Washington, D.C. – Today, Sen. Rand Paul and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, both of Kentucky, joined Oregon Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden in introducing legislation to allow American farmers to cultivate and profit from industrial hemp.

The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013 would remove federal restrictions on the domestic cultivation of industrial hemp. Specifically, the bill would remove hemp from the Schedule I controlled substance list under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and would define it as a non-drug so long as it contained less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Prior to World War II, Kentucky provided 94 percent of the nation’s industrial hemp. Today the U.S. is the world’s largest consumer of hemp, but it remains the only major industrialized country that bans farming the product. U.S. imports have consistently grown over the past decade – increasing by 300 percent over that period.

Earlier this week, the Kentucky State Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously approved legislation that would set up a state permitting program for the growth of industrial hemp. And today, the Kentucky Senate passed SB 50, which establishes oversight for Kentucky farmers to cultivate legalized industrial hemp. It now awaits a vote in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

“The Industrial Hemp Farming Act paves the way to creating jobs for Kentucky,” Sen. Paul said. “Allowing American farmers to cultivate industrial hemp and benefit from its many uses will boost our state’s economy and bring much-needed jobs in the agriculture community. Today’s State Senate victory, coupled with the efforts Sen. McConnell and I are making here in Washington increase my confidence that they will soon payoff, to the benefit of Kentuckians.”