Murphy, Ore. — Concerns from medical marijuana growers are pushing legislators to consider putting a pause on industrial hemp farming.
Thomason goal is to be growing 10,000 acres of hemp within five years. But now that future is uncertain. Thomason is president of Oregon Hemp Company. Industrial hemp growth has been legal in Oregon since 2010, but just became federally legal last year.
“There’s over 20,000 uses of the hemp plant. Since the beginning of time it’s the only plant that can house you, clothe you, feed you, and heal you,” he said.
Thomason has 60 hemp plants growing in a garden in Murphy. He just planted 500 more nearby.Hemp is a cannabis plant just like marijuana, but lacks the THC component that produces a high.
Last week the House Rules Committee approved a measure that would prohibit any hemp farming until 2017 and make it illegal for hemp to be grown within 1,000 feet of a school.
That’s a problem for Thomason. He planted next to a school for a reason.
“We chose to be next to Hidden Valley High School because it has the last agriculture department of any high schools in Josephine County,” he said.
Thomason said he wanted to teach the students about hemp farming, but the restriction could force him to uproot his crops.
“Kids can wear hemp, use hemp products, but they can’t study next to a hemp field” Thomason said.
Calls to Representative Peter Buckley, who proposed the measure, went unreturned. A medical marijuana grower who has a farm downwind of Thomason said he’s more concerned about recreational marijuana growers. He worries they won’t face any regulations except how many plants they’re allowed to grow.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.