Hemp farming raises eyebrows, but gets a nod at the Capitol

May 7, 2012

Debi Brazzale / Colorado News Agency

Lawmakers Friday continued to move forward with a proposal to study the usefulness of planting fields of hemp to absorb toxins in contaminated soil.

House Bill 1099, sponsored by Reps. Wes McKinley, D-Walsh, and Jerry Sonnenberg, D-Sterling; and Sens. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, and Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, would create a pilot program, funded by gifts, grants and donations, to research the crop’s potential.

The measure, approved by the Senate Finance Committee, passed with the added support of eastern plains Republican Sen. Greg Brophy, of Wray, a farmer who sided with majority Democrats on the panel. …see full story by the Colorado News Agency

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Tags: contaminated soil, Greg Brophy, hemp, Jerry Sonnenberg, Lois Tochtrop, Mark Scheffel, Suzanne Williams, Wes McKinley