House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for HB2244 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Establishing requirements for the effective disposal of industrial hemp and requiring industrial hemp processors to register with the state fire marshal.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 17, 2021
Chairperson Kerschen opened the hearing on HB2244.
Tamera Lawrence of the Revisor of Statutes Office explained the bill.
Ken Titus testified in support of the bill. He explained to the committee that it will allow the Kansas Department of Agriculture to operate the commercial industrial hemp program and to assist local law enforcement in limited circumstances to avoid an undue burden being placed on law enforcement resources. At the same time, it would ensure the proper level of involvement and oversight of controlled substances. It also is necessary for industrial hemp producers in Kansas to continue operating and better protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.(Attachment 2)
Robert Jacobs spoke as a proponent for the bill. He believes that the bill will help to guarantee the safe production and processing of hemp in Kansas. Current federal law will not allow the KBI to conduct national criminal history records searches on individuals involved in the processing of industrial hemp. However, HB2244 addresses this by allowing the KBI to search and report national criminal history information to the State Fire Marshall's Office. (Attachment 3)
Doug Jorgensen presented testimony in support of the bill. He explained that the control and destruction of by products from the processing/extraction process is his biggest concern The street price of pure THC or THC acid is $300 or more a gram. It is in the best interest of Kansas to make sure those by products are accounted for and destroyed properly.(Attachment 4)
Ed Klumpp spoke in support of the bill. He believes that the provisions of this bill will assure a smooth process for proper destruction of unused hemp.(Attachment 5)
Kevin Barone made a few closing comments to the committee. He reminded everyone that hemp is a crop, not a drug.(Attachment 6)
Chairperson Kerschen announced to the committee that the hearing on HB2244 was suspended and would be continued at the March 18 meeting. He then adjourned the meeting at 9:30.
