An industrial hemp bill establishing a four-year pilot program was signed by Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D) on May 18th.
The pilot program will begin on July 1, 2000. The legislation requires that the stateÕs secretary of agriculture administer the pilot program in consultation with state and federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, which would have to approve any cultivation plots. According to the legislation, only state owned land may be used to cultivate industrial hemp during the duration of the study.
“Legislators and other policy makers in Washington, DC will now be forced to at least co-exist with industrial hemp,” said Scott Colvin, NORML Publications Director. “Whether they like it or not, hemp will now be in their backyard and they will hopefully learn more about its utility.”
The bill passed the Maryland House of Delegates on March 31st with a 128-8 vote, and unanimously passed the Maryland Senate on April 2nd.
For more information, please contact Scott Colvin, NORML Publications Director at (202) 483-5500.
