MONTPELIER, Vt. — The controversial hemp farming bill in Vermont took an opinion from the state’s attorney general to become law.
The Vermont secretary of state’s office accepted Formal Opinion #2008-1 from the office of the attorney general and gave H.267, the Hemp for Vermont bill, the designation of Act No. 212 June 27.
There had been a constitutional controversy as Gov. Jim Douglas forwarded H.267 to the secretary of state intending it to become law without his signature.
The bill had overwhelmingly passed both the House (127 to 9) and the Senate (25 to 1).
The new law sets up a state-regulated program for farmers to grow nondrug industrial hemp, which is used in a wide variety of products, including nutritious foods, cosmetics, body care, clothing, tree-free paper, auto parts, and building materials.
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