In Helena, Montana, inconsistent federal and state laws regarding Hemp vs. Marijuana resulted in a dried up field of newly-planted industrial hemp.
Hemp farmer Kim Phillips’ planted twelve acres of hemp on her farm, but before the seedlings got very far, they dried up in the sun because the Helena Valley Irrigation District wouldn’t grant her access to water. Why? Because of conflicting state and federal hemp laws and the plants’ relation to marijuana.
Phillips wasn’t breaking any laws. Cort Jensen, attorney for the state agriculture department, affirms that she was following state and federal protocol for hemp cultivation. However, without access to the federally regulated water supply, her seedlings dried up in the hot summer sun.
Hemp is still being confused with marijuana, which is the root cause of why she was denied access to the water.
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