Legalizing Weed: 5 Notable Quotes from Oregon Legalization of Industrial Hemp Farming

When Oregon then-Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed Senate Bill 676 into law on August 4, 2009, Oregon legalized the production, trade, and possession of industrial hemp and its commodities and products. This law became part of Oregon's path to legalizing weed.

Industrial hemp and marijuana both come from cannabis sativa. However, industrial hemp in Oregon could not contain any more than 0.3 percent of tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient THC that produces the marijuana high. Hemp is used to make newsprint paper, flour, soap, canvas, oil paints, and various other useful products.

Here are notable quotes from officials after Oregon's legalization of industrial hemp.

1. “I am glad that Oregon has joined the other states that have agreed that American farmers should have the right to reintroduce industrial hemp as an agricultural crop. By signing SB 676 into law, which passed the Oregon Legislature with strong bipartisan support, Gov. Kulongoski has taken a proactive position allowing our farmers the right to grow industrial hemp, to provide American manufacturers with domestically grown hemp, and to profit from that effort.”
– Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene), sponsor of the Senate Bill 676, said in a news release

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2. "I think it’s a good idea. It’s a viable crop, and the entire county could benefit from it.”
– Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson, said in support

In 2016, the passage of Oregon House Bill 4060, opened up access to the cultivation of industrial hemp further, striking down barriers like the 2.5-acre minimum and prohibition on the use of greenhouses. Also written in the bill was "allowing for the use of seeds, clones, cuttings, transplants, etc. for propagation."

3.  “OFB and OFS support HB4060 with the goal of regulating industrial hemp the same as any other agricultural commodity. Oregon’s industrial hemp farmers have asked the Legislature to build flexibility into their license, and we support this request. Farmers throughout the state are looking for a crop that could increase their viability into the future. A functional industrial hemp program gives growers that option."
— Oregon Farm Bureau and Oregonians for Food and Shelter co-statement, according to the Tenth Amendment Center

4. “The Legislature’s teamwork on cannabis and industrial hemp this session will help keep our communities safe, support creation of a strong new business sector, and protect patients’ access to medicine.”
– Rep. Ann Lininger (D-Lake Oswego), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Marijuana Legalization, said during the legislative session that passed HB4060

5. “The legal cannabis and hemp sectors can be a good source of jobs in rural and urban Oregon. The framework we created will help this new sector thrive. I’m tremendously excited by the possibilities.”
– Rep. Carl Wilson (R-Grants Pass), vice chair of the Joint Committee on Marijuana Legalization

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