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## A number of states in the US currently have their own rules established surrounding the industrial hemp market, despite the crop still being prohibited federally. 
Some of the states where industrial hemp is currently grown are places like Washington, Colorado, California, Nevada, New York, Alabama, Florida, and other areas. 

It's estimated that around 10,000 acres of industrial hemp was planted last year around the US. And many farmers in the country are eager to get into the market and start to grow their own hemp, but they need to first jump through some expensive hurdles. 

Some farmers have said that federal efforts to try and prohibit them from growing this crop are akin to them blocking what they view as a gold rush. 


Many industry experts believe that industrial hemp could bring new life into the economy and contribute to the creation of hundreds if not thousands of new jobs. And when it comes to growing hemp for the farmers, it's easy to see why they'd be interested in doing it. This is a crop that will yield them far more income, it grows much faster than other crops, and it takes just half the water than it would to say grow another crop like wheat.

There are many areas and individuals who are interested in getting involved in the industrial hemp space and one state that wants to accelerate their involvement is New York. 

# They want to become a national leader in this area when it comes to growing and manufacturing this crop. 
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Gov. Cuomo just this week signed a bill that he thinks is going to help him to achieve that goal, he says that he knows the value of the product and therefore they'll be funneling millions of dollars toward this endeavor. 

The bill that was signed will now categorize industrial hemp as an <b>agricultural commodity</b> and the logic is that by doing so that the crop will then have the same protections as any other crop. 

Not only that, but the bill also wants to set up a <b>certification program</b> to establish intellectual property rights for hemp seeds. Which sounds like it's another Monsanto-seed lawsuit nightmare scenario waiting to happen.

If they really think that there is value in this crop and that it can contribute to tremendous growth for the economy, then what they should do is embrace freedom in the matter; rather than opting for their usual restrictions and strangulation tactics. 

## New York is set to import plenty of hemp seeds this year: around 53,000. 
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Those hemp seeds will be coming from Italy and Canada. They assume that those seeds will be able to bring them around 2,000 acres or so of hemp. The hope is that some day perhaps New York will be a sort of hub for the growth of industrial hemp.

Pics:
Pixabay
Richard Drew, AP via lohud.com

Sources:
http://www.ncsl.org/research/agriculture-and-rural-development/state-industrial-hemp-statutes.aspx
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/12/hemp-nebraska-farmers-government-block-growing-crop
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-fine-hemp-marijuana-legalize-20140626-story.html
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jun/25/hemp-farming-legalization-bill-marijuana-industry-california
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2016/06/22/cuomo-sign-heroin-treatment-laws/86228294/
https://ithacavoice.com/2017/07/gov-cuomo-signs-bill-cornell-accelerate-industrial-hemp-industry-new-york/