Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) will convene professionals from the various segments of the industrial hemp industry this Tuesday, August 11, for a conversation about the future of the hemp industry at the second annual Hemp Symposium.

Rep. Polis has been a leading voice in Washington calling for the legalization of hemp. During the last session of Congress he helped introduce and pass an amendment to allow institutions of higher education to grow or cultivate industrial hemp for the purposes of agricultural or academic research.

Tuesday’s symposium is another step in the development of an industry with enormous economic potential for Colorado and the nation. In 2014 alone, the U.S. imported roughly $150 million dollars of raw hemp material (seeds, oil, fabric, building materials) which in turn created over $600 million in sales of hemp-related finished products, according to Polis.

The symposium starts at 12:30 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Center for Innovation and Technology, 815 14th St. in Loveland.

Last year, Polis hosted the 1st annual Colorado Hemp symposium, held in Boulder.