KY Hemp Bill Passes House 66-32

THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER
Lexington, Kentucky
February 15, 2001

Legislative Briefs Industrial hemp House bill would allow hemp study by universities

The House yesterday passed a controversial bill that would allow state universities to conduct research into production of industrial hemp. The bill passed the House on a 66-32 vote. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Joe Barrows, D-Versailles, said Kentucky needs the legislation to ``find out if this can help farmers across the state.'' But other legislators argued yesterday that industrial hemp is no different than marijuana and that it would negatively affect schools, families and children. Marijuana is grown for its leaves; industrial hemp is grown for the fiber of its stalk. The bill moves on to a Senate committee.