Minnesota Ag Connection - Smith: Clear Hurdles for Minnesota Industrial Hemp

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Smith: Clear Hurdles for Minnesota Industrial Hemp
Minnesota Ag Connection - 04/22/2019

After taking a leading role in making sure Minnesota priorities were included in the 2018 Farm Bill, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)--a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee--is once again standing up for Minnesota farmers by pressing top federal agriculture, drug enforcement, and customs officials to clear the bureaucratic hurdles that are preventing Minnesota farmers from obtaining hemp seed.

Smith said last year's Farm Bill established hemp as an agriculture commodity, and authorized the production, consumption, and sale of hemp in Minnesota and across the country. However, she said, a lack of coordination between federal agencies is preventing farmers from getting the hemp seed they need.

"It has come to my attention that Minnesota farmers who want to grow hemp are running into obstacles regarding the importation of hemp seed. I have heard from my constituents that these obstacles stem from a lack of coordination between federal agencies, specifically the United States Department of Agriculture, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)," wrote Smith in her call to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Drug Enforcement Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon, and Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. "In particular, a Minnesotan informed my office that the CBP will not allow hemp seeds into the country without a DEA permit, but DEA is no longer granting any permits because hemp is no longer treated as a controlled substance.

"Congress' clear intent in last year's law was to make it easier, not harder, for farmers to grow industrial hemp. The apparent bureaucratic failure described above is counter to Congressional intent, and more importantly, it is hurting Minnesota farmers. With planting season quickly approaching, I ask that you review this situation immediately, and update me on how you are addressing it."

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