The hemp bill lives on.
Most lawmakers thought an effort to legalize growing hemp in Colorado might die with the departure of Sen. Lloyd Casey, D-Northglenn, from the legislature this year.
But a newly elected legislator from Montrose says she will introduce similar legislation in the 1997 session. Her bill would create a commission to oversee an effort that could lead to the planting of industrial hemp crops in the state.
Rep.-elect Kay Alexander, R-Montrose, said Friday that the legislation would encourage research on three fiber crops -- one of them hemp -- to see which is the most feasible in different parts of the state.
There will be plenty of safeguards to make sure that the hemp cannot be used to create what it's most famous for -- marijuana.
"The emphasis is on doing research first and foremost," Alexander said. "There will be three different fiber crops. Hemp is one of them. The others are kenaf and sun hemp.
"We're looking at research to take out as much of (the THC, the active ingredient in marijuana) as possible, as well as genetically re-engineering the plant so that it looks different."
A hemp bill had strong support from Colorado's agricultural community this year, including researchers at Colorado State University. It was approved in the Senate on an 18-15 vote but died in the House.
Law enforcement opposed the bill on grounds that it would be difficult to determine whether a hemp plant was being grown for marijuana or for the hemp, which can be used to make such diverse products as rope, paper and clothing.