Washington hemp bill grows in scope, cost

Capital Press
The House and hemp advocates, however, favored state oversight to ensure the cannabis crop doesn’t get tainted by cross-pollinating with marijuana or run afoul of federal authorities, who categorize hemp as a controlled substance.

The Washington Department of Agriculture estimates providing that regulation would cost at least $900,000 a year. WSDA could collect fees from hemp farmers, but the agency says it would still need $400,000 to $500,000 right away from general taxes to get the program started.

Neither House nor Senate budget writers, responsible for producing a balanced spending plan, have proposed allocating the money to make legalizing hemp possible this year.
http://www.capitalpress.com/Washington/20150428/washington-hemp-bill-grows-in-scope-cost

Bill to Effectively Nullify Federal Ban on Industrial Hemp Passes Washington State Committee, 7-0

Tenth Amendment
By a unanimous 7-0 vote today, a Washington state House committee approved a bill that would authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying the federal prohibition on the same.

House Bill 1552 (HB1552) was introduced by Rep. Matthew Shea (R-Spokane Valley) and fifteen co-sponsors. It not only designates industrial hemp as an “agricultural product” as Senate Bill 5012 (SB5012), a similar bill that recently passed the state Senate does, it also includes all the structural framework needed to get the hemp market up and running in the state.

“Industrial hemp is used in many ways, from hemp milk to hempcrete, which is a mold- and fire-resistant building material. Even our nation’s founding fathers grew hemp,” said Shea. “I introduced House Bill 1552 to legalize industrial hemp in Washington and create a new industry with jobs and a positive impact on our state’s economy.”
http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2015/02/bill-to-effectively-nullify-federal-ban-on-industrial-hemp-passes-washington-state-committee-7-0/

Senate passes bill allowing growing industrial hemp

The Seattle Times
Industrial hemp would be allowed to be grown in Washington state under a measure passed by the Senate.

Senate Bill 5012 received unanimous support Wednesday in the Senate and now heads to the House for consideration. The measure authorizes the growing of industrial hemp as an agricultural activity in the state. It also directs Washington State University to study industrial hemp production in the state, with a report due to the Legislature by Jan. 14, 2016.
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025619332_apxxgrindustrialhemp.html

Hatfield aims to legalize hemp with SB 5012

The Daily World
State Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, is spearheading a bill aimed at legalizing the production of hemp throughout the state. 

The Committee on Agriculture, Water &Rural Economic Development passed Senate Bill 5012 on Tuesday. The bill allows the growth of “industrial hemp as a legal, agricultural activity” in Washington. 
http://thedailyworld.com/news/local/hatfield-aims-legalize-hemp-sb-5012

Complications Abound For Hemp Farming In Northwest

Jefferson Public Radio
A new worry raised in Olympia on Tuesday is the potential for cross pollination between non-drug hemp fields and legal outdoor marijuana grows. 

Ezra Eickmeyer, a lobbyist for marijuana producers, recommended the state set up "some sort of reporting and coordination system" to ensure adequate separation between marijuana growers and industrial hemp farmers. 
http://ijpr.org/post/complications-abound-hemp-farming-northwest?utm_referrer=http%3A//m.ijpr.org/%3Futm_referrer%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fm.facebook.com%23mobile/24932

Washington Bill Would Start to Nullify Federal Ban on Hemp Farming

Tenth Amendment Center
A bill prefiled in the Washington State senate this week would authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying the federal prohibition on the same once put into effect. 

Senate Bill 5012 (SB5012) was prefiled for introduction during next year’s legislative session on Dec. 15. It is co-sponsored by State Sens. Brian Hatfield (D-District 19) and Jim Honeyford (R-District 15) and would open up the industrial hemp market in Washington state if successfully passed. 

SB5012 states unequivocally that “industrial hemp is an agricultural product that may be grown, produced, possessed, and commercially traded in the state.” This opens the door for an industrial hemp market to potentially spring up immediately after SB5012 becomes law.
http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2014/12/washington-bill-would-start-to-nullify-federal-ban-on-hemp-farming/

Pilot hemp crop heralds start of a new industry

The Northern Light
A local woman harvested her first crop of industrial hemp September 29, a milestone for Whatcom County and the state as legislators ponder how to legalize and regulate what could become a major new industry.
With a state recommendation to grow medical marijuana, Sandy Soderberg conducted a pilot study to test how hemp would fare in the soils and growing conditions of Whatcom County. She planted approximately 50 germinated seeds on a plot of land in Birch Bay, and with little assistance the seeds grew into 7-foot plants by late September.
http://www.thenorthernlight.com/2014/10/01/pilot-hemp-crop-heralds-start-of-a-new-industry/