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Federal Hemp, Marijuana Bills Backed By Colorado Congressmen

hemp plants
flickr/edwardthebonobo

A federal bill to legalize industrial hemp farming has the backing of a Colorado Congressman. 

The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015 was introduced in the U.S. Senate last week. 

The bill would remove industrial hemp from the marijuana definition in the Controlled Substance Act thus allowing farmers to grow it.

Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner is one of the bill’s co-sponsors.

In a release Gardner says ‘hemp has the potential to be a major boon’ for the state’s agricultural industry.

Colorado Republican Representative Scott Tipton hasn't decided on the issue but says that it could be a good thing for the state.

"I think the industrial hemp [has a] completely different chemical composition than we have in marijuana," Tipton tells KVNF. "If this is an opportunity to be able to grow jobs, it’s low water use and to be able to help our agricultural community I think that’s a positive."

A separate bill introduced in the Senate earlier this week would remove federal restrictions on medical marijuana in states where it’s already legal.

Additionally, a bill making its way through the House sponsored by Democratic Representative Jared Polis of Colorado would regulate marijuana like alcohol. 

Laura joined KVNF in 2014. She was the news director for two years and now works as a freelance reporter covering Colorado's Western Slope. Laura is an award-winning journalist with work recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, Colorado Broadcasters Association, and RTDNA. In 2015, she was a fellow for the Institute for Justice & Journalism. Her fellowship project, a three-part series on the Karen refugee community in Delta, Colorado, received a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
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