Editor's Note
The Hemp Farming Act, legislation endorsed by AHPA that would legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity, is being added to the Senate's version of the farm bill. More than one in four Senators currently support the Hemp Farming Act. The Senate's farm bill needs to be approved by the Agriculture Committee and the full chamber. The House's version of farm bill was setback last month when conservatives voted against it due to a disagreement about immigration. 
Legislation that would legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity is being included in the Senate's farm bill. 
 
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced on Friday that he had gotten his hemp legislation included in the Senate's mammoth agricultural bill. 

"Securing the Hemp Farming Act as part of the 2018 Farm Bill has been a top priority of mine. ... I look forward to continuing to work with my Senate colleagues on this and many other issues important to Kentucky agriculture as we move towards consideration of the Farm Bill," McConnell said in a statement. 
 
McConnell, as well as Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), introduced their hemp legislation as a stand-alone bill in April. It now has the support of more than one-fourth of the Senate.