A new law went into effect July 1 allowing public universities to grow industrial hemp for research in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The 6th National Hemp History Week 2015, which runs through the first week of June, is approaching, and Virginians have yet to discover the advantageous results of commercial industrial hemp.

Industrial hemp has been black-listed for years – being closely associated with it’s cannabis-cousin, marijuana. However these two plants are very different, and laws are changing to define them more appropriately. Jason Amatucci, founder of the Virginia Industrial Hemp Coalition, is a voice for this cause right here in the Southeast and here’s what he has to say.

The settlers at Jamestown grew hemp. So did George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In the 1940s, Henry Ford reportedly built a car body of hemp fiber and ran it on hemp oil.

On this episode Jason Amatucci joins us to talk about hemp. We’ll learn what it is, and how this plant could benefit the Commonwealth and Virginia farmers.

Kinesiology major and Tidewater Regional Coordinator for the Virginia Industrial Hemp Coalition, Emmanuel Ajibola, class of ’15, is working to bring a student chapter of the organization to campus.

Guess what just won the unanimous approval of the fractious Virginia House of Delegates? Hemp.

Delegate Matt Fariss (R-59th), who represents southern Albemarle, voted against a bill of which he was co-patron that would allow the production of industrial hemp. In a House agriculture committee meeting January 28, the measure passed 17-5 and moves to the House floor.

A House of Delegates panel passed legislation Wednesday that would allow industrial hemp to be grown in Virginia.

“Industrial hemp can be used as a cheaply produced alternative component in numerous modern products, including fabrics, building materials, composites used in cars and insulation,” Yost said in a statement.

What are your initial thoughts on hemp? A favorite pair of shoes? Dreadlocked hippies with woven necklaces? Granola? Hemp is going through a revival, both as an alternative to harmful industrial processes and as a medicinal herb.

A talk given at a local TEDx event by Joni Lane, a graduate of Boston Architectural College with a Masters in Sustainable Design Studies.

There was hemp fabric for clothing and backpacks, hemp seeds for snacking and a block of hempcrete for building. And there was hemp legislation, which after all was the focus of Tuesday’s gathering at Jim Politis’ farm in Riner.

An interview with Jason Amatucci of the Virginia Hemp Coalition on WTJU 91.1 FM.