South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has dropped her opposition to the legalization of hemp production in the state. She said she won’t veto legislation this session but wants the crop to be tightly regulated with government agencies providing inspections and licenses. South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke is pleased the Governor has come around to support hemp production.
The Governor’s office estimated it will cost close to $2 million to start the hemp program and another $1.6 million to run it. Sombke says that’s a reasonable estimate.
He says once hemp is approved, farmers need to begin slowly and carefully before deciding to grow the crop.
Sombke thanks the legislature’s hemp summer study committee that will be reintroducing hemp legislation this session.
