It is fitting that hemp is one of the few bipartisan issues that brings together Democratic Senators from Oregon with Republican Senators from Kentucky, and elected officials in between. Hemp has played a pivotal role in the foundation of our nation's survival from the farms of our Founding Fathers to fertile fields in the 1940s, helping the Allies win World War II (Hemp for Victory!). Hopefully, hemp will help lead the U.S. into a better future with more jobs, better health, an improved environment, and setting the stage to ending federal cannabis prohibition as well.

NORML issued the following statements regarding the historic provisions that go into effect on January 1st, removing hemp with .03% or less THC from the list of federally controlled substances:

"The significance of this law change should not be underemphasized," NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. "This law marks the first change in the federal classification of the cannabis plant since it was initially classified as a schedule I controlled substance by Congress in 1970, and paves the way for the first federally-sanctioned commercial hemp grows since World War II."