A measure in the House would pave the way for hemp farming in Florida.
In the U.S. when people think hemp farmers, they often think marijuana growers. But Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D-Tallahassee) says marijuana’s low THC cousin, hemp, has a long list of non-euphoric uses.
“I mean it can be used for clothing and paper and all kinds of things,” Rehwinkel Vasilinda says.
And Rehwinkel Vasilinda says the crop has a long history in the United States.
“We need to get back to some of the old ways. You know, this session and sessions before we’ve worked on technology. We’ve worked on moving social issues forward, But you know what, sometimes the old ways are the best ways. And George Washington grew this plant so did Thomas Jefferson and there’s so much that can be done,” Rehwinkel Vasilinda says.
And Titusville Rep. Tom Goodson (R-Titusville) points out officials encouraged farmers to grow the plant during World War II so it could be used to create rope and other materials for the country’s armed forces. But since then hemp has been lumped in with other forms of cannabis as a schedule 1 controlled substance—prohibiting hemp farming in most cases. But Rehwinkel Vasilinda says she has a bill to help that state get around that.
“So what this bill does is very simply take a miraculous plant that Americans have grown for years and allow it to be studied by FAMU so that we can grow it again,” Rehwinkel Vasilinda says.
Federal law makes allowances for hemp farming under certain circumstances – like research at a university. Rehwinkel Vasilinda’s bill would create a path to establish research programs at Florida A&M University as well as the University of Florida. And Industry experts says they’re excited for the plan, but they hope the state will encourage the schools to develop a close working relationship with industry experts. Robert Clayton represents the group Florida Hemp Processing.
"We do need industry support here. The charter of a university is to partner with industry because you go to school so you can get a job. And if you don’t’ keep in line with what industry wants they’re going to keep making buggy whips when the world aint buying them,” Clayton says.
Meanwhile, Rep. Plantation Democratic Representative Katie Edwards (D-Plantation) says its clear to her hemp farming could be a positive thing for the state.
“Looking at it in its basic form as an agricultural commodity, I think that the benefit it provides—we have heard about industries that are being decimated by thing like greening and canker so to give our farmers additional outlets to grow a cash crop that could be used as textiles, clothing, pharmaceuticals is very exciting. And I think its day has come and I hope that the bill passes this year and hemp becomes and additional cash crop for our farmers,” Edwards says.
Rehwinkel Vasilinda has pushed similar legislation for several years. Last year her measure never got heard. And while it has made it through its first committee stop this year, it has several more to go. Meanwhile, a similar bill in the Senate, which passed several committees last year, hasn’t had a hearing this session.
