-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Dave Hartley http://www.asheville-computer.com/dave ======================================== ARTICLE: Bill Would Allow Production of Industrial Hemp AUTHOR: Bruce Schreiner, The Louisville Courier-Journal, KY DATE: Thursday, 9 March 2000, at 2:41 p.m. A bill introduced in the General Assembly, House Bill 855, would legalize industrial hemp production, with strict oversight by the state Agricultural Department. Pubdate: March 7, 2000 Lexington, Ky. Andy Graves pays more than lip service to industrial hemp, a versatile plant long ago uprooted from Kentucky agriculture. On his Fayette County farm, a worker spreads shredded hemp as mulch around trees showing the first signs of spring life. In a barn, bags of the stuff are stacked to the ceiling for eventual sale as horse bedding or to protect gardens. The hemp was grown and processed in Canada, where the crop is part of the agricultural landscape. In this country, industrial hemp is lumped with marijuana, its potent cousin, as a controlled substance that is illegal to produce. Graves would like to see an official government pardon for hemp. A bill introduced in the General Assembly, House Bill 855, would legalize industrial hemp production, with strict oversight by the state Agricultural Department. A companion resolution, House Joint Resolution 121, would ask the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to allow state-regulated hemp production and processing. DEA approval is necessary before the crop can re-emerge legally. A handful of states have passed laws allowing it to be grown if the DEA grants them permits, and experimental hemp production is under way in Hawaii, said Graves, president of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association. At least 12 other states are considering similar legislation, he said. "State by state, we‚re making it a states‚ rights issue,” Graves said. "And the feds are changing their song slowly with this groundswell of support." But Kentucky‚s top law enforcement agency wants to keep hemp outlawed. "It is marijuana with a low THC content,” said Lt. Kevin Payne, a Kentucky State Police spokesman. THC is the active ingredient that makes pot smokers high. Hemp and marijuana are both varieties of the cannabis sativa plant. As defined in the legislation, industrial hemp contains a THC concentration of 1 percent or less. Marijuana plants contain 10 percent to 20 percent THC. Other than that, the two plants are alike, Payne said. And that would cause problems for police if hemp were legalized, he said. "From a law enforcement standpoint, it would be an enforcement nightmare," he said. "You would not be able to tell the difference between the two plants." Graves said marijuana growers should be the biggest opponents of legalized hemp production. He said hemp pollen that floated into marijuana plants would gradually lower the THC levels of marijuana, lowering the pot‚s potency. That would hit marijuana producers in the pocketbooks, Graves said. "It will rob him of the street value," he said. With burley tobacco production in steep descent, Graves sees industrial hemp ˆ and its myriad applications ˆ as part of a crop mix to preserve family farms. "This is not a replacement for tobacco, but it may be one good idea you can connect with six others and replace some of the lost economy," said Graves, whose 125,000-pound tobacco crop last year will shrink under a 45 percent quota cut. Hemp played an important part in Kentucky agriculture throughout the 19th century and early in this century. But the long, stalky plant was banned in 1937 when the federal government outlawed marijuana. (Some hemp was grown under government contract during World War II.) Hemp‚s potential uses seemingly stretch as long as its history. Graves said it can be used in paper products, textiles, as a fiberglass and plastics substitute, and as an oil in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Just don‚t try to take a puff. "You can smoke that stuff all day and what it will give you is a giant headache," Graves said. In a sign that the hemp debate may be reaching the political mainstream, the bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Joe Barrows, D-Versailles and a veteran legislator, and Roger Thomas, chairman of the House Agriculture and Small Business Committee. Thomas, a farmer, said he has heard fellow tobacco growers discuss hemp as a possible option to help offset lower burley production. "We owe it to agriculture and to the farmers of Kentucky to at least give it a hearing," said Thomas, D-Smiths Grove. The bill has been assigned to Thomas‚ committee. If hemp advocates can prove its potential profitability, then Kentucky "needs to lead rather than follow" in hemp production, Thomas said. But hemp still has doubters about its moneymaking potential. Graves predicts that once hemp production was allowed, private capital would flow into developing processing facilities. With tobacco in decline, he said, the farming sector must show boldness. "We just don‚t have the luxury in Kentucky agriculture to sit around and wait for someone else to do it," he said. "We need to take the initiative now." (END) For more information contact: Andy Graves (606) 259-5766 ======================================== ARTICLE: Industrial Hemp Should Be OK AUTHOR: Editorial Opinions, Capital Press Agriculture Weekly, Salem, OR DATE: Thursday, 9 March 2000, at 2:44 p.m. States already into research have found precious little cause for confusion between the two plants. Indeed, one researcher identified a compound in hemp that inhibits the intoxicant in marijuana. Pubdate: March 3 2000 Question 1: Why would the United States stand by and let other nations take over a market for an agricultural product in demand? Question 2: Why should farmers and related industry in the Pacific Northwest sit by and miss an opportunity for a cash crop that makes a good rotation crop as well? The answer: A paranoia about marijuana that prevents drug enforcers, who obviously know little about agriculture, from distinguishing between industrial hemp and its cousin that produces an illegal drug. The solution: Let's get over the paranoia, focus on the many benefits of hemp and join the world before it's too late. It's readily apparent that, despite the paranoia, hemp is catching on as a prolific producer of versatile and tough fiber. Thirty-two countries grow it and the United State imports many of its finished products. A growing number of states have authorized farm production of hemp or at least experimentation to test it against the concerns of law enforcement. The United States ought not be left out, especially when it could easily become an exporter as world markets are developed. Neither should Oregon, Washington, Idaho or California. Their farmers should be cleared to add a profitable crop. Idaho has legislation pending that would legalize at least the testing of industrial hemp. Legislatures of the other states in this region would do well to take up the issue with a goal of getting industrial hemp into production. At this point, enforcement agencies are clinging to an absolute rule that marijuana and hemp are one and the same. This, despite the fact that the intoxicant in the marijuana cousin is found only in trace amounts in hemp. States already into research have found precious little cause for confusion between the two plants. Indeed, one researcher identified a compound in hemp that inhibits the intoxicant in marijuana. Cross-fertilization, he added, would reduce the buzz of marijuana rather than intoxicate hemp. But the real lack of enforcers' understanding of farming is shown by their fear that hemp would provide a cover for growth of marijuana. Hemp is produced for its strong fiber and therefore is tall and tightly grouped. Its harvest comes early. Marijuana is sought for flowers and leaves. Therefore, it is short and bushy and is harvested late. Hemp, a cover for marijuana? Anyone who tried it would probably find he had perfectly exposed his illicit crop. There are so many uses that a strong market here and abroad just waits for science to triumph over paranoia. Hemp's strong fibers are especially prized for rope, but also for shoes, clothing, other rugged fabric, even paper. It produces twice as much fiber per acre as the average forest. Its resins are used for plastics, its oils for medicines. Farmers, it is estimated, would stand to take in more than $300 an acre from growing hemp, and would not have to multiply the cost of production with expensive pesticides or fertilizer. Evidence suggests that hemp was banned in the '30s because of its competitive strength against other sources of fiber, such as wood. The ban was lifted for World War II, then reinstated. Let's free our farmers to get into production of industrial hemp that is easily distinguished from its intoxicating cousin. Capital Press is an independent weekly farm/ranch newspaper published every Friday by Press Publishing Co., 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR 97303. Telephone 800-882 6789, Fax 503-370-4383 © Copyright 2000 Capital Press Agriculture Weekly. Editorial Opinions ======================================== <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! 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