Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer has signed an industrial hemp bill into law.

Governor Colyer’s signature on Senate Bill 263 yesterday comes after the state’s House of Representatives passed the measure 123 to 1, and the Senate passing it 36 to 3. The Alternative Crop Research Act alters the definition of “marijuana” under the state’s controlled substances law to exclude “industrial hemp”. The measure would allow the Kansas Department of Agriculture to cultivate and promote the research and development of industrial hemp. The Department would be given the choice of growing and researching the plant on their own accord, or they could coordinate with a college or university. Individual farmers would also be allowed to grow hemp under supervision of the Department.

The bill states that; “Research and development of industrial hemp, under the provisions of the bill, means such things as analysis of industrial hemp growth, including required soils, growing conditions, and harvest methods; research on seeds most suitable for Kansas; and market analysis to determine the potential for an industrial hemp market in Kansas.”

Senate Bill 263 would require the Department to promulgate rules and regulations for hemp cultivation by December 31 of this year.

The full text of the bill can be found by clicking here.