Hemp in Washington

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Hemp in the U.S. state of Washington has emerged as an experimental crop in the 21st century.

Contents

Historical production

The U.S. Government reported no hemp production in Washington in 1890, [1] nor did the state government in 1914 or 1922. [2] [3]

Cannabis and Humulus lupulus are both members of the family Cannabaceae, and a number of similarities in the botany and human use of the two species have been noted. [4] [lower-alpha 1] Humulus lupulus produces hops, a crop grown in quantity west of the Cascades historically (especially the Snoqualmie and Puyallup River valleys) and is a major 21st century crop in the Yakima Valley. [lower-alpha 2]

Prohibition and legalization

All cannabis was made illegal by the Washington State Legislature in 1923. [7] Although Washington voters legalized marijuana in 2012 with I-502, the initiative did not authorize hemp cultivation or sales. [8]

In accordance with the Federal 2014 Farm Bill, the state legislature created an Industrial Hemp Research Pilot (IHRP) in 2016 following passage of ESSB 6206 (codified as Revised Code of Washington Chapter 15.120), with regulation by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. [9] Industrial hemp is defined in Washington as cannabis with a THC concentration of 0.3 percent or less by dry weight. [10] [lower-alpha 3] Under the 2018 farm bill, the state's Department of Agriculture is recognized by the United States federal government as the regulator for industrial-scale non-experimental hemp production.

State law defines hemp-derived products containing less than 0.3% THC as "Cannabis Health and Beauty Aids". [11] [12]

Following the 2018 United States farm bill, the state legislature passed SB 5276, and it was signed by the governor on April 26, 2019, establishing a full-scale agriculture program and allowing acquisition of crop seed without federal approval. [13] Revised Code of Washington chapter 15.140 was added as a result. [14]

First crops

The state's first post-Prohibition experimental hemp crop was planted at Moses Lake in 2017. [15] [lower-alpha 4] A total of 180 acres (73 ha) was planted statewide 2017. [16] The first crop on tribal land in the United States may have been planted by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in 2017. [17]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ See subsection titled "The incredibly parallel histories of cannabis and its closest relative, humulus (hop)" in Small (2016) [5]
  2. ↑ Washington leads national hop production, for instance 75% of national yield in 2015. [6]
  3. ↑ The 0.3% THC definition is compatible with the Hemp Farming Act of 2018.
  4. ↑ As noted by the lack of reports of pre-1923 hemp production, it may have been the state's first hemp crop ever.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemp oil</span> Oil from hemp seeds

Hemp oil is oil obtained by pressing hemp seeds. Cold pressed, unrefined hemp oil is dark to clear light green in color, with a nutty flavor. The darker the color, the grassier the flavour. It should not be confused with hash oil, a tetrahydrocannabinol-containing oil made from the Cannabis flower.

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<i>Humulus lupulus</i> Species of flowering plant

Humulus lupulus, the common hop or hops, is a species of flowering plant in the hemp family Cannabinaceae, native to West Asia, Europe and North America. It is a perennial, herbaceous climbing plant which sends up new shoots in early spring and dies back to a cold-hardy rhizome in autumn. It is dioecious.

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The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009, introduced during the 111th United States Congress by House Republican Ron Paul of Texas) and House Democrat Barney Frank of Massachusetts) on April 2, 2009, sought to clarify the differences between marijuana and industrial hemp as well as repeal federal laws that prohibit cultivation of industrial, but only for research facilities of higher education from conducting research. Industrial hemp is the non-psychoactive, low-THC, oil-seed and fibers varieties of, predominantly, the cannabis sativa plant. Hemp is a sustainable resource that can be used to create thousands of different products including fuel, fabrics, paper, household products, and food and has been used for hundreds of centuries by civilizations around the world. If H.R.1866 passes American farmers will be permitted to compete in global hemp markets. On March 10, 2009, both Paul and Frank wrote a letter to their Congressional colleagues urging them to support the legislation. This bill was previously introduced in 2005 under the title of Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of cannabis laws in the United States</span> Historical list in chronological order of U.S. cannabis law

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Cannabis on American Indian reservations historically largely fell under the same regulations as cannabis nationwide in the United States. However, the August 2013 issuance of the Cole Memorandum opened discussion on tribal sovereignty as pertains to cannabis legalization, which was further explored as the states of Washington and Colorado legalized marijuana. A clarifying memo in December 2014 stated that the federal government's non-interference policies that applied to the 50 states, would also apply to the 326 recognized American Indian reservations. U.S. Attorney for Oregon, Amanda Marshall, stated that the clarification had been issued in response to legal questions from tribal nations, but that only three unnamed tribes, in California, Washington state, and "the Midwest" had stated explicit interest in legalizing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Nebraska</span> Legality, use and culture of cannabis in the U.S. state of Nebraska

