North Dakota’s full House of Representatives has voted 87 to 5 to approve House Bill 1436, a proposal to legalize industrial hemp. A provision in the measure clarifies that the state will not need federal approval to implement the law.

House Bill 1436 was introduced by Representatives David Monson and Alan Fehr, and would establish a regulatory and licensing framework for the cultivation and production of industrial hemp. Now that it’s been approved by the House, it’s been sent to the Senate, where its approval will put it before Governor Jack Dalrymple for consideration.

Under federal law it’s legal for hemp cultivation to take place as part of state-sanctioned hemp research programs, though hemp cultivation for non-research purposes is not allowed, even if it’s legal under state law.

– TheJointBlog