The negative votes were Rep. Stevenson, Rep. Lake, and Rep. Field. The purpose of this House Joint Memorial is to convey a message to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Congress, and the congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in the United States Congress that the reintroduction of industrial hemp as another potential alternative crop will have long-term economic and environmental benefits for Idaho farmers. Industrial hemp will have long-term benefits to farmers who produce the hemp and the people who utilize the hemp in the production of textiles, paper products, fiberboard, concrete reinforcement, automobile parts, plastics, organic food and natural body products and as a soil decontaminator. Commercial production and cultivation of industrial hemp is now permitted in Canada, under licenses and authorizations issued by Health Canada. Health Canada controls, through rules, all activities relating to the importation, exportation, possession, production, sale, delivering and offering for sale of industrial hemp.
Industrial hemp is grown legally throughout Europe and Asia.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reports that there is no evidence of increased crime as a result of farmers growing industrial hemp. Industrial hemp can also assist farmers in reducing field emissions. There will be no fiscal impact on the General Fund. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are acknowledged as belonging to their respective owners.