House of Representatives

SB 1519

water; groundwater transportation

(Now: industrial hemp; production; study)

Sponsors: Senators Hamilton, Guenther

 

DPA

Committee on Natural Resources & Agriculture

x

Caucus and COW

 

 

As Passed the House

 

SB 1519 permits Arizona State University-East to study the feasibility of industrial hemp production in the state.

 

History

There are two main varieties of the plant cannibas sativa, marijuana and industrial hemp.  According to the Arizona Industrial Hemp Council, the types are distinguishable by the percentage of the psychotropic ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  Marijuana contains between 3-20 per cent THC, and industrial hemp, 0.5-1 per cent.  Some of the uses of industrial hemp include using the fiber for textiles, rope and paper; using hemp seeds for both human and animal food; and hemp seed oil for soaps, biodiesel and cosmetics.

 

Hemp is currently a controlled substance under the 1972 Controlled Substances Act, however it is legal to import if already processed.

 

Provisions

·                      Allows Arizona State University-East to study the feasibility and desirability of industrial hemp production in the state.

 

·                      Mandates that if the study is completed, the following issues must be addressed:

·                      Required soils and growing conditions.

·                      Seed availability and varieties.

·                      Harvest methods.

·                      Market economies.

·                      Environmental benefits.

 

·                      Requires the findings to be submitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary of State and Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records by December 1, 2002.

 

·                      Contains a delayed repeal date of February 1, 2003.

 

SB 1519 was amended in the Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee as follows:

·             Allows any of the three state universities to participate in the study.

 

 

 

 

·             Adds levels of THC required for successful crops and effective identification of industrial hemp and its THC content to the list of issues that must be addressed in the study.

 

·             Defines industrial hemp.

 

·             Extends the deadline of the study from December 1, 2002 to December 1, 2003.

 

 

 

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45th Legislature                                                                                                                                 

First Regular Session                                     2                                                              April 6, 2001

 

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