Brighter Future for Hemp Clothing

Possibly profitable diverse crops will soon be giving a hand to farmers in Vermont. A bill allowing farmers to produce industrial hemp crops became law, in spite of the fact that Governor Jim Douglas did not signed it. However the champions of a new and thriving industry will have a longer wait

Federal law treats hemp and marijuana as the same plant, making hemp just as illegal as cannabis. Lots of law makers think a change in the policy will take place. Proponents insist that hemp is vital for cosmetics, garments, and even for food production. The Agriculture Agency is prepared to change even more after these new laws are passed.

Corn production in Vermont is far less than in the Midwest, totaling only 90,000 acres each year, but that does not mean that Vermont can survive without good rotation crops. Various industries support hemp as an additional Vermont crop, including candle making and dairy industries. Although industrial hemp is currently a small market, it is quickly growing in the mainstream market. A yearly average of 16,500 acres of hemp is produced for use in consumable food products by farmers in Canada. Vermont's potential hemp industry could also tap into this market as well as selling cheap animal bedding for the 140,000 cows in Vermont.

The bill was opposed by the Police Department, since hemp was considered too closely associated with marijuana. The governor states that the reason he did not sign the bill was the link between hemp and marijuana. The Agriculture Agency will be responsible for designing the regulations for hemp production, allowing farmers to get their licenses as soon as the bill goes into effect. North Dakota is another one state which did this. At present, Canada and many other countries are growing hemp legally. In 1937, growing hemp in the United States was banned although the suspension was lifted temporarily during World War II.

Article by Martha Franklin

About the Author: The author is interested in hemp production and Adili.