Gov. Steve Beshear says he wants law enforcement's concerns about industrial hemp resolved before Kentucky moves ahead with a push to grow the plant.
State police oppose state Republican leaders’ effort to license and regulate hemp if the federal government ever lifts a ban on it. Beshear says the Legislature needs to weigh law enforcement's concerns carefully, given Kentucky’s horrible drug problem. He is the latest state Democratic leader to voice such concerns about the plant, which has leaves identical to marijuana. House Speaker Greg Stumbo did the same last week. The Senate passed legislation last week despite concerns that hemp fields would be ideal places for marijuana growers to hide their crops.
