Michigan approves industrial hemp research

Michigan State University
In January 2015, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed Public Acts 547 and 548 of 2014, removing “industrial hemp” from the state’s legal definition of marijuana and authorizing industrial hemp research by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Michigan universities. The 2014 Farm Bill included conservative language in Sec. 7606, opening the door for such regulated research on the ancient fiber crop, though commercial cultivation remains illegal at the federal level. Michigan joins at least 10 other states that have passed similar legislation.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/michigan_approves_industrial_hemp_research

Two bills could create legal industrial hemp research in Michigan

Up North Live
Governor Rick Snyder has two bills on his desk that if approved would make it legal to grow industrial hemp in Michigan for research purposes by the Michigan Agriculture Department. 

It would also help clear up the confusion about hemp by removing the word from the definition of marijuana under state law. 
http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=1148338#.VLVjmnuPOQ8

Hemp Bills Pass Michigan Senate Committee

The Weed Blog
In the last few days of the 2014 legislative session, hemp was on the minds of some Michigan lawmakers. The Senate Agriculture Committee today passed a pair of bills designed to empower hemp production in the Great Lakes State.

Steven Sharpe, a Board member with the Michigan chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and a longtime hemp advocate, testified at the committee hearing and reported the results. Hemp is genetically distinct from, but taxonomically identical to, marijuana. It is a non-intoxicating industrial plant that yields food, fuel and fiber when harvested.
http://www.theweedblog.com/hemp-bills-pass-michigan-senate-committee/

RheTech to commercialize hemp fibers to replace glass in PP

Plastics News
RheTech Inc. plan to commercialize its first hemp fiber compounds in January.

Whitmore Lake, Mich.-based RheTech now is developing applications for grades of its RheVision product line that combine hemp fibers with polypropylene, business development director Jim Preston said in a recent phone interview.
http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20141127/NEWS/141129931/rhetech-to-commercialize-hemp-fibers-to-replace-glass-in-pp