Hemp taking over Kentucky’s tobacco resources; 22 companies investing so far

BY JANET PATTON

Steve Bevan of GenCanna, left, and Andy Graves looked at a hemp plant on Graves’ farm near Winchester. GenCanna moved from Canada to Kentucky. HERALD-LEADER
 
Tucked away off a narrow country road in Clark County, in the middle of a farm, 27 acres of hemp grew all summer. Now, the plants will be harvested and processed.
Kentucky, hailed as a leader by industrial hemp advocates, has grown the hemp. Now the state is working on growing the industry.
“In two years, we’ve come a long way,” said Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, who is now running for Congress. “We’ve proven first of all that it’s not a drug, which was very important for the opposition to realize. And we’ve proven it’s economically viable, or there wouldn’t be 22 companies that have made an investment in the state. … What we’re doing now is working with the companies that want to go to the next step to commercialize the product. ”