STATE OF MINNESOTA NINTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
AGRICULTURE, RURAL ECONOMIES AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Otremba, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:24 A.M. on, February 20, 2008, in Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
OTREMBA, Chair HOSCH
FAUST, Vice-Chair JUHNKE
BROWN MORROW
DOTY SHIMANSKI
DRAZKOWSKI URDAHL
EKEN
Members excused:
HAMILTON, Republican Lead FINSTAD
A quorum was present.
Rep. Shimanski moved approval of the minutes from February 18, 2008.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MINUTES WERE ADOPTED.
Representative Otremba moved HF2168, be recommended to pass and re-referred to Committee on Public Safety.
Representative Kahn explained HF 2168, relating to agriculture. providing for the development and regulation of an industrial hemp industry; authorizing rulemaking; providing a defense for possession and cultivation of industrial hemp; modifying the definition of marijuana;
Dr. George Weiblen, Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota presented the committee with a power point presentation with the history, background and information on hemp and how it differs from marijuana.
Testifying on HF 2942 were:
.
Mr. Doug Peterson, President, Minnesota Farmers Union
Ms. Quinn Cheney, Policy Director, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Representative Juhnke moves to amend HF 2168 (H2168A1) as follows:
Page 8, line 33, insert:
"Sec. 29. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sections 1 through 23 and 25 through 28 are effective the day following final enactment. Section 24 is effective the day after the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, authorizes a person to commercially grow industrial hemp in the United States."
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
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NINTEENTH MEETING
Representative Otremba renewed her motion that HF 2168 be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to Committee on Public Safety.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 A.M.
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REP. MARY ELLEN OTREMBA, Chair
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Mary M. Larson, Committee Legislative Assistant