Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Hemp Cultivation Task Force To Begin Work

Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson issued the following press release.


Today, in accordance with House Bill 1547 enacted during the 2019 Regular Legislative Session, Mississippi’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the planned framework and first meeting of the Mississippi Hemp Cultivation Task Force. Cultivation of industrial hemp was legalized under federal law in December 2018 pursuant to Section 10113 of the 2018 Farm Bill. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not yet implemented new Farm Bill regulations for the 2019 growing season. Cultivation of industrial hemp is still prohibited under state law in Mississippi.

On February 27, 2019, USDA announced it had begun the process of gathering information to initiate rulemaking required to implement the federal hemp cultivation program. USDA’s stated goal is to issue federal regulations in the fall of 2019 to accommodate the 2020 planting season. Meanwhile, the Mississippi Legislature established the Mississippi Hemp Cultivation Task Force during the 2019 Regular Legislative Session to consider the potential of hemp cultivation, market potential, and potential job creation in Mississippi.

With the enactment of House Bill 1547, the Mississippi Legislature specified that Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson serve as Chairman of the Mississippi Hemp Cultivation Task Force. Commissioner Gipson noted, “This is a responsibility I take seriously in accepting this unique assignment from the Mississippi Legislature. I look forward to leading a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion with the other members of the Task Force as we examine all the issues surrounding the cultivation of hemp in Mississippi.” He added, “In all our considerations, we will keep a keen focus on the interests of Mississippians, including our farmers, law enforcement and other stakeholders, as well as the general public. We will thoroughly explore the potential as well as the challenges experienced by other states.”



Under the legislation, the members of the Mississippi Hemp Cultivation Task Force are as follows:

a. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce or a designee;
b. The President of Mississippi State University or a designee;
c. The President of Alcorn State University or a designee;
d. A director of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy National Center for Natural Products Research or a designee;
e. The President of the Delta Council or a designee;
f. A representative of the Mississippi Secretary of State's office;
g. A representative of the Mississippi Attorney General's office;
h. The Director of Pharmacy, Mississippi State Department of Health or a designee;
i. A member of the Mississippi House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House;
j. A member of the Mississippi Senate designated by the Lieutenant Governor;
k. The Commissioner of Public Safety or a designee;
l. The President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation or a designee; and
m. A designee of the Governor.

In order to meet the early December deadline for reporting to the Legislature, Commissioner Gipson is asking each member of the Task Force for early submission of their ideas and concerns. This will provide time for initial research by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce in advance of the first Task Force meeting in early July.

Commissioner Gipson announced that meetings of the Mississippi Hemp Cultivation Task Force will be held in Room 113 of the Mississippi State Capitol and will be open to the public. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 8, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.


24 comments:

Anonymous said...

One toke over the line...............

Cousin Eddie said...

Can you smoke this s**t?

Anonymous said...

Hey ya’ll, lets build a industrial hemp processing plant.....

Hermit King said...

I'm glad to see Mississippi is one step closer to not being last place in the hemp industry.

Anyone who isn't aware of the numerous industrial uses for hemp fiber and hemp oil should do a web search. It is also well documented that the seed cake byproduct of hemp oil extraction is a protein and amino acid rich superfood. Even if Baptists don't want to eat it, feed it to your animals and see the results.

Now if only we could get the ball rolling on the cannabis industry in Mississippi. But that is a whole different agricultural and legislative world despite hemp and cannabis being genetically similar.

Anonymous said...

We need a task force to determine whether or not we should legalize the cultivation of a completely harmless plant that could bring jobs to a job starved state? Damn, that's about as Mississippi as it gets.

Anonymous said...

Cheech and Chong will fill two advisory positions.

Anonymous said...

Well, the word hemp scares a lot of people who have no idea what it is. Most notably, the Governor.

Cynical Sam said...

The problem with the "jobs starved state" is that a large part of the unskilled population don't want to work.

Proof? Why are there so many illegals employed? Because the unskilled potential workforce don't want to fucking work. They would rather sit on their porches drinking 40s while receiving their free shit.

Cut off the free shit and some of this demographic will be forced to work. Oh my.

Yes, hemp is a harmless, yet useful plant.

Watch the race baiters equate harvesting hemp with harvesting cotton. //roll eyes//

Anonymous said...

Hemp is a niche market comparable to the markets for parsley or ornamental gourds. It's legal to grow in many countries. Canada and China are two examples. But they grow very little of it because the market for hemp is small. Yes, it is versatile. But for every use of hemp there is a superior modern alternative. Nylon rope is better than hemp rope. Paper from farmed pine trees is cheaper than paper from hemp. There is no reason hemp farming should be illegal, but it is important not to fall under the spell of the marijuana advocates who assert that hemp will solve the world's problems.

Anonymous said...

Hopefully, we can establish some llama farms next. Tastes like chicken I here.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Shad can do a study.

Anonymous said...

804, yes paper from pine trees is cheaper than from hemp. But once you harvest your 40 acres of pine, you wait a decade or two until you can harvest it again. Hemp, once harvested is replanted and harvested again the next year. And the next. Etc.

Considering that basic economic fact, the return on hemp is much higher than pine. And, hemp is not subject to destruction from beetlesor fire. And in the case of a tornado or hurricane, you lose one years production, not 20.

Anonymous said...

"Tastes like chicken I here."

If you're answering roll-call, you need to place a period after the word chicken. I doubt you'll get this.

Anonymous said...

@ 4:39 Exactly what it thought

@ 12:18 Excellent points

Prediction- Analysis paralysis will rule the day. We (MS) wouldn't want to
become known as forward thinking!

Anonymous said...

Hemp was a big crop on the Gulf Coast in the days of sail powered shipping and fishing boats.

Anonymous said...

This task force sounds a lot like these committees and studies commissioned by the Jackson mayor. Just birds of a different colored feather.

Anonymous said...

Good luck with your little Hemp growing project. Your going to make a ton of pennies! LOL now let’s see what stupid loan officer is dumb enough to finance this? UPDATE: Loan office at local bank now working at car wash after approving failed hemp loan.

Rod Knox said...

When Bayer offers a GMO/Agent Orange tolerant seed I'll know it's time to invest.

Anonymous said...

Well played, 6:11am.

Anonymous said...

Putting Andy Gipson in charge of studying something he probably thinks hemp is "the dope" or that some of his fellow Baptists might think he is supporting the devil's weed is a brilliant idea. Why not put Kenneth Stokes in charge of calculating next year's state budget while we're at it.

Anonymous said...

5:14, I heard Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg will also join the advisory board

Anonymous said...

Nothing to joke about if you or a family member is suffering from pain. CBD and essential oils from the plants have nothing to do with marijuana, which does NOT need to be legalized.

Anonymous said...

This will happen. Only question is when.

Cynical Sam said...

I will wait until "Hemp Madness" comes out on DVD.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.