Press Release: Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul Introduce Hemp Farming Legislation

Submitted by David Borden on (Issue #579)
Drug War Issues

press release from Vote Hemp:

WASHINGTON, DC: A federal bill was introduced today that will remove restrictions on the cultivation of non-psychoactive industrial hemp. The chief sponsors of HR 1866, "The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009," Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) were joined by nine other US House members split equally between Republicans and Democrats.

[inline:hempharvest.jpg align=right caption="hemp being harvested (courtesy Wikipedia)"]"It is unfortunate that the federal government has stood in the way of American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet, from competing in the global industrial hemp market," said Representative Ron Paul during his introduction of the bill today before the US House. "Indeed, the founders of our nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained federal government. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to stand up for American farmers and cosponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act," concluded Paul.

"With so much discussion lately in the media about drug policy, it is surprising the tragedy of American hemp farming hasn't come up as a 'no-brainer' for reform," says Vote Hemp President, Eric Steenstra. "Hemp is a versatile, environmentally friendly crop that has not been grown for over 50 years because of a politicized interpretation of the nation's drug laws by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). President Obama should direct the DEA to avoid confusing industrial hemp and it's genetically distinct cousin marijuana. While the new bill in Congress is a welcome step, the hemp industry is hopeful the President Barack Obama's administration will prioritize hemp's benefits to farmers. There are jobs that would be created over night as there are numerous American companies that have no choice but to import hemp worth many millions of dollars per year," says Steenstra.

US companies that manufacture or sell products made with hemp include Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, a California company who manufactures the number-one-selling natural soap, and FlexForm Technologies, an Indiana company whose natural fiber materials are used in over two million cars. Hemp food manufacturers such as French Meadow Bakery, Hempzels, Living Harvest, Nature's Path and Nutiva now make their products from Canadian hemp. Although hemp grows wild across the US, a vestige of centuries of hemp farming, the hemp for these products must be imported. Hemp clothing is made around the world by well-known brands such as Patagonia, Bono's Edun and Giorgio Armani.

There is strong support among key national organizations for a change in the federal government's position on hemp. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) "supports revisions to the federal rules and regulations authorizing commercial production of industrial hemp."

Numerous individual states have expressed interest in industrial hemp as well. Sixteen states have passed pro-hemp legislation; eight (Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia) have removed barriers to its production or research. North Dakota has issued state licenses, two years running. The new bill will remove federal barriers and allow laws in these states regulating the growing and processing of industrial hemp to take effect.

More information about hemp legislation and the crop's many uses can be found at www.VoteHemp.com. BETA SP and DVD Video News Releases featuring footage of hemp farming in other countries are available upon request by contacting Adam Eidinger at [email protected].

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Anonymous (not verified)

Non-psychactive hemp is categorized with marijuana, schedule I, as if hemp were more dangerous than heroin! There is money to be made in hemp's industrial potential. I WILL be writing my congressperson.

Fri, 04/03/2009 - 2:04pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Our governor likes to cheerlead "green industries of the future": wind, solar, subsidized agra-giants, etc. Hemp could rebuild depleted soil while providing its benefit, but alas, Michigan is afraid to send the wrong message to kids! Michigan children will be safe as long as no one grows hemp?

Fri, 04/03/2009 - 2:08pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

This Is A Major step in the right direction...Move over Hearst,Dupont,Monsanto, and all you dam chemical companies...this is truly a Large help with jobs, and the economy...Please Mr. President! if you want to quote and act as former president Roosevelt, move forward and encourage this bill with Vigor

Fri, 04/03/2009 - 2:13pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Well, duh! I'm sure George and Tom (Washington & Jefferson) would be applauding this return to the common sense that helped bring them the financial rewards to build Mt. Vernon and Monticello. Growing up on a midwest farm, I know how many piles of this weed we had to reap and burn every Fall, due to this stupid political regulation. It grew like a weed (!), watered or not. Before the regulation, stretching back eons, hemp was used for so many products, including for ropes and sails of ships, that it was revered. This is also "green" legislation; we destroy million of acres of forests, including the Amazon rainforest, every year, that provide oxygen for our planet so that we can grind out products that hemp is much more suitable for. Glad somebody finally got a clue, and has the spine to bring it to the attention of those "representatives" of ours whose attention is normally diverted to their wallets and their state's ballots.

Fri, 04/03/2009 - 2:59pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Our government is acting in the complete opposite way that they are required to, like protecting the people from harm, instead of inflicting it. Promoting a strong and healthy economy, betterment of the nation. Open mindedness, instead of unfounded, biased, opinion.
25,000 different products can be made from one plant, including renewable energy.
Everyone in our government has to be held accountable for restricting a viable product like hemp.
It's just stupid.

Fri, 04/03/2009 - 4:16pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

The First American Flag Was Made Entirely of HEMP!

and interestingly forgotton and ironic to todays marijuana laws,

Our Original Constitution and Bill of Right is written on HEMP paper!

Pack that up in your pipe and smoke it ;)

Sat, 04/04/2009 - 12:56pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

when will the people take back the government and
allow greener solutions to help us prosper. This bill could really be
a crucial step if Obama helps these types of programs to
take root!

Mon, 04/06/2009 - 12:15am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

And they took 10 miles , we haven`t even gotten the inch back yet, How can we be so wrong! How can they try this stuff, and think the way they do so many years later. The things people will believe if they are told by any one (let alone some one who`s supposed to be looking out for them) my mother in law still believes the Sonny & Cher drug commercial . How can rope hut anyone , unless it`s used to hang some one of course . hahha

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 5:40am Permalink

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