HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. \

(By Delegates A. Evans, Hamilton and Eldridge)

[Introduced ]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development study the impact of amending section five, article twelve-e, chapter nineteen of the Code of West Virginia to expand the list of persons the Commissioner of Agriculture may license to grow or cultivate industrial hemp.

Whereas, Section five, article twelve-e, chapter nineteen of the Code of West Virginia permits a person to apply to the Commissioner of Agriculture for the issuance of a license to grow industrial hemp for commercial purposes; and

Whereas, Subsection (e), section five, article twelve-e, chapter nineteen of the Code of West Virginia provides that only the Department of Agriculture and state institutions of higher learning, licensed and authorized by the commissioner to do so, may lawfully grow or cultivate industrial hemp in this state; and

Whereas, Legislation has been proposed to expand the list of persons the Commissioner of Agriculture may license to grow or cultivate industrial hemp in this state; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to study the impact, including, but not limited to, potential economic benefits and regulatory issues, of amending subsection (e), section five, article twelve-e, chapter nineteen of the Code of West Virginia to provide that, in addition to the Department of Agriculture and state institutions of higher learning, the Commissioner of Agriculture may license other persons qualified under article twelve-e, chapter nineteen of the Code of West Virginia to lawfully grow or cultivate industrial hemp in this state; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2017, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct these studies, to prepare reports and draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.