Oklahoma Becomes 37th State to Legalize Hemp

 On April 23, 2018, Governor Mary Fallin signed House Bill 2913, which made Oklahoma the 37th State to Legalize Hemp. The impact of this piece of legislation will go beyond allowing Oklahoma famers to grow hemp and to make use of this plant as a resource. According to Oklahoma State Reps. Jon Echols and Mickey Dollens, the bill would create hundreds of jobs and would generate about $300 million per year, as one acre of hemp would yield $1,500. Industrial hemp is not to be confused with marijuana, which is one of the primary delusions that lead to the criminalization of this plant. Medical marijuana and industrial hemp should be two unrelated topics of discussion, although they are often treated with similar respect. People have and will always be in a state of constant change, realizing as a community social issues that need to be addressed and acted upon. While us Americans are still unwinding our misconceptions on the topic of industrial hemp, we have finally began to act on it, and it’s happening faster than has in centuries.