HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 55
(By Delegates Stemple, Boggs, Yeager, Beach, Crosier, DeLong,
Long, Louisos, Manuel, Paxton, Pethtel, Poling, Shaver,
Swartzmiller, Tabb, R. Thompson, Williams, Evans, Anderson,
Border, Duke, Leggett, Overington, Romine and Schoen)
(Originating in the Committee of Agriculture
and Natural Resources)
[February 26, 2004]
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study
whether wild ginseng and cultivated ginseng should be
regulated in the same manner.
Whereas, Native ginseng is an important wild plant in West
Virginia harvested by over fifteen thousand individuals; and
Whereas, The harvested wild ginseng generates several millions
of dollars of income; and
Whereas, Wild ginseng is a threatened species subject to
regulation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the West
Virginia Division of Forestry; and
Whereas, Over the past few years, several landowners have begun
cultivating ginseng in the woods as a crop; and
Whereas, Cultivated ginseng is regulated in the same manner as
wild ginseng;
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance to study whether wild ginseng and cultivated
ginseng should be regulated in the same manner; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2005, 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 this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.