Feb. 9 Update From Laura At COHIP

Testimony lasted a little over 2 hours.

Testifying in favor of the bill were:

• Don Danforth, Bolton Emerson Americas
• Andy Graves, Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative
• Ken Friedman, American Hemp Mercantile
• Ray Christiansen, Colorado Farm Bureau
• Wells Lange
• Duane Johnson, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Office
• Bob Winter, Weld County Farm Bureau

• Tony Lombard, Denver Police Department
• Timothy Sigmore (sp?), Colorado Assn. of Chiefs of Police
• Eleanor Scott, Westminster Area Community Action Team
• Beverly Kinard, Drugwatch
• Gilbert Jenkins(sp?), Drugwatch
• and two other people: one from an anti-drug group and one from the County Sheriffs Association.

(Interesting note: Most of the Senators left the room while the oppostion was presenting its case.)

Amendments were made to the bill by Senator Ginette Dennis (R-Pueblo). These included lowering the THC limit for industrial hemp from 1% THC to 0.5% THC and adding provisions to involve local law enforcement more. (It was noted by Sen. Bishop that the law enforcement provisions would probably raise the fiscal note on the bill.)

Senator Bishop added an amendment that dropped the safety clause off the bill.

It was motioned to pass the bill with these amendments and send it to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The motion passed 4-3.

Senator Ginette Dennis (R-Pueblo)
Senator David Wattenburg (R)
Senator Linda Powers (D-Crested Butte)
Senator Rob Hernandez (D)

Voting against the bill:

Senator Don Ament (R-chair of Ag. Cmte)
Senator Tilman Bishop (R-Grand Junction)
Senator Joan Johnson (D-Denver)

The next step for the bill is the Senate Appropriations Committee. The fiscal note on the bill will need to be revised because of the amendments. The current fiscal note is $23,000 that would pay for one 0.3% time employee at the Department of Agriculture to monitor and test the crops.

If the bill makes it out of Appropriations, there will be two readings of the bill in the Senate. If the bill passes those two readings, then it will go to the House Ag. Cmte and the process will start in the House.

The legislative session ends at the end of May.

Role of Colorado Hemp Initiative Project

We will focus on lowering the fiscal note before the bill is heard by the Appropriations Cmte.

We will try to raise money to fund our efforts to lobby for the bill. Thanks to everyone who has supported us, and we look for your continued help now more than ever. This is truly a group effort and a group victory!

We made it this far on less than $700, but now the need for money is even greater. Please, if you have any ideas on how we can raise money, let us know. We don't have any time to do fund- raising ourselves, so we will have to rely on support from those who support our efforts. Please, help us.

The legislative battle for industrial hemp has taken a great leap in Colorado. Now we are watching the progress of the bills in Vermont and in Hawaii. Hopefully, our vote will help their efforts.

We will keep you posted.

Laura Kriho
Colorado Hemp Initiative Project
P.O. Box 729
Nederland, CO 80466
(303) 448-5640