SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 35

(By Senators Cline and Beach)

[Introduced March 13, 2017]

Urging the United States Congress to reassess the federal definition of industrial hemp, allowing the product to contain up to one percent delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol on a dry weight basis.

Whereas, In 2002 West Virginia adopted the Industrial Hemp Development Act to promote growth of industrial hemp farms and industry in the state; and

Whereas, Industrial hemp farmers and processors encourage Congress to reassess the definition of industrial hemp as referenced in 7 U. S. C. §5940 and increase the farm production values to one percent tetrahydrocannabinol to allow industrial hemp farmers to increase yield potential per acre and profitability for all industrial hemp grown in the state; and

Whereas, A change in the definition not only impacts the crop values for West Virginia farmers producing industrial hemp for nutraceutical extract but also impacts all other aspects of industry development; and

            Whereas, Increasing yield potential per acre equates to increased profit potential for West Virginia’s farm families and industrial hemp processors; and

Whereas, A variety of products can be made from industrial hemp through its use of fiber, seed, seed oil or floral extracts. Industrial hemp can be found in products such as paper, fabric, auto parts, animal bedding, body care products and essential oils; and

Whereas, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015 amended the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 to redefine “industrial hemp” and remove it from the current definition of “marijuana”, thereby allowing hemp to be grown, processed, transported and sold under state and federal laws; and

Whereas, West Virginia can prosper in the cultivation, processing, manufacturing and sale of hemp for food, textiles, building materials and dietary supplement uses; and

Whereas, The federal government defines industrial hemp as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than three-tenths of one percent on a dry weight basis”; and

Whereas, Industrial hemp has thirty percent more protein per pound than beef, essential amino acids and a source of omega 3s, making it a great replacement for fish oil, useful as a replacement for coconut oil and useful for many health benefits; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has been very supportive of the hemp industry; and

Whereas, West Virginia agriculture will play a large role in the state’s future, ranking 11th in the United States in apple production, 16th in the United States turkey production and 18th in the United States chicken meat production; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby urges the United States Congress to reassess the federal definition of industrial hemp, allowing the product to contain up to one percent delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol on a dry weight basis; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Senate urges the United States Congress to consider revising the current definition of industrial hemp found in 7 U. S. C §5940, increasing the tetrahydrocannabinol threshold of dry weight flower concentration from three tenths of one percent to one percent; and, it be

Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Senate is hereby urged to promote the increased production of industrial hemp to promote agricultural growth within the state; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to each member of West Virginia’s delegation to the United States Congress.