DOJ Memo Taken as Green Light for Hemp Production in Oregon

Hemp field at sunrise.

Sen. Prozanski

Senator Floyd Prozanski, a Democrat from Eugene, co-sponsored Senate Bill 676 which permits the industrial production and processing of hemp. Although the law made Oregon one of seven states to permit it, officials waited to implement regulations for hemp production in Oregon until the government reclassified marijuana. However, this may soon change. Senator Prozanski interpreted the recent statement from the Department of Justice as a green light to start creating regulation on hemp production in Oregon.

And so far no one is contradicting the stance, even Oregon’s U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall. As the highest ranking federal law official in the state, her verifying that her office would not interfere with hemp production assuming that the state creates a detailed regulatory framework for the industry and can fund the enforcement efforts might just be the green light reluctant state officials need.

Some are ready to get the ball rolling right now. “Sounds like we will be having a conversation with the Department of Agriculture and figuring out what the next steps are,” Prozanski said. Without industrial hemp production records to draw from, no one can be too sure how well hemp will grow in Oregon. But it looks like we may have the chance to find out soon.

There is a similar conversation playing out in other states with laws permitting industrial hemp production. Hemp advocates are applauding the pioneering states while working for an overhaul of federal hemp laws which would remove the lingering question marks about what, if anything, the federal government will do to continue the prohibition of industrial hemp production. You can learn more about the happenings nationally as well as the federal battle being raged here.

For more details and to get involved in long running conversation on the topic, checkout this article by Oregon Live.