Kentucky, hailed as a leader by industrial hemp advocates, has grown the hemp. Now the state is working on growing the industry.
“In two years, we’ve come a long way,” said Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, who is now running for Congress. “We’ve proven first of all that it’s not a drug, which was very important for the opposition to realize. And we’ve proven it’s economically viable, or there wouldn’t be 22 companies that have made an investment in the state. … What we’re doing now is working with the companies that want to go to the next step to commercialize the product. ”
Kentucky also has resources that in the past were used for tobacco have converted well to hemp cultivation.
In fact, GenCanna’s headquarters is now in part of a former Philip Morris office building stuffed with former labs. The place was practically abandoned as the cigarette maker began retreating from Central Kentucky. GenCanna has invested more than $5 million in Kentucky, according to company officials.
Read Janet Patton’s “Hemp taking over Kentucky’s tobacco resources; 22 companies investing so far: http://www.kentucky.com/2015/10/25/4104501/hemp-taking-over-kentuckys-tobacco.html
