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Minnesota
Governor
to
President
Clinton:
Let
Us
Grow
Hemp!
10/8/99
Minnesota Governor Jesse
Ventura sent a personal letter last week (9/30) to President Clinton urging
him not to allow government to "stand in the way" of Minnesota farmers
set to apply for federal permits to grow industrial hemp. Farmers
across the nation have been devastated by low commodity prices and, in
response, the Minnesota legislature passed a law this year directing the
governor to prepare an application for authorization of experimental hemp
crops.
Federal regulations, however,
require individual farmers rather than states themselves to submit such
applications, so on November 19, Governor Ventura's office will hold a
seminar to walk farmers through that process.
In the letter, Ventura touts
hemp as a "potentially lucrative" alternative crop to wheat, corn and soybeans.
"Industrial hemp has a number of uses, ranging from construction materials
and cosmetics to papers and textiles" the letter says. "According
to a study completed by North Dakota State University's Institute for Natural
Resources and Economic Development, retailers sold $75 million in hemp
products in 1997. That figure is estimated to grow to $250 million
by next year."
The letter further points
to the competitive disadvantage created by the federal government's ongoing
resistance to legalizing hemp, telling President Clinton that "Our neighbors
in Canada are ahead of us in the effort to establish industrial hemp as
an alternative crop for farmers."
-- END --
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Issue #111, 10/8/99
Governor Johnson Comes to Washington -- Meets with Students, Drug Policy Reformers -- Gets Blasted by McCaffrey | BREAKING!! McCaffrey In New Mexico: Claims Johnson Told College Students "Heroin Use is Great," Students Refute | Canada: Drug War Refugee Faces New Challenges | Minnesota Governor to President Clinton: Let Us Grow Hemp! | UK: Tabloid Press Gets Tough on Political Correctness | FDA Approves Marijuana Study on Migraines, Final Approval Awaits NIDA Review | Australian Capitol Territory Drug Strategy Stresses Harm Reduction, Calls for Safe-Injection Rooms | News in Brief | Editorial: The Crusaders
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