CONTACT: Rep. Considine
(608) 356-9695
Madison – Today, Rep. Dave Considine (D-Baraboo) reintroduced AB 147, legislation to allow for the production of industrial hemp in Wisconsin. AB 147 would create a state registration process for hemp production through the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Considine first introduced a bill to allow industrial hemp production in 2015, but it never received a public hearing.
Wisconsin used to be a leader in North America’s hemp industry. Our state’s hemp production thrived throughout World War II, but now there’s a great deal of confusion about hemp and marijuana. They are derived from the same plant species, but are completely different in their processing and uses. This bill would finally allow Wisconsin farmers and tribes to take full advantage of the great agricultural opportunity hemp presents.
“With the support of Wisconsin farmers, citizens, and legislators on both sides of the aisle, it’s time to work together to rebuild our state’s hemp industry. AB 147 is one of the first steps to doing that,” Rep Considine stated. “I understand this is not the only hemp bill in consideration in our legislature right now, and I’m glad I’m not the only one that realizes how important this industry would be for our state. I hope we can find a middle ground that will make industrial hemp a reality again in Wisconsin.”
Rep. Considine’s bipartisan industrial hemp bill has 17 cosponsors in the State Assembly and 5 in the Senate.
