State Hemp Resolution

We have crafted a draft of a resolution, which is intended to be passed by state legislatures, that urges Congress to recognize industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural commodity and to pass legislation that removes barriers to state regulation of the commercial production of industrial hemp. This is also a great way to to educate state legislators and get a hemp farming bill passed in the future as well. You can download the draft resolutions in two different formats:

2009 Draft Resolution (PDF file 44k)

2009 Draft Resolution (Word .doc file 32k)

If you are a state legislator and would like more information on writing and passing a resolution like the ones below, please email us and we would be happy to help you. Please find more resources on writing state resolutions below.

Over the past decade, many resolutions have been passed in support of hemp farming and production. On the national level, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) have both passed such resolutions. A number of states have passed resolutions in support of hemp farming legislation on the federal level and sent copies of them to their Congressional delegations, DEA, ONDCP and The White House. State Farm Bureaus and Granges have passed resolutions. On the local level, resolutions have been introduced and/or passed in many counties and and a few county political parties have added planks to their party platforms in support of hemp farming.

While these resolutions and platform planks do not have the force of law, they can be used in testimony to show support for bills on the state and national levels. The process of introducing and passing them is the most important part, as it gives you the opportunity to educate people about industrial hemp and its real potential.

Adding a Plank to a Party Platform
The process of adding a plank to a party platform is usually pretty simple. You need to learn what the process for introducing and passing a plank is in your county or state. In many cases, but not all, you need to be elected to be a delegate to your party's state or local convention or caucus. Usually you will need to circulate a petition with the proposed language of the plank, get a certain number of delegate signatures, and then turn the petition in by a certain date. During the state or local convention or caucus of your party there will be a time to vote on the platform and new planks therein. You also may be able to bring a new plank to a vote by a procedural motion from the floor of the convention or caucus, but don't count on such last-minute tactics. Learning the process and laying the groundwork for support of the plank months in advance does have its advantages.

Here is sample language of a platform plank:

We support legalizing hemp farming and processing for industrial applications and funding (insert State name) universities to research industrial hemp growth and production in (insert State name).

Introducing and Passing a Resolution
The process of introducing and passing a resolution in support of industrial hemp farming and production at your State or County Farm Bureau, Grange, FFA or other farm organization is much the same as the process for introducing and passing platform planks above. The key is learning what the process is and educating the members of the organization in support of your resolution.

Here is sample language of a farm organization resolution:

The (insert State or County name) Farm Bureau supports revisions to state and federal law for the purpose of fostering the development of industrial hemp production by American farmers and manufacturers.

The (insert State or County name) Farm Bureau urges the U.S. Congress to statutorily distinguish industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), from its high-THC cousin marijuana.

The (insert State or County name) Farm Bureau also urges the U.S. Congress to give the Department of Agriculture, rather than the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), regulatory authority over industrial hemp farming.

The process for introducing and passing a resolution on the state level is more complex. State legislators are familiar with this process. However, just like the process of introducing a resolution for a farm organization or a plank for a party platform, introducing a resolution before a state legislature gives the sponsor(s) the opportunity to educate fellow legislators about hemp. Introducing a resolution on the state level can help gauge the degree of support a hemp farming bill might receive, and the education done for a resolution can help lay the groundwork for such a future bill.

Quick Links Concerning Industrial Hemp Resolutions

National Resolutions:

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) passed a resolution in 2003 urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP or Drug Czar's office) to collaboratively develop and adopt an official definition of industrial hemp, and urged Congress to statutorily distinguish between industrial hemp and marijuana and to adopt policies which would allow U.S. farmers to grow industrial hemp.
Policy Statement - Adopted September 20, 2003
Read the text of NASDA Policy Statement here (HTML).
Download the text of NASDA Policy Statement here (PDF file 9k).

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) adopted a resolution in 2000 strongly urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (Drug Czar's office) to collaboratively develop and adopt an official definition of industrial hemp. This is a strong statement for common sense as the NCSL is widely respected and regarded for its conservative and prudent approach on a variety of issues.
Industrial Hemp Policy - Adopted December 15, 2000
Click here to read the NCSL industrial hemp resolution.
Click here to read the letter that NCSL wrote to President Clinton in support of industrial hemp. (PDF files 4k and 64k, respectively)

State Resolutions:

California - 1999
HR 32
Read and adopted by a vote of 41 to 30 on 9/10/99.
Download the text of HR 32 here (PDF file 43k).

Montana - 2009
SJ 20
Resolution urging Congress to legalize industrial hemp. Third Reading and Passed the Senate by a vote of 48 to 1 on 2/23/09. Third Reading and Passed the House by a vote of 89 to 11 on 4/02/09. Signed by Senate President on 4/3/09. Signed by House Speaker on 4/6/09. Filed with the Secretary of State on 4/6/09.
Download the text of SJ 20 here (PDF file 16k).

Montana - 1999
HR 2
Passed into law.
Download the text of HR 2 here (PDF file 60k).

