A bill that would make hemp cultivation legal under Vermont state law has cleared a final hurdle and will soon become law, the Vermont Press Bureau reported June 21.

Vermont Gov. James Douglas opposed the measure but while he didn't want to sign the measure after it was passed by the state legislature, nor did he want to veto the bill. Instead, he forwarded the unsigned bill to the Vermont Secretary of State, who asked the state Attorney General's office if the measure could be enacted without Douglas' signature.

This week, chief assistant attorney general William Griffin said that Douglas' actions cleared constitutional muster, meaning that Vermont will now become the second U.S. state to legalize hemp cultivation. "(The hemp bill) became law without the Governor's signature because the governor did not return it with objections ..." Griffin wrote. "Given the governor's message to the House, that is the result the governor intended."

Growing hemp remains illegal under federal law, however, making the state law largely symbolic. Amy Shollenberger, head of Rural Vermont, which supported the hemp bill, said, "We're really excited the bill will be allowed to go through. And we're looking forward to talking with (U.S. Sen. Patrick) Leahy about getting the federal policy changed."