Hemp bill would create pilot program – California

A state bill that would allow farming of industrial hemp in Kings, Kern and three other counties could hit Gov. Brown’s desk in September.
Senate Bill 676, authored by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Rafael, would create an eight-year pilot program in five counties. The other three counties are San Joaquin, Imperial and Yolo.
The legislation passed the Assembly Committee on Agriculture last week and earlier was approved by various other committees in the Senate and Assembly. The bill goes before the Assembly Appropriations Committee and a potential floor vote in August. Approval there would take it back to the Senate for a concurrence vote and a potential trip to the governor’s desk.
Kings County was included in the list because local farmers have expressed interest, according to Leno’s office. Most if not all of that interest has come from Charles Meyer, a Stratford farmer who has for years been a vocal advocate for industrial hemp.