Wyoming farmers would be able to begin growing hemp under a measure that won final approval from the House on Tuesday.
Wyoming’s representatives voted unanimously in favor of HB 171, which would make hemp a legal crop and provide for the regulation of growers.
Hemp is a relative to marijuana, but lacks the chemicals found in marijuana that intoxicate users. However, it has many commercial applications, including use in the textile industry and as a dietary supplement.
Because of its similarities to marijuana, the growing of hemp has been restricted for years, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently defined it as a legal crop.
Under HB 171, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture would be responsible for licensing hemp growers or processors. No one with a felony controlled substance conviction on their record could obtain a license.
