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Both houses of the state Legislature approved legislation Thursday permitting New Jersey farmers to grow hemp, a versatile plant genetically related to marijuana but with none of its psychoactive effects.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law in November creating a pilot project for a limited number of hemp farmers in the Garden State.

The following month, President Donald Trump signed legislation taking hemp off the controlled substances list — opening the door to states looking to take advantage of the crop as a source for textiles, fodder for animal feed and the foundation for a popular array of wellness products.

The bill (A5322) repeals the pilot program and requires hemp farmers to register with the state Department of Agriculture.

The amendments subject farmers to regular and periodic testing to determine whether a crop’s THC level — the active ingredient that makes people feel high — is below 0.3 percent. If a farmer’s hemp flunked the THC test three times within five years, the Department of Agriculture could bar them from growing in the future.

“The Garden State should do all that it can to grow and cultivate the hemp industry,” said Sen. Steve Oroho, R-Sussex, one of the bill’s prime sponsors. “This versatile and profitable plant will encourage new business development and boost the state’s economy. With burdensome federal regulations removed, New Jersey famers can greatly benefit from this potential billion dollar industry.”

The bill passed the state Senate by a 36-0 vote at the Statehouse in Trenton on Thursday. The Assembly passed it by a 73-0 vote with one abstention.

It will now be up to Murphy to decide whether to sign the measure into law or veto it.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.

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