Companion bills in the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives is aimed at opening a new market by allowing farmers to grow industrial hemp.
Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, and Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton, are sponsoring the bills. The legislation would authorize the state Department of Agriculture and Industries, pr institutions of higher learning, to research uses of industrial hemp, which is genetically different from marijuana.
“I think the bill has a chance if we understand this is not marijuana. We did a lot of checking before the bills were introduced,” Bussman said. “About 28 other states have moved forward with this. The products are used for a wide range of purposes, from the automotive industry to building materials. In Kentucky, the company that processes it is need of a lot more just to meet the demand.”
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