Industrial hemp production and manufacturing. (SB955)

Introduced By

Sen. Roz Dance (D-Petersburg) with support from co-patron Sen. Lionell Spruill (D-Chesapeake)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Industrial hemp production and manufacturing. Allows licensed cultivation of industrial hemp, defining industrial hemp as the plant Cannabis sativa with a concentration of THC no greater than that allowed by federal law. The bill directs the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt relevant regulations and establishes an industrial hemp research program. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/09/2015Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15103142D
01/09/2015Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
01/29/2015Impact statement from DPB (SB955)
01/29/2015Committee substitute printed 15103950D-S1
01/29/2015Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitite (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/02/2015Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/03/2015Read second time
02/03/2015Reading of substitute waived
02/03/2015Committee substitute agreed to 15103950D-S1
02/03/2015Reading of amendments waived
02/03/2015Amendments by Senator Dance agreed to
02/03/2015Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute with amendments SB955ES1
02/03/2015Printed as engrossed 15103950D-ES1
02/04/2015Impact statement from DPB (SB955ES1)
02/04/2015Read third time and passed Senate (32-Y 5-N) (see vote tally)
02/09/2015Placed on Calendar
02/09/2015Read first time
02/09/2015Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
02/11/2015Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (21-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/12/2015Read second time
02/13/2015Read third time
02/13/2015Passed House BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
02/13/2015VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (97-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/17/2015Enrolled
02/17/2015Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB955ER)
02/17/2015Signed by Speaker
02/18/2015Impact statement from DPB (SB955ER)
02/20/2015Signed by President
02/23/2015G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, Monday, March 30, 2015
02/23/2015Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/23/15
02/23/2015G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, Sunday, March 29, 2015
03/16/2015G Approved by Governor-Chapter 180 (effective 7/1/15)
03/16/2015G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0180)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 2 clips in all, totaling 1 minute.

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB1277.

Comments

robert legge writes:

Once more. This stuff doesn't get anyone high. Repeat. This stuff doesn't get anyone high. "Oh, but someone will mix marijuana that can get you high in with it!!!!". No, they won't because any pot grower knows that it ruins the THC content (the substance that creates the high) to be near hemp. So stop this nonsense and pass this bill.

Waldo Jaquith writes:

Another excuse that that legislators will use to vote against hemp bills is that hemp looks like marijuana, so that will make it difficult for police to distinguish between the two. Under this logic, manufacture of flour should be illegal, because it looks like cocaine. Or oregano should be banned, because it looks like dried marijuana.

Future Farmer writes:

Does anyone know when the agricultural committee is voting on this? Farmers need to be present to give testimony in support of a billion dollar native crop that we have eradicated for no reason other than ideology fueled corporatism.

Shirley Strait writes:

Our forefathers grew hemp in Virginia and knew and celebrated its many uses and benefits to society. Backward, close-minded thinking is not what Virginia needs to progress and our farmers, large and smal ,would greatly benefit from the growth of this versatile plant. It is NOT marijuana, cannot be smoked or used in the same way, and can only greatly expand the horizons for our farmers who truly need a cash crop with so many beneficial uses. Come on Virginia! Be on the forefront of change! It is an admirable and intelligent choice for our farmers, and our society and state!

Mary Smith writes:

In reading articles of hemp production, it is documented that it was banned in North America in the 1930s due to its leaves and flowers containing a hallucinogenic drug known as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Also, the documentation indicates that it was banned internationally in 1961 under the United Nations' Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

I feel that a lot of research should be given to this to determine if hemp could pose any health concerns for people who will try to use it on a social basis. We have to look at this realistically, a lot of people will experiment and use this socially.

Respectfully,

Mary Smith writes:

In reading articles of hemp production, it is documented that it was banned in North America in the 1930s due to its leaves and flowers containing a hallucinogenic drug known as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Also, the documentation indicates that it was banned internationally in 1961 under the United Nations' Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

I feel that a lot of research should be given to this to determine if hemp could pose any health concerns for people who will try to use it on a social basis. We have to look at this realistically, a lot of people will experiment and use this socially. This could have a great impact on the youth.

Respectfully,