape and economy. A review of
current state and federal hemp policy will also be discussed.
Netaka White is the BioenergyProgram Director at the Vermont
Sustainable Jobs Fund, and heads up the Vermont Bioenergy Initiative
(VBI). The VBI provides grants and technical assistance to Vermont
farms and businesses in order to increase the local production and
local use of sustainable bioenergy fuels and feedstocks. Says White,
“The Vermont Legislature has once again shown their leadership on the
hemp issue. The Sustainable Jobs Fund is optimistic that before long,
industrial hemp will be an additional source of local food, oil,
energy, livestock feed, and jobs. In my mind, it’s no longer a question
of ‘if’ Vermont farmers will have the ability to grow hemp and
contribute to our agricultural economy, but when.”
Rural Vermont has been advocating with Vermont farmers to once
again allow for the cultivation of industrial hemp. “Rural Vermont’s
hemp campaign has been energized by grassroots activists from
Brattleboro to Warren who want the ability to cultivate hemp just as
our Canadian neighbors are allowed to,” states Robb Kidd, Rural Vermont
Organizer. In 2008, Rural Vermont was the lead advocate in promoting
the Vermont Industrial Hemp Bill, Act 212. However, Act 212 only allows
Vermont farmers to grow industrial hemp once federal regulations permit
it. As an affirmation, in 2009 Rural Vermont urged passage of a joint
resolution directing the federal government and the federal delegation
to legalize the growing of industrial hemp.
In the summer of 2011, Rural Vermont supporters successfully
convinced Congressman Peter Welch to co-sponsor the Industrial Hemp
Farming Act, H.R.1831 in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Vermont
farmers and businesses are left with an unnecessary competitive
disadvantage in developing a valuable and diversified crop, and in
order for Vermont farmers to benefit, Vermont’s Congressional leaders
will need to work to remove the federal prohibition,” Kidd also stated.
Rural Vermont is a nonprofit advocacy group led by farmers
since 1985 that educates, activates and advocates for living soils,
thriving farms, and healthy communities. For more information, call
(802) 223-7222, visit www.ruralvermont.org, or email
robb@ruralvermont.org.
Contact : Robb Kidd, (802) 223-7222,robb@ruralvermont.org
Press Release from Rural Vermont
I originally saw this article over at National Cannabis Coalition’s website. If you
haven’t had a chance yet, make sure to check them out. They are doing
BIG things!
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