No Hemp Farming in Yolo County?

Gov. Jerry Brown could sign a bill this fall that would allow hemp to be grown commercially in five counties, one of which would be Yolo.

But our county now says they want out of the legislation, according to the Sacramento Bee, suggesting that it would complicate things for law enforcement.

Senate Bill 676 would make Yolo an authorized area for commercial hemp farming along with Imperial, Kern, Kings and San Juaquin counties. It would be part of an eight-year pilot program that would allow hemp farming in California for the first time since World War II.

According to county spokesman Chris Lee, the DA and sheriff were concerned that cops would have trouble distinguishing help farming from illegal marijuana growing.

The bill was written by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who said he wished Yolo would be more open-minded.

In this Sacramento Bee article, he explains how hemp operations can be easily differentiated.