A temporary moratorium on industrial hemp production in San Luis Obispo County has been extended.
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors approved the year-long extension Tuesday.
Supervisors first voted on the issue a month ago when they said they wanted to take a closer look at how to mitigate concerns before issuing any new ag permits to grow hemp in the county.
Hemp is a varietal of the cannabis plant but unlike marijuana, cannot get you high. Hemp is approved at both the state and federal level.
While hemp looks a lot like marijuana, the plants are purposely grown to eliminate the THC levels, that’s the psychoactive component that can induce euphoric effects on a user.
Although the extension is for a year, supervisors have asked that an ordinance come back sooner.
In June, hemp growers talked to the Board of Supervisors about what they hoped would happen to the industrial hemp industry in San Luis Obispo County.
Some of them were hoping supervisors would create an advisory board rather than enact or extend a moratorium.
Hemp grower Frank Brown said the hemp industry could bring in $200 million of cash flow to the county.
At last months board of supervisors meeting, the Farm Bureau of San Luis Obispo County and the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business urged supervisors not to adopt the moratorium, saying it would hurt farming in the county.
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SLO County supervisors approve temporary moratorium on industrial hemp
