By Mike Maharrey

A New Hampshire House committee unanimously approved a bill that would remove the state ban on industrial hemp, setting the stage to nullify federal prohibition on the plant in practice.

A coalition of three representatives and two senators prefiled House Bill 151 (HB151). The legislation would simply remove industrial hemp from the state’s list of controlled substances. This would open the door for a full-scale commercial hemp market in the state by treating it as any other crop for farming.

HB151 would not require any license to grow hemp, and it would create no state regulatory structure. In short, the state would treat industrial hemp like other plants, such as tomatoes. By ending state prohibition, residents in New Hampshire would have an open door to start industrial hemp farming should they be willing to risk violating ongoing federal prohibition.

Today, the House Environment and Agriculture Committee gave HB151 an “ought to pass” report. The recommendation was carried by an 18-0 vote.