Sacramento, CA — California business leaders, farmers and legislators will offer their support for a new industrial hemp farming bill (AB 1147) at a press conference on Feb. 23 at 9:00am in the California State Capitol, room 1190. The press conference, hosted by Assemblyman Mark Leno, sponsor of the legislation, will feature various California-based hemp businesses and outline why passage of the bill will help farmers and California’s economy.
WHO:
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Assemblyman Mark Leno, 13th District (San Francisco)
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Candi Penn, Executive Director of the Hemp Industries Association (Occidental)
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David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps (Escondido)
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John Roulac, President of Nutiva (Sebastopol)
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Representatives of Whole Foods Market and other speakers to be announced
WHAT: Press Conference on New Industrial Hemp Legislation (AB 1147)
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 9:00am
WHERE: California State Capitol, Room 1190, Sacramento
From natural soap to healthy foods, a variety of “Made in California” hemp products will be available to the public and media to sample. In addition, a wide variety of hemp products from around the world will be on display. Two of the California hemp companies to speak at the press conference will disclose how many thousands of acres of hemp they already support in other countries to supply their businesses, all of which could be grown in California.
This is the second time an industrial hemp bill has been introduced in the California legislature. In 2002, a hemp research bill (AB 388) passed both the Assembly and Senate only to be vetoed by then Gov. Gray Davis. “In 2002 we were very close to achieving hemp legislation,” says Candi Penn, Executive Director of the Hemp Industries Association which represents over 300 member companies. “We hope that our Governor, who was born in a country where hemp farming is legal, will sign the legislation to the benefit of California’s economy and environment.”
Support for hemp farming in California goes back to 1999 when resolution HR 32 was passed by the Assembly. If the new hemp bill becomes law, farmers would be able to apply for state licenses to grow hemp. The law would be similar to regulations
on industrial hemp in other countries such as Canada and the European Union.
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Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially.