Industrial hemp research bill passed

Senators passed a bill March 27 permitting industrial hemp to be grown for research in Nebraska.

Introduced by Cortland Sen. Norm Wallman, LB1001 allows postsecondary institutions or the state Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp for agricultural or academic research. The department is required to develop regulations for industrial hemp cultivation and certify sites where it is grown.

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

The bill passed on a 39-2 vote.