Schafer signed HB 1428 legalizing industrial hemp by decreeing, "any

person in this state may plant, grow, harvest, possess, process, sell,

and buy industrial hemp."

On April 12, 1999 North Dakota's Senate passed industrial hemp bill

HB1428 by a landslide vote of 44-3. The week before, the House passed

the bill by 86-7.

The Commissioner of Agriculture will now be developing regulations

needed to implement the law which allows North Dakota farmers to legally grow industrial hemp. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) now must address the system of regulating industrial hemp in the U.S.

To full text of the new law is located at:
http://ranch.state.nd.us/LR/text/BILL_INDEX/BI1428.html

For further information contact: Gov. Ed Schafer (701) 328-2200