Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul push legalizing hemp growth

[jct74]

Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul push legalizing hemp growth
It’s a states’ rights and economic growth issue, they argue.

By Jenny Hopkinson
2/5/15 5:38 AM EST

Forget legalizing pot: Two of the most powerful Republicans in the Senate believe there’s a much stronger chance to legalize growing hemp in the U.S., opening up an entirely new market for crops, health food, oil, shirts, towels and even dog toys.

Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie are pushing legislation in both chambers of Congress that would remove the less-potent member of the cannabis family from the federal list of controlled substances, allowing its return to America’s farmland after more than 40 years.

It’s a states’ rights and economic growth issue, the Republican lawmakers argue. Legalizing hemp would create jobs.

“People used to downplay the number of jobs industrial hemp might create and say, ‘Well it’s a few thousand jobs and a couple million in commerce,’” Massie said. But all told, legalizing the crop has the potential to create 10 times as many jobs “as the Keystone XL pipeline will create 10 years from now.”

Hemp legalization legislation has been considered in Congress since 2005, when then-Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) pushed the issue. But the current bills have champions in positions of power, including the Senate majority leader and a potential White House contender.

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more:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/0...mp-114928.html

[FSP-Rebel]

Is it just me or does it seem like the majority of stories about Rand come out of politico? No wonder conservatives don't have the big picture on him, they only read the negative more often than not as that's when most of the righty journalists write about him.

[philipped]

Is it just me or does it seem like the majority of stories about Rand come out of politico?

A lot yes, but idk about a majority.

[Dianne]

Mitch McConnell's Father-In-Law just got busted for running mega cocain shipments on his boats. I have no doubt McConnell ready to legalize anything.... He's probably the one who supplies Obama's nose.

Just saying that Rand should keep his freeken nose out of these traps being set for him. He seems to be a babe in the woods. He does not have to comment on every controversial matter that comes down the pike. To me, this appears to be a McConnell set up. McConnell been there long enough to buy favors and McConnell isn't going anywhere ... This is a McConnell hit job on Rand.

[Rudeman]

Rand has been discussing hemp legalization for years. This isn't a spur of the moment thing.

[Nihilist23]

I think RP getting in a headline with a big name like Mitch McConnell helping him legalize hemp production is good for RP's image no matter how it turns out.

[Sola_Fide]

Gotta hand it to Rand and co. on this one. This is one issue where they have been able to bring the establishment in Kentucky on their side.