HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on October 6 unanimously approved legislation introduced by Rep. Russ Diamond that would create an agricultural pilot program for industrial hemp research. The measure now advances to the House floor.

House bill 967 would permit industrial hemp to be grown or cultivated in special programs administered by the Department of Agriculture or institutions of higher learning focused on research and development.

“There’s an enormous amount of confusion and misinformation around industrial hemp—it’s not marijuana and you can’t get high from it,” said Diamond. “It’s a naturally occurring plant that’s incredibly strong and durable, making it ideal for use in a wide variety of consumer products.”

Products containing industrial hemp include automobile dashboards, home insulation, building materials, soil fertilizer and even some food items. While cultivation has been largely banned in the United States, Americans import products from around the world made from industrial hemp, placing the nation at a competitive disadvantage.

Pennsylvania once led the nation in industrial hemp production, and the plant was widely grown in the United States for use in many products. In an attempt to fight marijuana use, the federal government outlawed industrial hemp in the 1930s.