FRANKFORT, Ky. — Once again, lawmakers in Kentucky have introduced legislation that could lead to the production of industrial hemp, something that has been tried many times in the last decade to no avail.

State Rep. Richard Henderson (D-Jeffersonville) is the primary sponsor of the bill this go-round, and said the time has come for Kentucky to again take advantage of a crop that has so much potential not just for farmers but for manufacturers of hundreds of products.

“Kentucky led the nation in its production in the 1800s and there is no reason to believe we could do the same again if my bill becomes law,” he said.

Henderson has had plenty of support for the new bill, with several cosponsors signing on along with Kentucky’s new agriculture Commissioner James Comer, who held a joint press conference with Henderson when the bill was announced.

“I am honored to join with Representative Henderson and so many of my former colleagues in support of legislation that could ultimately allow Kentucky farmers to produce industrial hemp,” he said. “Our families and members of the agricultural community are missing out on too many economic opportunities, and I am excited to support bold new ideas that will create jobs and kick-start our economy.”

Comer, until the recent election, served in the Kentucky House. Support has been bipartisan and includes the former Kentucky Speaker of the House.

In the 1990s a Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission was established to study the matter. Under the latest proposed law, that commission would be headed by the state’s ag commissioner. It would also require farmers to undergo a background check and go through an application process in order to be eligible to grow the plant.

Industrial hemp has been proven diverse in the number of things it can be used for, including paper and clothing products, along with use as a renewable energy fuel. During World War II, hemp was grown to produce rope. A 1942 film produced by the USDA entitled “Hemp for Victory” encouraged U.S. farmers to grow the plant to support the war effort.

Henderson said the biggest obstacle in making this proposal law is the misinformation many have confusing the plant with marijuana.

“This is a very controversial issue, and I think that is for two reasons. The first is the stigmatism it would have in association with marijuana. Being successful with hemp legislation and making it law would (mean) educating people about what it does and doesn’t do, including the general public, police agencies and the General Assembly,” he said.

The second reason Henderson spoke of was the resistance that may come from many organizations such as the textile and paper industries because of products being made from other materials. But he feels there would be a big economic benefit to raising hemp and that Kentucky could lead the charge.

At least 20 states have already either passed legislation or are considering it to make industrial hemp legal. But even with that, the federal government has outlawed its production. Any legislation adopted by a state will have to await a reversal by the feds in order to implement any production of the plant. Products made from it in other countries are allowed to be sold in this country.

A lingering fear of legalizing hemp, especially from law enforcement, would be that marijuana growers might try to masquerade their illegal plants with legal hemp. Henderson said in every study he knows about, cultivating the two plants side by side lowers the amount of THC – the ingredient in marijuana that produces a “high” – in that plant, making it worthless to drug dealers and users. Hemp contains very little THC, so little the argument is it could not be used as a recreational drug.

Henderson believes it might be possible to slow the production or even eradicate marijuana in this way. (Kentucky has long been near the top of the list in marijuana-producing states.)

Also, in identifying differences, hemp plants are cultivated close together and produce plants with tall stalks. Marijuana plants are short and spaced a few feet apart, and often planted amid other types of vegetation to hide their existence.

Regardless of the good things that can come from the legalization of industrial hemp, Henderson said it will be an uphill battle and he remains cautiously optimistic that it will even make its way to a committee hearing. He also said he has taken “some blows” over his support for the bill, but remains passionate about it and noted as long as he is in Frankfort, he will continue to argue for the legalization of industrial hemp.