Governor Evers Approves Hemp Laws
Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 -- 7:40 AM
(WRN) -A package of laws that put Wisconsin's hemp industry in line with federal statutes has gotten the signature of Governor Tony Evers.Governor Tony Evers has signed a package of new laws that allow the state to properly regulate the hemp industry and promote farms that grow it. State senator Pat Testin says that with shifting markets and changes in the agricultural industry, Wisconsin ought to position itself right now.
"We import roughly 600 million dollars of hemp products from countries like China and Canada, when we have the ability now to grow it here. And I'm confident that Wisconsin farmers are going to lead the way in this field."
Testin says one big change is how the state handles the testing of crops to ensure they aren't chemically active.
"We're giving an avenue for the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection to eventually set up a system where you can have private entities licensed and regulated to do the testing as well."
Testin says the goal of the legislation is to make sure it's easier for farmers to grow their hemp and for processors to handle it.
"Trying to create more pathways to ensure that we don't have any bottlenecks within the industry and within this program."
Testin says he'd like to see Wisconsin become a leader in hemp growth like it was at the start of the last century.
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