N.C. lawmakers to help grow local hemp industry with Farm Act
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A new plan was announced Wednesday morning to help grow hemp farming in North Carolina.
Lawmakers held a press conference introducing the state's latest Farm Act, including measures to oversee that budding industry.
"There's a huge demand out there for products such as rope, textiles, food, nutrition-related products, clothing," state Sen. Chuck Edwards, who was a co-sponsor on the bill, said.
“Hemp is a potentially huge, huge market in America, and North Carolina can benefit by being out in front," Edwards said.
The bill called for a nine-member state commission for hemp farmers to get a permit.
Those farmers would then allow local law enforcement to inspect their properties to make sure they were not growing any marijuana.
Hemp production in North Carolina was booming under the pilot program that started a few years ago.
Jeff Tacy, co-owner of Franny's Farmacy, successfully started and grew his hemp business under that pilot program.
"Some of the significant things that I'm seeing in the bill, as it's written now, is that it's going to, hopefully, make it an easier pathway for farmers. That's the kind of slant that I see in this whole thing is that they're really trying to make it easy for farmers to grow hemp in North Carolina."
