HB 302: Allowing Hemp Research

This bill passed the House 57-10 and passed the Senate with a unanimous vote.

Researching the potential use of industrial hemp will be a newly explored venture for the state of Utah under House Bill 302. Sponsored by Representative Brad Daw, HB 302 would allow for Utahns to apply for a license to participate in the hemp research pilot program through the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Hemp is a renewable resource which has historically been used for a myriad of products such as paper, textiles, clothing, and food. Cultivating the plant would result in an array of endless possibilities for the creation of environmentally friendly commodities.

Hemp is different from ingestible cannabis in both form and function. Because of the near-nonexistent THC in hemp, it is not possible to ingest enough to cause impairment at all. Instead, the different form of this plant allows for significant industrial opportunity.

HB 302 permits certain individuals to become licensed so they can delve into discovering opportunities for new materials and products made from hemp. Supporting this bill is supporting an ecological approach to future economic prosperity for the state of Utah.