New York Governor to Lead NY Back To Hemp Production

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to alter regulations and legislation banning hemp from wide-scale production. SUNY Morrisville will also be helping lead the state back in growing hemp as well as its economy.

Hemp is the same species as marijuana and looks very similar to it, but without the chemical that gives you the high. The stalk and seed from hemp can be used in food, the production of a variety of goods, including building materials, fuel, paper, animal bedding, biodiesel fuel and consumer products.

The Governor wants to amend regulations and legislation to clear the way for full scale production of the crop, especially in the Southern Tier region. This could be big for New York as the United States imports nearly $600 million worth of industrial hemp a year for a variety of uses.

The Governor will also host the first-ever industrial hemp summit in the Southern Tier later this year to discuss issues on growing the crop.