OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation paving the way for the production of industrial hemp in Oklahoma is heading to Gov. Kevin Stitt after the state House passed the proposal.

The bill would allow the state Department of Agriculture to develop and manage a hemp production program under the 2018 federal farm bill. The House approved the bill without opposition on Thursday, the Tulsa World reported. Stitt is expected to sign the bill.

Rep. Jon Echols, the bill's sponsor, noted his first attempt to get an industrial hemp bill passed in Oklahoma was met by confused silence several years ago.

"For this...