The legalization of the production of industrial hemp is a step closer to reality after the House Agricultural Committee passed an amended bill Tuesday.
Industrial hemp can be used in a variety of ways, including the production of fuel. This is becoming a major issue in light of the higher levels of ethanol that second generation fuels will contain.
Currently, E-10 type of fuel, which contains up to 10 percent of ethanol, is the most common across the state. But a new type of ethanol fuel is set to be released – E-15 contains 50 percent more ethanol than E-10, which could potentially damage cars not meant to run on it.
The committee amended the bill in order to provide liability protection for the fuel industry in the event consumers accidentally use the wrong fuel in their cars.
“This amendment is common sense. It helps Indiana make fuels reach the marketplace. As I said it gives the station owners peace of mind knowing that they’re protected in the event that a consumer puts an incompatible fuel in their vehicle, which could happen today with other types of fuels,” said Dave Hudak, Secretary Treasurer of the Indiana Ethanol Producers Association.
It’s not just a local push – 10 other states have passed similar legislation, and Congress is also working to legalize industrial hemp at a federal level. Senator Richard Young Jr, D-Milltown, warned other lawmakers of the negative consequences not passing this bill could bring.
“That’s one of the reasons we need to be very concerned , so that we don’t find ourselves left out of the opportunity not only from an agricultural point which is very important to our state being one of the largest agricultural states and having a large part of our economy come from agriculture, but also for Indiana, we are the largest manufacturing state in the nation, and this industrial hemp provides tremendous opportunities for our manufacturing industry and in all these sectors that means jobs.”
Bob Kraft, representing the North American Industrial Hemp Council agreed.
“Other states are positioning themselves to take advantage and to put their farmers in the position to take advantage of an opportunity that will occur when, not if, but when the federal government decides to lift its prohibition,” Kraft said. “And it makes no sense at all for the state of Indiana to preclude our farmers from positioning ourselves to be able to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Hemp is also used for medicinal purposes. Cannabis Component Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, can be used as an anti-inflammatory to the brain and body. According to two Indiana mothers, clinical studies show CBD is one of the most effective tools in the treatment of Dravet Syndrome, a condition that causes severe seizures, a syndrome their sons suffer from.
Miriah Mershon and Brandy Barrett, emotionally expressed their hope the bill would become law.
“I just want that opportunity. I want the opportunity to try this on my son. This is a genetic condition that was not inherited. It was not caused by an outside factor, it just happened,” Mershon said.
Barrett agreed.
“We now know that it is possible for Noah and for others to see progress. It has been shown that if seizure activity can be decreased or stopped, the brain has time to heal and rewire,” she said.
The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
