Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks on potential hemp ban

DULUTH, Minn.– Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar visited Wild State Cider in Duluth today to discuss the impacts of a potential hemp ban across the state.

In less than a year, breweries, and cideries, could look a lot different.

Many of them are currently selling drinks and gummies with THC and CBD.

And at the end of this year, things could change.

Senator Amy Klobuchar said, 2,700 jobs, and 130 breweries in Minnesota safely use hemp.

“Both Democrats and Republicans are working together. A number of us, Rand Paul and I, are leading the effort in the Senate to come up with replacement for this ban that would take effect in a year,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Wild State Cider in Duluth is just one of those cideries involving THC and CBD in their products.

“The consequences of that halt are very real. And again, we’ve talked about them, but hemp consumables support, as Senator Klobuchar mentioned, 1000s of Minnesota jobs, they generate what’s estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity for the state, and they contribute 10s of millions of dollars in tax revenue as well,” said Ryan Kopperud, BIRDIE Vice President of Growth, Wild State Cider.

“What’s at stake here is not just one business. It’s not just our tap room. It’s the manufacturers and the distributors, the retailers, the farmers and the labs,” added Kopperud.

Kopperud said the effects of this ban could be detrimental.

“This issue is what happens when policy meets reality, and it’s a very, very real reality for us and for our business and for our industry. It’s coming fast. It’s going to affect production decisions. It’s going to affect hiring decisions, distribution contracts,” said Kopperud.

Klobuchar said, these regulations keep everyone safe.

“If you have something that’s legally regulated, it is one. It’s safer. Imagine if this was banned in a year. Do you think everyone’s going to just stop trying to find hemp? But that’s what will happen. They’re going to go to underground. They’re going to go to bad sources. It’s not good. That’s why you have a regulatory regime in place,” said Klobuchar.

We’re told the clock is ticking for a potential solution.

Kopperud said just last year, there was an estimated 12-million-dollar revenue for hemp alone in the state of Minnesota.