Rep. Bonamici's Industrial Hemp Amendment Passes the House

Statement

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) released the following statement following the House's passage of her amendment in support of industrialized hemp. The Bonamici-Massie-Blumenauer-Polis amendment to H.R. 4660 passed with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 235-170.

"My bipartisan amendment better aligns our country with other industrialized nations that long ago realized the importance of industrial hemp as a natural resource and agricultural commodity used in thousands of commercial products. Oregon is one of 16 states that passed industrial hemp legislation and my amendment brings our farmers one step closer to legal industrial hemp cultivation.

"When law enforcement goes after industrial hemp, it does not further public safety; instead it deprives farm economies of a potentially multi-billion dollar crop that is used to make everything from rope to soap. My amendment simply prohibits the Department of Justice and the DEA from treating hemp like marijuana in states that have legalized growing industrial hemp. This simple change will help farmers and anyone who makes or buys hemp products."

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