The general assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1)  The cannabis sativa plant used for the production of hemp is separate and distinct from forms of cannabis used to produce marijuana.

(2)  Hemp is used for products such as building materials, cloth, cordage, fiber, food, floor coverings, fuel, industrial chemicals, paint, paper, particle board, plastics, seed meal, seed oil, and yarn.

(3)  Industrial hemp production has remained legal throughout most of the world and hemp has the capacity to grow in a multitude of different climates, altitudes, soils, and weather conditions.

(4)  Currently, it is legal to import industrial hemp into the United States.

(5)  Although federal law currently prohibits the cultivation of hemp, the laws of California, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia permit commercial hemp programs.

(6)  Currently, the United States is the largest importer of hemp products, the largest portion of which is imported from China.

(7)  States are not required to enforce federal law or prosecute people for engaging in activities prohibited by federal law. Therefore, compliance with this chapter does not put the state of Rhode Island in violation of federal law.