A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers last week introduced a legislation that would abolish the controversial provision of the 2018 Farm Bill which prohibits felons who have completed their sentences from participating in hemp production. The bill was sponsored by David Trone (D), and also co-signed by Reps. David Joyce (R), Nancy Mace (R) and Chellie Pingree (D).
The Free to Grow Act of 2023 amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to remove language banning any persons convicted of a drug felony from obtaining a license to grow or process hemp.
“Even though employment is the number one indicator of decreased recidivism, returning citizens are still unemployed at a …