2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE
December 7, 2001 - Introduced by Representatives Hahn, Gronemus, Freese,
Sykora, Miller, Jeskewitz, Owens, Albers, Pocan
and Colon. Referred to
Committee on Agriculture.
AB679,1,2 1An Act to create 36.25 (46) and 94.55 of the statutes; relating to: growing and
2using industrial hemp and granting rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law places various restrictions on the possession, manufacture and
delivery of controlled substances. These controlled substances include
tetrahydrocannabinols, which are contained in or obtained from marijuana.
Marijuana is all parts of the plants of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not,
and seeds and most derivatives or preparations of the plant (though it does not
include, for instance, fiber produced from the stalks or certain other compounds or
preparations of stalks, fiber, oil, or cake of the plant). Tetrahydrocannabinols are
currently placed in the most restrictive category of controlled substances; they
cannot be prescribed for medical use and may be manufactured and possessed only
for particular uses (such as research) under special federal permits.
This bill requires the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System
(board) to apply for any federal permits required for research involving "industrial
hemp" (defined as the plant Cannabis sativa with a tetrahydrocannabinol
concentration that does not exceed 0.3%, on a dry weight basis). If the board obtains
these permits, it must conduct research on growing and marketing industrial hemp
and annually report the results of the research to the legislature.
This bill also requires the department of agriculture, trade and consumer
protection to promulgate rules, in consultation with the attorney general, concerning
industrial hemp, including rules for the inspection of industrial hemp fields and for
notifying local law enforcement agencies in whose jurisdiction industrial hemp is
being grown.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB679, s. 1 1Section 1. 36.25 (46) of the statutes is created to read:
AB679,2,52 36.25 (46) Industrial hemp. (a) In this section, "industrial hemp" means the
3plant Cannabis sativa, whether growing or not, if the tetrahydrocannabinol
4concentration of the plant does not exceed 0.3%, on a dry weight basis, or any part
5of such a plant.
AB679,2,156 (b) The board shall attempt to obtain all federal permits needed to grow
7industrial hemp legally for fiber or seed production. If the board obtains all such
8permits, the board shall conduct research on industrial hemp to evaluate plant
9breeding and genetics, agronomic techniques, including nutrient requirements and
10pest and disease management on different types of soils, equipment needs, and
11economic factors relating to growing and marketing industrial hemp and making
12products from industrial hemp. The research may include growing industrial hemp.
13By April 1, 2002, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report under s.
1413.172 (3), to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agricultural issues,
15concerning the results of any research conducted under this paragraph.
AB679, s. 2 16Section 2. 94.55 of the statutes is created to read:
AB679,2,18 1794.55 Industrial hemp. (1) In this section, "industrial hemp" has the
18meaning given in s. 36.25 (46) (a).
AB679,2,20 19(2) The department, in consultation with the attorney general, shall
20promulgate rules for all of the following:
AB679,3,2
1(a) Inspection of industrial hemp fields and testing of industrial hemp and
2products made from industrial hemp.
AB679,3,63 (b) Notifying sheriffs and other local law enforcement agencies in whose
4jurisdiction industrial hemp is grown of the location at which the industrial hemp
5is being grown, the name and address of the person growing hemp at that location,
6and the number of acres of industrial hemp being grown.
AB679,3,87 (c) Methods for obtaining, and monitoring the use and transfer of, industrial
8hemp seeds.
AB679, s. 3 9Section 3. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB679,3,1410 (1) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall submit
11in proposed form the rules required under section 94.55 (2) of the statutes, as created
12by this act, to the legislative council staff under section 227.15 (1) of the statutes no
13later than the first day of the 10th month beginning after the effective date of this
14subsection.
AB679,3,1515 (End)
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