Bill Text - HB421 (2015)

Authorizing the university of New Hampshire to grow industrial hemp for research purposes.


Revision: July 15, 2015, midnight

CHAPTER 233

HB 421 - FINAL VERSION

11Mar2015… 0531h

24June2015… 2118CofC

2015 SESSION

15-0137

08/03

HOUSE BILL 421

AN ACT authorizing the university of New Hampshire to grow industrial hemp for research purposes.

SPONSORS: Rep. Moynihan, Coos 2; Rep. Gottling, Sull 2; Rep. Gagnon, Sull 5

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes any institution of higher education to grow industrial hemp for research purposes.

This bill is a request of the committee to study the growth and sale of industrial hemp in New Hampshire established by 2014, 218.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11Mar2015… 0531h

24June2015… 2118CofC

15-0137

08/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT authorizing the university of New Hampshire to grow industrial hemp for research purposes.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

233:1 New Chapter; Agricultural Hemp Pilot Program. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 433-B the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 433-C

INDUSTURIAL HEMP RESEARCH

433-C:1 Industrial Hemp Defined. “Industrial hemp” means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.

433-C:2 Authorization. An institution of higher education, as defined in 20 U.S.C. section 1001, may grow or cultivate industrial hemp, on site or off site, for purposes of research under an agricultural pilot program or other agricultural or academic research. In addition to studying the plant’s growth and cultivation, the research shall also study the economics of industrial hemp, including markets and processing. Industrial hemp grown or cultivated in accordance with this chapter shall not be considered a controlled drug or controlled substance under RSA 318-B.

433-C:3 Regulation. All research shall be undertaken in coordination with the department of agriculture, markets, and food. The department may certify and register sites used to grow or cultivate industrial hemp and may adopt rules to regulate such research to the extent necessary to comport with 7 U.S.C. section 5940. Such rules shall be exempt from RSA 541-A. All research projects shall conclude within 3 years of commencement.

233:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: July 13, 2015

Effective Date: September 11, 2015