I am re-posting here part of an e-mail from Tom Simon. If you have questions, you can email me (Robt.Oeser@gmail.com) or Tom.

[Although the amendment clearly supports Industrial Hemp - an agricultural product that can replace concrete and plastics - in the final days of this legislature, it had to be attached somewhere, so it was added to H. 747, "AN ACT RELATING TO CIGARETTE MANUFACTURERS"]

Tom's message begins here:


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Hi Everyone,

I'm writing to you because we need your help.

We are trying to get restrictions for growing Industrial Hemp in Vermont removed from State Legislation. Senator Vince Illuzzi has attached an amendment to a bill dealing with anti smoking (see below).

The amendment concerning industrial hemp (see attached file) was appended to H. 747, now pending in the Vermont Senate.

The amendment itself is attached and pasted here:

S.XX

Senator Illuzzi moves that the bill be amended by adding new Secs. XX and XX
to read as follows:

Sec. XX. 6 V.S.A. § 561 is amended to read:

§ 561. INTENT
The intent of this act is to establish policy and procedures for growing
industrial hemp in Vermont so that farmers and other businesses in the Vermont
agricultural industry can take advantage of this market opportunity [when
federal regulations permit.] [wording to be deleted is in brackets]

Sec. XX. REPEAL
Sec. 3 of No. 212 of the Acts of the 2007 Adj. Sess. (2008) (delayed effective
date of industrial hemp cultivation program) is repealed.


We need people from the Bennington area to contact their Senator Richard Sears to encourage him to support the amendment. (email: rsears@leg.state.vt.us or
phone:(802) 442-9139)

We also need people from other parts of the state to contact their State
Senators as well as passing this communication along to others that you may know in Bennington County.