Rand Paul, James Comer to Discuss Industrial Hemp

High-profile supporters of industrial hemp will rally for their cause at the Kentucky State Fair this week.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul and Agriculture Commissioner James Comer will hold a news conference on Thursday morning on the fairgrounds. Paul is the co-sponsor of a Senate bill that would make hemp legal again across the U.S. And Comer supports a state-level bill that would allow it in Kentucky. He does not support legalizing hemp's cousin crop, marijuana.

Comer says Kentucky has always been well-suited to growing hemp, and the crop could be helpful at a time like this.

“It’s more resilient to drought conditions than any crop I know," he says. "It’s a green crop, you don’t have to put out nitrogen fertilizer out for it, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Comer is also expected to discuss the decade-old Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission, which has been dormant since it was created.

“Industrial hemp is gonna be legal in the United States in a few years, if not next year," he says. "Now, will Kentucky will be one of the first states to do it, that’s up for the Kentucky General Assembly to decide.”