House of Representatives

SB 1519

water; groundwater transportation

Now: industrial hemp; production; study

Sponsors: Senators Hamilton, Guenther

 

DPA

Committee on Natural Resources & Agriculture

DPA

Caucus and COW

 

x

As Transmitted to the Governor

 

SB 1519 permits any of the three state universities 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 any of the three state universities in Arizona 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.

·                      Levels of THC required for successful crops.

·                      Effective identification of industrial hemp and its THC content.

 

·             Defines industrial hemp as strains or varieties of cannabis plants, particularly cannabis sativa, containing low percentages, generally less than one per cent, by dry weight of the psychoactive ingredient delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol commonly known as “THC.”

 

·             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, 2003.

 

·             Contains a delayed repeal date of February 1, 2004.

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·             45th Legislature                                                                                                                           

·             First Regular Session                               2                                                             April 19, 2001

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