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| A measure to legalize large-scale hemp cultivation in the US was supported by both Republicans and Democrats (AFP Photo/ROMAIN LAFABREGUE) |
Washington
(AFP) - The US Congress on Wednesday approved the legalization of large-scale
hemp cultivation and its removal from a list of controlled substances.
"This
is the culmination of a lot of work by a number of us here in Washington but
really the victory is for the growers, processors, manufacturers and consumers
who stand to benefit from this growing market place," Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell said.
The measure
was supported by both Republicans and Democrats who argued it was an
opportunity for American farmers.
It appears
in a major law on agriculture that was adopted by a clear majority in the House
of Representatives (369-47) after comfortably passing the Senate (87-13) the
day before.
The law has
not yet been signed by President Donald Trump.
"I'll
be happy to loan him my hemp pen for the occasion," joked McConnell, a
conservative from the state of Kentucky who had vigorously defended the measure
after already pushing for the authorization of pilot programs in 2014.
The measure
"legalizes hemp as an agricultural commodity" and removes it from the
controlled substances list, while allowing researchers to apply for federal
grants and makes hemp eligible for crop insurance, McConnell said.
This
"will encourage new opportunities for struggling farmers and their
families, news products... and new jobs," he said.
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