Hemp, marijuana's non-psychedelic cousin, has a new cheerleader in Indiana: Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Last year, the governor doubted the state's readiness to regulate the hemp industry. But this year, he is behind a push in the legislature to get hemp growing in Indiana's fields, telling IndyStar he is "supportive of efforts to establish a hemp program."

And with his blessing, Senate Bill 516 overwhelmingly passed out of the Senate Monday — a hurdle that a similar bill was not able to clear last year.

"The biggest difference between this year and last year is that the Governor's office didn’t support the bill last year, but now they do," said Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, SB 516's author. "The bill had momentum before, but I think it has even more now."

What's changed is the federal 2018 Farm Bill, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in December. Part of that law removes industrial hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, now making it a legal crop.

That momentum is apparent. Head's bill, which would create a program to monitor and regulate hemp, passed out of the Senate on a vote of 47 to 1. Both Republicans and Democrats are in favor of the legislation, and Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, was the only opposing vote. Sen. Jean Breaux, D-Indianapolis, did not vote.

The bill will now head to the House, where several lawmakers have asked Head if they could be listed as sponsors — outnumbering the four that are allowed. Those who are named as sponsors include Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville; Rep. Don Lehe, R-Delphi; Rep. Michael Karickhoff, R-Kokomo; Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Logansport.

A similar bill that would have created a program to allow for hemp production was proposed last session and passed the House only to die in the Senate. That chamber, following Holcomb's disapproval, voted to strip the bill and instead refer it to an interim study committee.

Many proponents, including Justin Swanson, have said that Indiana is already behind several other states when it comes to growing hemp and the economic benefits and jobs that go with it.

"We've studied it to death in Indiana over the last few years, so it's time to sink or swim — are we going to do this or not?" said Swanson, a board member of the Indiana Hemp Industries Association and founding member of the Midwest Hemp Council.

Several other states had already set up programs prior to last year's farm bill, saying that the production was for research purposes as a way to circumvent the federal rules. That said, Indiana has a great opportunity to catch up and be leader, given its agricultural infrastructure.

Both legislators and farmers are hoping SB 516 will be signed into law early enough to allow for hemp seeds to be planted this growing season.

Head said he thinks it is possible. If the bill passes the House and is signed by the governor by April, the state could draft a program and submit it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for approval. The main question is how long the federal agency's review takes, Head said.

If everything is in place by June, however, it should still be enough time to get some seeds in the ground.

"There is lots of interest from farmers but with everything still in limbo it makes it difficult," said Mark Boyer, a farmer and owner of Healthy Hoosier Oils that presses food grade oils.

He has grown about a dozen acres of hemp for research and is hoping to get a permit for roughly 100 acres once a program is established.

Head said he is optimistic, though cautiously, that his hemp bill will make it across the finish line this year. Much of last year's opposition has been calmed by the passing of the farm bill, he said, and he hopes an amendment passed last week assuaged any other concerns.

The amendment changed several members on an advisory committee that will help establish the hemp program, replacing industry officials with regulatory ones. It also strengthened a few points for law enforcement, allowing them to test crops for THC levels to ensure they are within limits.

"We want to give our farmers maximum freedom to grow while those who abuse the program have the maximum chance to get caught," Head said during the third reading of the bill during Monday's session. "But if we don't create a program, the federal government will do it for us. And as always, we think Hoosiers know what is best for us."

Call IndyStar reporter Sarah Bowman at 317-444-6129 or email at sarah.bowman@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @IndyStarSarah. Connect with IndyStar’s environmental reporters: Join The Scrub on Facebook.

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.