by: Charles Barr
An effort to “create 10 times as many jobs as the Keystone XL Pipeline over the next decade,” Kentucky’s most notable politicians in Washington DC – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Rand Paul, and Congressman Thomas Massie – joined together in an effort to legalize hemp across the nation.
Originally a bill that Former Congressman Ron Paul attempted to pass in 2005, Massie has taken over the mantle and has been at the forefront of the issue since 2013 when he pushed a bill forward. Of course it had its obstacles. “I’ve got a lot of older Republican farmers who remember when their grandparents grew hemp and they don’t understand what the fuss is all about,” Massie said. He was able to pass a pilot program for the state of Kentucky with the help of Mitch McConnell.
Hemp is a version of the cannabis plant that does not have nearly the amount of THC, or the brain altering substance, that marijuana has. It is used as an industrial substance for creating paper, clothing, plastics, and construction products.
Critics say that legalization of hemp would allow for widespread use of recreational marijuana. They argue that it would be “indistinguishable” from it, and cited that officers would be confused about which plants to target.
“Allowing farmers throughout our nation to cultivate industrial hemp and benefit from its many uses will boost our economy and bring much-needed jobs to the agriculture industry,” Rand Paul said in a statement.
Historically, the crop was legal to grow in the country until 1916. During World War II, it became a staple crop due to its importance in making supplies for the military. Currently, it is legal in the United States to use Hemp to make products. However, it is illegal to grow the raw material. Most of the Hemp is imported from Canada, where it is legal to grow the plant.
[divider]About the Author:[/divider]An aspiring filmmaker with a passion for liberty-minded politics, Charles Barr resides in Monmouth County, New Jersey and attends Montclair State University with the intention of graduating in 2017 with a double major in filmmaking and political science and a minor in communications. Charles has volunteered for various campaigns including: Ron Paul for President 2012, Stephanie Ziemba for State Assembly, Steve Lonegan for US Senate, Ken Kaplan for Governor, Brian Goldberg for US Senate, and Dorit Goikhman for US Congress. In addition to politics, Charles was the assistant director for the feature length film, My Brother’s Girlfriend that premiered in early 2015 and has helped with the production of various shorts. Currently, Charles serves as the Associate Director for the Empowerment PAC, the Assistant Chair of Herrera PAC, and is writing a web-series based on the dangers of prescription painkillers.
