Ky. governor allows hemp bill to become law, but appears unlikely to help implement it

The governor of Kentucky has allowed to become law a bill to allow limited farming of industrial hemp if the federal government grants the state a waiver. The idea had been considered dead, because of law-enforcement opposition, but was revived in an eleventh-hour compromise at the end of the legislative session.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear could have issued a veto without fear of a legislative override, but said he allowed the bill to become law without his signature because in the event of a federal waiver, "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."

Left unanswered was whether Beshear would join the bill's chief advocate, Republican Agriculture Commssioner James Comer, and the state's two Republican U.S. senators in seeking a waiver. The state's only Democratic congressman also supports the idea. UPDATE: Courier-Journal reporter Mike Wynn said on KET's "Comment on Kentucky" that it is probably safe to assume that if Beshear wouldn't sign the bill, he won't sign a waiver request.

Kentucky is now the ninth state to pass such a law," notes Ben Finley of The Associated Press. "But so far the DEA has granted only Hawaii a permit for a quarter acre plot to grow hemp for university research." (Read more)