Idaho governor approves hemp transportation across state

Idaho Gov. Brad Little issued an executive order aligning the state’s law enforcement activities with federal statutes to allow the transport of hemp across the state.

The Republican governor issued the order in the wake of the U.S. Department of Agriculture interim rule published on Oct. 31.

Little said Idaho is likely in conflict with federal law and the executive order is needed to temporarily resolve the conflict until state legislators find a permanent solution.

Federal law prevents states from prohibiting the transportation of legal hemp. But Idaho’s anti-marijuana laws are so broadly written that they include hemp.

In January, Idaho authorities arrested a truck driver and seized nearly 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms) of what they believed to be marijuana, even though the company shipping the material said accompanying paperwork made clear the cargo was industrial hemp.

Hemp farming is not legal in Idaho, as the state has not passed hemp production legislation.

– Associated Press and Hemp Industry Daily