03/27/2015 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

           SB   8-INDUSTRIAL HEMP PRODUCTION LICENSES                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:32:27 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  GIESSEL announced  consideration of  SB 8  and noted  that                                                               
public testimony was open.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DENNIS WADE, representing himself,  Homer, Alaska, stated support                                                               
for SB 8.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:33:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. WADE  said hemp was the  leading oil used for  lighting 2,000                                                               
years ago and  it burns quite well in modern  diesel engines. One                                                               
acre of hemp  will produce as much paper as  4.25 acres of timber                                                               
pulp and  is easier to  refine. The  fiber makes strong  rope and                                                               
cloth,  canvas,  which  is  named  after  cannabis.  The  Alaskan                                                               
agricultural sector  will benefit  immensely from  establishing a                                                               
viable  hemp  industry.  It  will   also  diversify  the  Alaskan                                                               
economy.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
He hoped  the licensing fees  would be small, because  the Alaska                                                               
agriculturalist  will have  to find  seed that  will work  in the                                                               
various agricultural areas of Alaska.  The seed that will work in                                                               
Homer won't work in Delta Junction or Fairbanks, he explained.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:35:44 PM                                                                                                                    
JAN FLORA,  representing herself, Homer, Alaska,  supported SB 8.                                                               
She lives on  a cattle ranch that burns diesel  to put up 150-200                                                               
acres of hay  for their beef cattle every year  and if they could                                                               
produce  seed and  buy a  cheap oil  press, they  could burn  bio                                                               
diesel.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
She said  hemp is grown in  Siberia at 65° north  latitude. Delta                                                               
Junction  is at  latitude 63°  or  64° and  this crop  is a  real                                                               
possibility  for that  area. She  suggested that  she could  work                                                               
with  the   professors  and  researchers  at   UAF's  Cooperative                                                               
Extension Service to develop a seed that would grow in Alaska.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked  her for testifying and  finding no further                                                               
comments, closed public testimony.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:38:20 PM                                                                                                                    
MATT  MOSER, staff  to Senator  Ellis,  sponsor of  SB 8,  Alaska                                                               
State  Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska,  thanked  the committee  for                                                               
considering SB 8.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COSTELLO moved to report  SB 8, version 29-LS0195\A, from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s). There were no objections and it was so ordered.