Beshear allows hemp bill to become law without his signature

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 9:01am — Diane Dyer

Gov. Steve Beshear said Friday that he would allow the so-called hemp bill to come law without his signature.

“I strongly support efforts to create additional legal cash crops for our farm communities," Beshear said in a statement issued by his office. " At the same time, we have a tremendous drug problem in Kentucky, and I want to make sure that we don’t do anything that will increase that drug problem. I still share the same concerns our law enforcement officers have about the impact hemp cultivation may have on our drug eradication efforts.

"The bottom line is that Senate Bill 50 won’t allow industrial hemp to be grown or sold unless and until the federal government takes the very big step of legalizing the crop in some way. If that happens, we will have time to work with the legislature and law enforcement to make any further changes necessary to ensure the public’s safety and alleviate those concerns.

"Therefore, I am allowing SB50 to become law without my signature," Beshear said in the statement.

Kentucky News Press Service

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