Marijuana growers concerned about cross-pollination were pushing for a bill this session to put a temporary moratorium on hemp production. That bill failed in the final days of the legislative session, and the few farmers who have received permits to grow hemp will be able to continue with their production.
Cliff Thomason, president of the Oregon Hemp Company, says he will voluntarily regulate his hemp growing, even though the bill failed.
"When (cross-pollination) was a concern in our area, we had agreed that we would grow (female plants) outdoors, like the marijuana farmers do, and we would propagate for seed with (male plants) indoors," Thomason says. "We want to help mitigate the problem and be respectful to an industry that is helpful to the Oregon economy."
Thomason says his hemp crop, which he has already found buyers for, is about 30 days from harvest.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
/A photograph of hemp in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge.
Copyright 2015 Oregon Public Broadcasting