New Mexico - 2009
HM 47
A memorial requesting the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to investigate the feasibility of state incentives for commercialization of industrial hemp and that Congress be requested to acknowledge the difference between marijuana and industrial hemp and to clearly legalize the commercial production of industrial hemp. Companion bill to SM 30. Introduced 2/19/09. Passed the House by a vote of 44-23 on the 32nd Legislative Day. Signed on the 33rd Legislative Day.
Read the text of HM 47 here (HTML).
Download the text of HM 47 here (PDF file 48k).
Download the Final version of HM 47 here (PDF file 24k).

New Mexico - 2009
SM 30
A memorial requesting the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to investigate the feasibility of state incentives for commercialization of industrial hemp and that Congress be requested to acknowledge the difference between marijuana and industrial hemp and to clearly legalize the commercial production of industrial hemp. Companion bill to HM 47. Introduced 2/16/09. Passed the Senate by a vote of 25-12 and Signed on the 47nd Legislative Day.
Read the text of SM 30 here (HTML).
Download the text of SM 30 here (PDF file 44k).
Download the Final version of SM 30 here (PDF file 32k).

New Mexico - 2007
HM 49
A memorial requesting the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to study the viability of a legal hemp industry; urging Congress to recognize industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural commodity and to take certain other actions. Passed House 59-2 on 3/5/07. Signed 3/6/07.
Download the text of HM 49 Final Version here (PDF file 24k).

North Dakota - 2009
HCR 3026
A concurrent resolution urging the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to allow North Dakota to regulate industrial hemp farming without requiring federal applications, licenses, or fees. Adopted by the House on 2/19/09. Adopted by the Senate on 3/24/09. Returned to the House on 3/25/09. Signed by the Senate President on 4/1/09. Filed with Secretary of State on 4/7/09.
Download the text of HCR 3026 as Introduced here (PDF file 12k).
Download the text of HCR 3026 as Enrolled here (PDF file 16k).

North Dakota - 2007
HCR 3028
A concurrent resolution urging Congress to recognize the multiple benefits of industrial hemp and to facilitate the growing of industrial hemp and the expansion of industries reliant on industrial hemp-based products. Introduced on 1/26/07. Adopted by House on 2/13/07. Adopted by the Senate w/amendment on 3/15/07. Returned to House on 3/16/07. House concurred w/ Senate 4/3/07 on an 89-0 vote. Signed by Senate President and House Speaker on 4/5/07. Filed with Secretary of State on 4/5/07.
Download the text of HCR 3028 as Introduced here (PDF file 12k).

North Dakota - 2007
HCR 3042
A concurrent resolution urging Congress to direct the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to differentiate between industrial hemp and marijuana. Introduced on 1/26/07. Adopted by House on 2/13/07. Adopted by the Senate on 3/12/07. Signed by Senate President and House Speaker on 3/20/07. Filed with Secretary of State on 3/20/07.
Download the text of HCR 3042 as Introduced here (PDF file 12k).

North Dakota - 2001
HCR 3033
Passed into law.
Download the text of HCR 3033 as Enrolled here (PDF file 10k).

North Dakota - 1999
HCR 3038
Passed into law.
Download the text of HCR 3038 as Enrolled here (PDF file 8k).

Vermont - 2009
JRS 26
A joint resolution in support of Act 212 of 2008. The General Assembly urges Congress to Recognize industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural commodity and that the United States Drug Enforcement Administration allow the states to regulate industrial hemp farming without federal applications, licenses or fees. Senate: Read first time & placed on action calendar per Rule 51 on 3/27/09. Adopted on the part of the Senate on 4/14/09. House: Rules Suspended and Taken up for Immediate Consideration, Read second time, proposed amendment agreed to, the resolution was read the third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment on 5/4/09. Senate: House proposal of amendment concurred in on 5/6/09.
Download the text of JRS 26 as Introduced (PDF file 40k).
Download the text of JRS 26 As adopted by the Senate and the House in the Senate Journal of 5/6/09 page 1692 (PDF file 20k).

Vermont - 2000
JRS 98
Resolution as Adopted.
Download the text of JRS 98 as Introduced here (PDF file 5k).
Download the text of JRS 98 as Adopted here (PDF file 6k).

Vermont - 1998
JRH 149
Resolution as Adopted.
Sent to the DEA and Congressional delegation.
Download the text of JRH 149 here (PDF file 4k).

Virginia - 1999
HJ 94
Passed into law.
Download the text of HJ 94 here (PDF file 17k).

For more information on industrial hemp please see our Download Center, which includes quick links to articles, farming guides, films, legal cases, legislation, letters, regulations, reports & studies.

Vote Hemp can help you in developing platform planks and resolutions, as well as help you research the process for introducing and passing them. We can also provide you with educational materials and information to help you in the process.

If you have any questions concerning the information posted here, or you would like us to review drafts and make suggestions, please contact us.

If you would like to get involved, please see our Volunteer page.