From: The Honorable Thomas Massie
Sent By:
Ryan.Falk@mail.house.gov
Bill: H.R. 525
Date: 1/9/2017

Support U.S. Farmers and Create Jobs

Co-Sponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2017 (H.R. 525)

CO-SPONSORS (4): Comer, Polis, Massie, Blumenauer

*NOTE: Congressman James Comer (KY-01) will be the bill sponsor. 

Dear Colleague,

We urge you to join us in co-sponsoring commonsense bipartisan legislation to reestablish an important crop to American agriculture. The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that currently outlaws domestic hemp production. To remedy
this inequity, we will reintroduce H.R. 525, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2017, which reverses an erroneous determination of the Drug Enforcement Administration that hemp,­ an ancient crop valuable for its fiber, nutritious
seed, and versatile oil ­is marijuana and banned by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

H.R. 525 will allow American farmers to once again raise industrial hemp, if permitted under state or tribal law. Thirty-two states have passed laws removing barriers to the production of industrial hemp, and eight additional states filed legislation to
do so in 2016 as well. States recognize that it is time to reverse this outdated law, and it is time for Congress to follow suit.

Hemp is a remarkable plant which was grown and sold by our founding fathers. It can be used in thousands of products, including fabrics, textiles, paper, auto parts, home furnishings, carpet, construction materials, hemp seed and oil, milk, nutritional supplements,
cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Sales of hemp products grew by 10% in 2015, generating an estimated $573 million in revenue. Unfortunately, all the hemp used in these products is imported into the U.S. primarily from China, Canada, and Europe, which dramatically
decreases the positive impact this industry could have for American jobs and our economy.

This legislation is identical to the version introduced in the 114th Congress, with the small change of allowing tribes who have permitted industrial hemp under tribal law to have the same rights as states.

Please stand up for U.S. farmers and businesses and help bring this crop back to the U.S. by co-sponsoring H.R. 525.
Please contact Jim.Goldenstein in Rep. Comer’s office at Jim.Goldenstein@mail.house.gov,
Blaine Miller-McFeeley in Rep. Polis’s office at Blaine.Miller-McFeeley@mail.house.gov,
Ryan Falk in Rep. Massie’s office at Ryan.Falk@mail.house.gov, or
Laura Thrift in Rep. Blumenauer’s office at
Laura.Thrift@mail.house.gov if you have any questions or are interested in co-sponsoring.

Sincerely,

James Comer (KY-01)

Jared Polis (CO-02)

Thomas Massie (KY-04)

Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)