The era of hemp prohibition is (almost) officially over; all that’s waiting for hemp to be permanently legalized in the United States is the signature of President Trump.
Today, the House passed the US Farm Bill in a 369-47 vote, following the Senate’s approval earlier this week. Language within the bill clearly distinguishes and separates hemp from cannabis, making it possible for farmers in all 50 states to legally cultivate, produce, and manufacture hemp - if approved by state regulators. The bill will also allow for researchers to apply for and receive federal grants, potentially opening the door for more cannabanoid-related research in the US.
Lawmakers who originally introduced and supported the bill, like Mitch McConnel (R-KY) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are expecting the newly refined Farm Bill to create thousands of new jobs, leading many market analysts confidently predicting a market growth of over 20% within the year. By 2020, the US hemp market could be worth more than $10.6B.
Expect Trump to sign the bill as early as the end of this week - when he does, we’ll be sure to report back with more details.