Federal Bill Legalize Pot and $43-billion for Rural Broadband

Federal Bill Legalize Pot and $43-billion for Rural Broadband

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.

**Poling suggests more than two-thirds of Americans support legalizing marijuana federally.

www.modernfarmer.com reports, while industrial hemp has been federally legal since the 2018 Farm Bill, marijuana remains federally illegal.

But, a new bill proposal from Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer, of New York, Cory Booker, of New Jersey, and Ron Wyden, of Oregon, seeks to change that.

This bill would remove marijuana from the list of banned drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, allowing the feds to regulate and tax it.

www.modernfarmer.com/2021/07/democrats-propose-sweeping-marijuana-legislation/

**The USDA is providing up to $200 million to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have experienced losses due to COVID-19.

It’s part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.

Loggers and truckers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency through October 15th.

The Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program is administered in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

**The House Ag Committee approved a bill last week to provide $43 billion over eight years to bring broadband service to hundreds of thousands who currently lack access.

According to www.agriculture.com, $36 billion of that would go to loans, grants, and loan guarantees for the construction or improvement of internet service in small towns and rural areas with poor or no service.

An additional $2.4 billion would pay for pilot projects to test broadband technologies.

www.agriculture.com/news/business/house-committee-approves-43-billion-rural-broadband-bill

Previous ReportNewhouse Friend of Farm Bureau and China Beef Demand Grows
Next ReportUSDA Grants for Ag Education and Vilsack Promises More Relief