TRENTON – Sen. Robert “Bob” Andrzejczak and Assemblyman Matt Milam (both D-1st) applauded the passage of S3686/A5322 that would establish a program for the cultivation, processing, and sale of industrial hemp in New Jersey from the Senate Economic Growth Committee and the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources committee.
According to a release, “I have been pushing for New Jersey to have a comprehensive industrial hemp program ever since I joined the Legislature in 2013,” stated Andrzejczak. “I am appreciative that senators from both sides of the aisle have joined me in making sure that New Jersey is on the cutting edge of an industry that is important not just to agriculture, but industries across the economic spectrum. I particularly want to thank Senate President Sweeney for his leadership on this issue, as we continue to work together to fight for South Jersey’s farmers and to grow our local economy.”
The 2018 federal Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp as an agricultural product, and permits individual states to act as the primary regulatory authority subject to USDA approval. It also repealed a provision of the 2016 Farm Bill that had allowed for States to enact pilot programs for the research of cultivation of industrial hemp.
“I was a sponsor of the legislation that established the pilot program to research the ways that New Jersey could be a leader on this issue,” stated Andrzejczak. “And I am excited that New Jersey is once again poised to be a national model.
The United States is the largest importer of hemp goods from around the world. The hemp market generated over $820 million in sales in the U.S. in 2017, and is expected to rise to almost $2 billion by 2022.
“Just under 10,000 acres of hemp cultivated in the United States under the pilot program enacted in by the 2016 Farm Bill. Now, there are estimates that over 1,200 hemp farmers are operating on over 40,000 acres,” stated Milam, a sponsor of the Assembly legislation. “When you couple that with the hundreds of processors already up and running around the country, the potential for growth for New Jersey’s farmers is immeasurable, as long as we are one of the first states to implement our regulatory scheme.”
The legislation heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
