Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Virginia farmers attending a workshop on the regulation, production, processing and distribution of marijuana during the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Williamsburg were told there are three ways to create a legal market for growing marijuana.
"Change the federal status, get a vote by the people or create legislation at the state level," explained Kristi Kelly, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group, Colorado's oldest, largest and most diverse trade association for licensed cannabis businesses.
Cannabis, she said, has a plethora of medicinal purposes. In Colorado, the growth and sale of medical and recreational marijuana is legal. She told attendees that there have been more than 20,000 published medical studies worldwide about marijuana's efficacy. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia allow the growing and processing of medical marijuana.
In Virginia, the substance is still illegal; however, an MIG poll found that as many as 96 percent of Virginians support medical marijuana if prescribed by a doctor.
"As you consider growing marijuana in your state, think about what populations could benefit," Kelly said. Studies have found marijuana can stop seizures, kill cancer cells, alleviate migraines and help with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, among other things, she added.
While Farm Bureau has not taken a position on the legal cultivation of marijuana, it does support the cultivation of industrial hemp. Lindsay Reames, Virginia's assistant secretary of agriculture and forestry, said a handful of Virginia farmers are growing hemp in conjunction with research at state universities. Until industrial hemp is no longer listed as a federally controlled substance, however, no additional farmers will be able to grow it.
Hemp has low inputs, requires minimal fertilizer and is a potential alternative cash crop to tobacco, Reames said. "Industrial hemp could be converted into biodiesel, animal feed, plastics, textiles, animal bedding and human food."
New federal legislation introduced this summer–H.R. 3530, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2017–would exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana, Reames explained. The bill would open existing hemp research to Virginia colleges and add a program under which farmers could grow hemp without a university affiliation.
"We're hoping to increase the acres of hemp planted in Virginia and to increase the number of farmers growing it," Reames shared.
With 127,400 members in 88 county Farm Bureaus, VFBF is Virginia's largest farmers' advocacy group. Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization committed to supporting Virginia's agriculture industry and preserving the Virginia way of life.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Virginia farmers learn about potential for growing hemp, marijuana : Augusta Free Press
Contact: Augusta Free Press: Virginia News, Sports, Politics, Web Design, Marketing : Augusta Free Press
Photo Credit: Matt Markgraf
Website: Augusta Free Press: Virginia News, Sports, Politics, Web Design, Marketing : Augusta Free Press
"Change the federal status, get a vote by the people or create legislation at the state level," explained Kristi Kelly, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group, Colorado's oldest, largest and most diverse trade association for licensed cannabis businesses.
Cannabis, she said, has a plethora of medicinal purposes. In Colorado, the growth and sale of medical and recreational marijuana is legal. She told attendees that there have been more than 20,000 published medical studies worldwide about marijuana's efficacy. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia allow the growing and processing of medical marijuana.
In Virginia, the substance is still illegal; however, an MIG poll found that as many as 96 percent of Virginians support medical marijuana if prescribed by a doctor.
"As you consider growing marijuana in your state, think about what populations could benefit," Kelly said. Studies have found marijuana can stop seizures, kill cancer cells, alleviate migraines and help with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, among other things, she added.
While Farm Bureau has not taken a position on the legal cultivation of marijuana, it does support the cultivation of industrial hemp. Lindsay Reames, Virginia's assistant secretary of agriculture and forestry, said a handful of Virginia farmers are growing hemp in conjunction with research at state universities. Until industrial hemp is no longer listed as a federally controlled substance, however, no additional farmers will be able to grow it.
Hemp has low inputs, requires minimal fertilizer and is a potential alternative cash crop to tobacco, Reames said. "Industrial hemp could be converted into biodiesel, animal feed, plastics, textiles, animal bedding and human food."
New federal legislation introduced this summer–H.R. 3530, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2017–would exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana, Reames explained. The bill would open existing hemp research to Virginia colleges and add a program under which farmers could grow hemp without a university affiliation.
"We're hoping to increase the acres of hemp planted in Virginia and to increase the number of farmers growing it," Reames shared.
With 127,400 members in 88 county Farm Bureaus, VFBF is Virginia's largest farmers' advocacy group. Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization committed to supporting Virginia's agriculture industry and preserving the Virginia way of life.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Virginia farmers learn about potential for growing hemp, marijuana : Augusta Free Press
Contact: Augusta Free Press: Virginia News, Sports, Politics, Web Design, Marketing : Augusta Free Press
Photo Credit: Matt Markgraf
Website: Augusta Free Press: Virginia News, Sports, Politics, Web Design, Marketing : Augusta Free Press
