Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Washington's hemp coordinator says she's optimistic growers will plant the crop next year, though obtaining seeds depends on approval from a federal drug enforcement agency that still classifies hemp on a par with heroin.
The state Department of Agriculture has applied to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for permission to import hemp seeds, a federally controlled substance.
Emily Febles, who was hired by WSDA to oversee the hemp program, said Monday that she expects federal agents will inspect the department to see that it has a secure place to store the seeds, but that she doesn't know when the DEA will give its approval.
Once WSDA has permission to import seeds, it can finish writing rules to license hemp growers and processors, she said.
"I very much believe we still will have industrial hemp planted in the state of Washington in the spring of 2017," Febles said.
Efforts to reach the DEA for comment were unsuccessful.
The 2014 Farm Bill allowed state- or university-supervised hemp "research." Some 30 states have passed hemp legislation, authorizing to varying degrees the growing, processing and marketing of hemp products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The DEA reaffirmed recently that unsterilized hemp seeds are a schedule one controlled substance. Other schedule one controlled substances include heroin, LSD and methamphetamine.
Nevertheless, because of the Farm Bill, the DEA has given permission to import hemp seeds to several states or universities, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May.
The process took about 3 months and numerous follow-up phone calls, said Hector Santiago, the university's assistant director of agricultural research.
"The process in not very straightforward," he said. "My recommendation to anybody trying to pursue this is to start early."
A DEA agent came to the university to look at security measures and to ask who would have access to the seeds, Santiago said.
Since then, the school has imported seeds from Italy and Canada without a problem, he said. Nebraska state law restricts the cultivation of hemp to the university.
Washington tentatively plans to issue hemp licenses to private growers and processors.
Hemp advocate Joy Beckerman, who helped Washington legislators write the law, said the state is wisely staying within the parameters set by the federal government for hemp programs.
"We are so dang compliant in everything, we will have no problem getting our DEA permit to import," she said.
Oregon registers hemp farmers, but has not set up the type of research program described in the Farm Bill. The state does not provide hemp seeds and has not applied for DEA approval to import seeds, said Lindsey Eng, director of market access and certification.
"Our growers get hemp seeds however they can," she said.
The USDA recently announced that hemp research projects would be eligible for federal grants.
At the same time, the USDA, DEA and Food and Drug Administration said hemp products produced by state- or university-supervised programs couldn't be sold in states without hemp programs.
The agencies described the prohibition as a "statement of principles" and not "binding legal requirements."
Some 19 federal lawmakers, including six from Oregon and one from Washington, signed an Oct. 27 letter to the three agencies, stating they were concerned the principles would stifle the hemp industry.
Febles, who oversees the hemp program at WSDA, said she does not think the new federal guidance will hinder setting up the state's program. She said she expects hemp will be grown and processed entirely within Washington.
Businesses are marketing Oregon-made hemp products, but Eng said she does not expect the principles to alter the state's hemp program.
"At this point, we haven't gotten any direction that anything needs to change," said Eng, though she added, "Everything we discuss today could change tomorrow."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Washington Hemp Boss Hopes For Spring Planting
Author: Don Jenkins
Contact: 800-882-6789
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Capital Press
The state Department of Agriculture has applied to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for permission to import hemp seeds, a federally controlled substance.
Emily Febles, who was hired by WSDA to oversee the hemp program, said Monday that she expects federal agents will inspect the department to see that it has a secure place to store the seeds, but that she doesn't know when the DEA will give its approval.
Once WSDA has permission to import seeds, it can finish writing rules to license hemp growers and processors, she said.
"I very much believe we still will have industrial hemp planted in the state of Washington in the spring of 2017," Febles said.
Efforts to reach the DEA for comment were unsuccessful.
The 2014 Farm Bill allowed state- or university-supervised hemp "research." Some 30 states have passed hemp legislation, authorizing to varying degrees the growing, processing and marketing of hemp products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The DEA reaffirmed recently that unsterilized hemp seeds are a schedule one controlled substance. Other schedule one controlled substances include heroin, LSD and methamphetamine.
Nevertheless, because of the Farm Bill, the DEA has given permission to import hemp seeds to several states or universities, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May.
The process took about 3 months and numerous follow-up phone calls, said Hector Santiago, the university's assistant director of agricultural research.
"The process in not very straightforward," he said. "My recommendation to anybody trying to pursue this is to start early."
A DEA agent came to the university to look at security measures and to ask who would have access to the seeds, Santiago said.
Since then, the school has imported seeds from Italy and Canada without a problem, he said. Nebraska state law restricts the cultivation of hemp to the university.
Washington tentatively plans to issue hemp licenses to private growers and processors.
Hemp advocate Joy Beckerman, who helped Washington legislators write the law, said the state is wisely staying within the parameters set by the federal government for hemp programs.
"We are so dang compliant in everything, we will have no problem getting our DEA permit to import," she said.
Oregon registers hemp farmers, but has not set up the type of research program described in the Farm Bill. The state does not provide hemp seeds and has not applied for DEA approval to import seeds, said Lindsey Eng, director of market access and certification.
"Our growers get hemp seeds however they can," she said.
The USDA recently announced that hemp research projects would be eligible for federal grants.
At the same time, the USDA, DEA and Food and Drug Administration said hemp products produced by state- or university-supervised programs couldn't be sold in states without hemp programs.
The agencies described the prohibition as a "statement of principles" and not "binding legal requirements."
Some 19 federal lawmakers, including six from Oregon and one from Washington, signed an Oct. 27 letter to the three agencies, stating they were concerned the principles would stifle the hemp industry.
Febles, who oversees the hemp program at WSDA, said she does not think the new federal guidance will hinder setting up the state's program. She said she expects hemp will be grown and processed entirely within Washington.
Businesses are marketing Oregon-made hemp products, but Eng said she does not expect the principles to alter the state's hemp program.
"At this point, we haven't gotten any direction that anything needs to change," said Eng, though she added, "Everything we discuss today could change tomorrow."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Washington Hemp Boss Hopes For Spring Planting
Author: Don Jenkins
Contact: 800-882-6789
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Capital Press
