Industrial hemp narrowed to research, advanced

Industrial hemp could be grown only for research in Nebraska under a bill amended on select file March 19.

As introduced by Cortland Sen. Norm Wallman, LB1001 originally would have allowed anyone licensed by the state Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp in Nebraska for commercial purposes and exempted it from the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

An amendment brought by Wallman, adopted 35-0, narrowed the bill to allow only postsecondary institutions or the state Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp for agricultural or academic research. The department would be required to develop regulations for industrial hemp cultivation and certify sites where it is grown.

Wallman said he brought the amendment because federal regulations allow the growth of industrial hemp only for research purposes and not for commercial use.

Only plants containing three-tenths percent or less of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), the active ingredient of the cannabis plant, would be approved for use.

Senators advanced the bill from select file by voice vote.