Lawmaker wants to scale back hemp bill

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky House committee chairman is planning to scale back an industrial hemp bill to allow the University of Kentucky to seek permission to study the crop currently banned by the federal government.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McKee said Tuesday his amendment would have UK test hemp if it received a federal permit. McKee said he plans to offer the amendment when the Agriculture Committee takes up the hemp bill Wednesday in Frankfort.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer is opposing efforts to overhaul the measure that has passed the state Senate.

The bill backed by Comer would set up a state system to license hemp growers and regulate its production if the crop is legalized by the federal government. Hemp is classified as a controlled substance related to marijuana.

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