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Iowa</span> Legality, use and culture of cannabis in the U.S. state of Iowa

Cannabis in Iowa is illegal for recreational use if classified as marijuana but consumable hemp products including CBD products are legal for consumers to possess and registered retailers to sell. Possession of even small amounts of marijuana is a misdemeanor crime. The state has a medical program for patients with qualifying debilitating medical conditions that allows for the legal sale and possession of no more than 4.5g of THC per patient every 90-day period. Allowed modes of consumption are oral & topical forms including, but not limited to; tablets and tinctures, nebulizable inhalable forms, suppositories, and vaporization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Washington (state)</span> Overview of cannabis use and culture in Washington state

Cannabis in Washington relates to a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. On December 6, 2012, Washington became the first U.S. state to legalize recreational use of marijuana and the first to allow recreational marijuana sales. The state had previously legalized medical marijuana in 1998. Under state law, cannabis is legal for medical purposes and for any purpose by adults over 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemp in Kentucky</span> Production and legality of hemp in the US state

Kentucky was the greatest producer of hemp in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries, when it was the source of three fourths of U.S. hemp fiber. Production started to decline after World War I due to the rise of tobacco as the cash crop in Kentucky and the foreign competition of hemp fibers and finished products. In 1970, federal policies virtually banned the production of industrial hemp during the War on Drugs saying all Cannabis sativa is a Schedule I controlled substance. Federal law under the Agricultural Act of 2014 allowed research back into hemp. Kentucky began production again with 33 acres in 2014. As of the 2016 harvest season, only two U.S. states other than Kentucky had over 100 acres (40 ha) in hemp production: Colorado and Tennessee. The first 500-acre commercial crop was planted in Harrison County in 2017, and research permits were issued for over 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) that year. The 2016 documentary Harvesting Liberty concerns the 21st century Kentucky hemp industry.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018</span> United States law

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The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is a cabinet-level agency in the government of Washington which regulates, advocates, and provides services for the state's agricultural industry. The agency was established in 1913 and is headquartered in Olympia, Washington. The current director of the WSDA is Derek Sandison.

Research has shown that Humulus lupulus and Cannabis sativa are closely related, and it may be possible to create novel cultivars of hops that express valuable chemicals similar to commercial hemp. Both hops and cannabis contain terpenes and terpenoids; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a terpenoid. Hops lack the enzyme that could convert cannabigerolic acid into THC or CBD, but it could be inserted using genetic engineering as was done in 2019 for yeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemp in the United States</span> Legality, use and culture of hemp in the United States

Hemp in the United States was a legal crop in the 18th and 19th centuries. Production was effectively banned in the mid-20th century, but it returned as a legal crop in the 21st century. By 2019, the United States had become the world's third largest producer of hemp, behind China and Canada.

References

  1. ↑ Census 1890.
  2. ↑ WSDA 1914.
  3. ↑ WSDA 1922.
  4. ↑ Harbison, Martha (November 15, 2012), "BeerSci: What's The Connection Between Hops And Marijuana? Because they sure look and smell alike.", Popular Science
  5. ↑ Small 2016.
  6. ↑ National Hop Report (PDF), United States Department of Agriculture, December 17, 2015, ISSN   2158-7825
  7. ↑ Camden, Jim (April 20, 2017). "Marijuana making its way around circle from legal to illegal to legal". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  8. ↑ Marijuana FAQ, Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board
  9. ↑ Industrial Hemp Research Pilot, March 28, 2018
  10. ↑ RCW 15.120.010
  11. ↑ RCW 69.50.575
  12. ↑ "Meet the Female Entrepreneur Who Is One of the First to Secure a U.S. Cannabis Trademark". Leafly.com. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  13. ↑ Don Jenkins (April 29, 2019). "It's 'go time' for Washington hemp, advocate says – Inslee signs bill into law". Salem, Oregon: Capital Press – via The Daily Astorian.
  14. ↑ Washington State Department of Agriculture Hemp Regulatory Plan, as submitted to United States Secretary of Agriculture by the director, packet dated November 20, 2019
  15. ↑ Don Jenkins (June 6, 2017), "Moses Lake farm first in Washington to plant hemp", The Capital Press , Salem, Oregon
  16. ↑ Don Jenkins (March 30, 2018), "Washington resumes its hemp program", The Capital Press, Salem, Oregon
  17. ↑ Samantha Wohlfeil (August 14, 2017), "Just for the Hemp of It", Inlander– via Washington Farm Bureau

Sources

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