House votes to kill Idaho hemp legislation

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BOISE, Idaho (AP) – The Latest on Idaho hemp legislation (all times local):

11 a.m.

The House has voted to kill Idaho hemp legislation after the Senate added amendments lawmakers say turned it into a decision to create a state plan for hemp rather than go with a federal plan yet to be released.

The full House on Thursday accepted the recommendation of the House Transportation and Defense Committee not to agree with amendments added by the Senate.

The original bill was intended to allow hemp-loaded trucks to cross Idaho – where hemp is illegal.

Republican Rep. Judy Boyle says the federal plan has a better chance of allowing Idaho farmers to start growing hemp next spring.

She says efforts to create a state plan could get bogged down.

Law enforcement officials have been concerned legalizing hemp in Idaho could hinder efforts to enforce the state’s prohibition on marijuana.

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10:07 a.m.

A House panel has voted not to agree with amendments the Senate added to a bill originally intended to allow hemp-loaded trucks to cross Idaho, where hemp is illegal.

The House Transportation and Defense Committee on Thursday voted not to concur with the amendments that lawmakers say turned the bill into a decision to create a state plan for hemp or go with a federal plan yet to be released.

Republican Rep. Judy Boyle sponsored the original bill but asked the committee not to concur so that Idaho could go with the federal plan when it comes out.

Boyle says the federal plan has a better chance of allowing Idaho farmers to start growing hemp next spring. She says efforts to create a state plan could get bogged down.

The committee’s vote is a recommendation to the full House, but is not binding.

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