Assembly Resolution No. 1273

BY: M. of A. Rules (Lupardo)

URGING the United State Congress to recognize
industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural commodity
and to pass the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, which
would permanently legalize hemp, removing it from
the purview of the Controlled Substances Act and
establishing it as an agricultural commodity

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to urge the US
Congress to recognize industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural
commodity and to pass the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 (S.2667/H.R. 5485);
and

WHEREAS, A bi-partisan effort has taken place at both the federal
and state levels to pass legislation which would allow American farmers
to compete with foreign nations in hemp production; and

WHEREAS, Industrial hemp, as defined in New York State law, means
the plant Cannabis Sativa L. and any part of the plant with less than
three-tenths of one percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); and

WHEREAS, Industrial hemp plants are cultivated for products derived
from the whole stalk, seeds, and roots, including fiber, food, oil, and
extracts; and

WHEREAS, Section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, the federal
Farm Bill, and the federal Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2016,
authorized state industrial hemp agricultural pilot research programs
and the activities associated with such programs; and

WHEREAS, The New York State legislature and Governor enacted Chapter
524 of the Laws of 2014, Chapter 256 of the Laws of 2016, and Chapters
58 and 88 of the Laws of 2017 which collectively define industrial hemp
as an agricultural product, establish industrial hemp research pilot
programs, provide for technical assistance and regulation by the State,
and authorize the growth, sale, distribution, transportation and
processing of industrial hemp and products derived from hemp as part of
the research program authorized in accordance with federal law; and

WHEREAS, The State, through the Department of Agriculture and
Markets and Empire State Development Corporation, farmers, researchers,
and industry leaders, have worked together over the past four years to
explore opportunities in hemp production and products and invest in
making New York State's hemp industry a national leader so it will be
poised to take advantage of the potential $1 billion national market for
growing, producing, processing and selling hemp and hemp products; and

WHEREAS, Each year, American companies are forced to import millions
of dollars' worth of hemp seed and fiber products annually from China,
Canada, Europe, and other countries; and

WHEREAS, Nutritious hemp foods can be found in grocery stores
nationwide and strong durable hemp fibers can be found in the interior
parts of millions of American cars and numerous buildings are being

constructed using a long-lasting, energy-saving hemp and lime concrete
mixture which acts to sequester carbon; and

WHEREAS, Uncertainty about federal laws inhibit investment in the
United States and New York hemp industry by agricultural producers
manufacturers, processors and other businesses; and

WHEREAS, The US relied upon hemp from the Mayflower to the U.S.S.
Constitution and through every world war; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Congress of the United States be and hereby is
respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to recognize
industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural commodity; to pass the Hemp
Farming Act of 2018; to permanently legalize hemp, removing it from the
purview of the Controlled Substances Act and establishing it as an
agricultural commodity; to acknowledge that allowing and encouraging
farmers to produce industrial hemp will improve the balance of trade by
promoting domestic sources of industrial hemp; and to assist United
States producers by removing barriers to State regulation of the
commercial production of industrial hemp; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the President of the Senate of the United States, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each member of the
Congressional Delegation from the State of New York.