Industrial Hemp briefing on Capitol Hill with Kentucky Ag. Commissioner

At around 9 minutes in, Kentucky Agricultural Commissioner James Comer makes this statement during the Capitol Hill briefing:

“In 2014 growing season, we intend to try to get the processors to set up shop in our state and to have the farmers plan on making preparations to grow hemp next year, in 2014 unless the DOJ tells us otherwise… We believe that this is another tool in the toolbox for farmers.  We were very dependent on tobacco in Kentucky.  The tobacco industry has changed, so we’ve been trying to replace tobacco.  And, I think the hemp isn’t gonna be the answer to all our problems but it’s an option for our farmers.  I also believe it could create manufacturing jobs in rural communities… We feel there’s great potential in Kentucky with industrial hemp farming for the automotive industry and Toyota and Ford have a huge presence in Kentucky…  If you look at what Europe’s doing with BMW and Mercedes, they’re using hemp fiber for the dash and the door panels and the gear panels for all of their vehicles that they manufacture in Germany.  We believe that we can do that in Kentucky.”

Description:

Published on Sept 11, 2013

Sept. 10, 2013 briefing and press conference on Capitol Hill discussing industrial hemp policy and pending legislation featuring Kentucky Ag. Commissioner James Comer, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp.