HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
The Hawaii House of Representatives unanimously passed
HB154 HD2, to establish an industrial hemp research pilot program.
The
bill now goes to the Senate.
A
primary focus of the research is phytoremediation, the process by which the
hemp plant draws toxins out of the soil and processes them safely through its
roots, stalk, branches, and leaves.
House
lawmakers expanded the scope of the research to include industrial hemp's value
as a biofuel feedstock in Hawaii.
"People
now understand how industrial hemp can benefit Hawaii," said State
Representative Cynthia Thielen (R, 50th District: Kailua, Kaneohe
Bay), who cosponsored HB154. "The hemp plant itself uses phytoremediation
to cleanse the soil of pesticides, heavy metals, oil, and other toxins."
"Adding
industrial hemp as a source of biofuel is another avenue worth pursuing,"
Thielen said. "Reducing our dependence on foreign oil through the use of a
renewable resource would be very good for Hawaii."
The
bill was introduced by Thielen, Speaker Joseph Souki, Representative Derek
Kawakami, Representative Sylvia Luke, and Representative Angus McKelvey.
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