Opinion/Editorial: Legalizing hemp could add a strong Va. business

The Daily Progress

It’s a far cry from Virginia’s traditional tight grip on hemp. Industrial hemp is banned across the country. Although some products are legal to sell in the United States, they are imported from overseas.

That represents a market of more than $500 million, according to the Virginia Industrial Hemp Coalition, which is based in Nelson County. Virginia could grab some of that market if hemp could be grown domestically.
http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/opinion-editorial-legalizing-hemp-could-add-a-strong-va-business/article_2f7b6754-acc0-11e4-a5d0-8bd0e8f6e1cf.html

Student, professor advocate for hemp production

The Flat Hat
Kinesiology major and Tidewater Regional Coordinator for the Virginia Industrial Hemp Coalition Emmanuel Ajibola ’15 is working to bring a student chapter of the organization to campus.

The group supports legislation allowing the industrial production of hemp — a variety of cannabis — in Virginia.

“We’re the only nation that’s not on board with growing it,” Ajibola said. “It’s completely sustainable. The products you get from it are biodegradable. I think that ties into a lot of stuff we’re doing on campus with sustainability. I think this is an avenue that everyone on campus should be looking at, should potentially get involved with.”
http://flathatnews.com/2015/02/06/student-professor-advocate-for-hemp-production/

Groups to Lobby for Industrial Hemp Use in VA

NBC29
The Virginia Industrial Hemp Coalition and Vote Hemp are expecting as many as 200 people will lobby around the cause. They say legalizing industrial hemp in the commonwealth will help boost the economy.

"Monday, I'm going to Richmond to lobby for industrial hemp HB 1277. I feel that it would support farmers in the local community and bring industries into Virginia," said Jess Blossoms, industrial hemp lobbyist.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/27881011/groups-to-lobby-for-industrial-hemp-use-in-va