Legalizing Weed: 5 Notable Quotes From Maine's Legalization of Industrial Hemp Farming

The debate in Maine over the legalization of industrial hemp farming came to a head when the state legislature overrode a veto by Gov. Paul LePage to allow for the cultivation of hemp for commercial use on June 22, 2015.

Here are five quotes from the heated debate on industrial hemp farming in Maine.

1. "I am absolutely thrilled that this is now law. This was overwhelmingly overridden. It got big support in both the House and the Senate. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle really showed their support for it."
– State Rep. Deborah Sanderson told the Bangor Daily News after the bill allowing hemp farming passed after the governor's veto. She was the sponsor of the bill

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2. "This legislation is fatally flawed and due to current federal law, I can see no way to make this concept work. This bill, however, fails to recognize the fact that the United States Drug Enforcement Agency requires a permit to import hemp seed into Maine and permits are only issued to state departments of agriculture or universities for research purposes. I simply cannot support inadvertently putting Maine's hard working farmers at risk of violating federal criminal laws, which is the practical effect of this bill."
– Maine Gov. LePage during a statement vetoing the state's hemp cultivation bill on May 8, 2015

3. "I also have serious doubts about the agricultural and economic benefits of this bill. At this time, there are no developed markets in Maine for hemp and it is unlikely that this product would command a price high enough to make this crop worth growing. Proponents argue that hemp fiber can act as a replacement for wood fiber, but Maine already has a vibrant forest industry with developed infrastructure."
– A statement from Gov. LePage casting doubt about how much impact hemp farming would have on the state's economy

4. "Passage … would speed up the eligibility for Maine farmers to add one more crop to their farm production. Industrial hemp is environmentally friendly to grow and has a multitude of potential uses that fit with Maine's increasing interest in producing healthful, organic grains and oils and in fabricating biologically based products, such as bioplastics."
– Heather Spaulding, of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, said in her support of the hemp cultivating bill, reported the Bangor Daily News on Feb. 23, 2015

5. "Maine has an opportunity to break into an emerging industry that will be of tremendous benefit to our state. Not only would it open new opportunities for farmers, it would also provide local sourcing for many products made from hemp."
– Rep. Sanderson, discussing her support of the hemp cultivation bill, according to The Tenth Amendment Center blog

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