(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he looks forward to signing into law legislation that received final approval by the Connecticut House of Representatives tonight creating a pilot program to allow for the production of industrial hemp in the state. The bill was approved in the State Senate late last month and will next be transmitted to the governor’s desk for his signature. It received unanimous supports by the members of both chambers of the General Assembly.
The governor said the legislation creates growing business opportunities for the state’s agricultural industry.
“This legislation will strengthen our efforts to grow our agricultural economy and create jobs, and do so in a responsible manner by opening a competitive market to thousands of Connecticut’s farmers,” Governor Lamont said. “With this program, farmers will have the opportunity to bolster their profits with hemp, and veteran and first-time farmers alike will be attracted to a new and growing market that will offer crop diversification, increased revenue, and expertise in an expanding field. I applaud both chambers of the General Assembly for their unanimous, bipartisan support of this legislation. If we truly want to give an economic boost to our state’s farms, this is something we should all support. I look forward to signing it into law.”
“We thank the General Assembly for moving this important piece of legislation – in a bipartisan manner – to open up and create new opportunities for farmers,” Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Brian Hurlburt said. “Hemp has the potential to stabilize the agricultural economy and attract new farmers to the industry while providing consumers with a locally grown product that is in high demand. With this vote, we move one giant step closer to the legalization of hemp and all the benefits that it can provide. This ties in with the governor’s budget to support a hemp program and the desire to create new market opportunities for the small business men and women in Connecticut.”
“I’m pleased that this bill was approved in a form that will allow farmers to grow a new product, and requires testing of products derived from hemp,” Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull said. “We’re excited about the business that this new industry can bring to our state, and that this law keeps practical measures to ensure public health and safety in mind for products produced in our state. I want to thank the legislators who have worked on this bill, and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for their partnership.”
The legislation is SB 893, An Act Concerning A Pilot Program For Hemp Production.