can be refined into a variety of commercial products, including
paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, cannabinoids, paint,
insulation, biofuel, food and animal feed; and
WHEREAS, Each year, American companies are forced to import
millions of dollars' worth of industrial hemp seed and fiber
products annually from China, Canada, Europe and other
countries; and
WHEREAS, Industrial hemp has often been confused with
marijuana, as it is a member of the cannabis family; however, it
has no psychoactive effect due to a very low level of
tetrahydrocannabinol; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 7 of Title 3 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes defines industrial hemp as the plant
Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the plant with less than
three-tenths of one percent tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as
THC; and
WHEREAS, Uncertainty about Federal laws inhibits investment
in the United States and Pennsylvania hemp industry by
agricultural producers, manufacturers, processors and other
businesses; and
WHEREAS, Section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, the
Farm Bill of 2014 and the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2016,
authorized State industrial hemp agricultural pilot research
programs and the activities associated with such programs; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth,
farmers, researchers and industry leaders recognized the
potential for opportunities in industrial hemp production and
products and in investment in Pennsylvania's industrial hemp
industry where this Commonwealth could become a national leader
to take advantage of the potential $1 billion national market
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