Senator McConnell Secures Kentucky Hemp Priorities

Statement

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today he secured several important provisions to benefit Kentucky's growing hemp industry in the Fiscal Year 2020 government-funding agreement. Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations and Agriculture Committees, secured nearly $20 million to implement the hemp provisions. The measure, approved by the House of Representatives, is expected to be voted on in the Senate this week. Once approved, Senator McConnell's hemp provisions will go to President Trump become law.

"Hemp producers across the country are looking to Kentucky for our expertise and leadership with this exciting crop, and I'm committed to helping our farmers, processors and manufacturers take full advantage of hemp's potential," said Senator McConnell. "These federal resources will help us continue our progress to ensuring hemp is treated just like every other legal commodity. As Kentucky farmers prepare for the 2020 growing season, I'll continue advancing their priorities as Senate Majority Leader so they have the tools needed."

"I applaud Leader McConnell's efforts to move industrial hemp from the research phase to a commercial one," said Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles. "As we continue to restore this crop to its rightful place in Kentucky's agricultural portfolio, it is essential to have clear policy guidance from Congress. It is McConnell's leadership that has made this possible, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we are grateful for the industry he has helped create."

Senator McConnell included the following provisions supporting Kentucky's hemp industry in the bill:

-$16.5 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement Senator McConnell's hemp provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill.

-$2 million for the research of hemp through Agriculture Research Service (ARS) sites -- like those in Lexington and Bowling Green, Kentucky.

-A measure encouraging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue formal enforcement discretion guidance for CBD products.

-A provision directing the Farm Credit Administration to offer services to hemp producers and businesses.

-A prohibition on the federal government from banning the transfer, production or sale of hemp in accordance with the 2014 Farm Bill.

-Support for competitive USDA grants for hemp projects.

-A measure to support the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) efforts to deploy technology to enable law enforcement to distinguish between hemp and marijuana in the field.

Kentucky has been at the forefront of hemp production ever since the authorization of industrial hemp pilot programs established by Senator McConnell's provision in the 2014 Farm Bill. Last December, President Trump signed into law the 2018 Farm Bill, which included Senator McConnell and Congressman James Comer's (KY-01) initiative to legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity by removing it from the federal list of controlled substances.

Agriculture leaders from around the country are looking to the Bluegrass State's prospering hemp industry, and Kentucky farmers are benefiting from hemp's resurgence. So far, 102 of Kentucky's 120 counties are growing the crop with 200 processors operating statewide. Earlier this year, Commissioner Quarles announced that approximately $100 million worth of Kentucky-grown and processed hemp products are expected to be sold this year alone.

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