Tuesday, February 13, 2007
CONTACT:
Tom Murphy 207-542-4998
tom@votehemp.com

Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007
Introduced in Congress
H.R. 1009 Would Give States Right to Regulate Farming of Versatile Hemp Crop

WASHINGTON, DC — For the second time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States, a federal bill has been introduced that would remove restrictions on the cultivation of non-psychoactive industrial hemp. The chief sponsor of H.R. 1009, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007," is Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) and the nine original co-sponsors are Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Jim McDermott (D-WA), George Miller (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). The bill may be viewed online here.

"It is indefensible that the United States government prevents American farmers from growing this crop. The prohibition subsidizes farmers in countries from Canada to Romania by eliminating American competition and encourages jobs in industries such as food, auto parts and clothing that utilize industrial hemp to be located overseas instead of in the United States," said Dr. Paul. "By passing the Industrial Hemp Farming Act the House of Representatives can help American farmers and reduce the trade deficit — all without spending a single taxpayer dollar."

U.S. 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 2 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 U.S., a vestige of centuries of hemp farming, the hemp for these products must be imported. Health Canada statistics show that 48,060 acres of industrial hemp were produced in Canada in 2006. Farmers in Canada have reported that hemp is one of the most profitable crops that they can grow. 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." The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has also passed a pro-hemp resolution.

Numerous individual states have expressed interest in industrial hemp as well. Fifteen states have passed pro-hemp legislation; seven (Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia) have removed barriers to its production or research. North Dakota has issued state licenses, the first in fifty years, to two farmers so far. Rep. Paul's bill would remove federal barriers and allow laws in these states regulating the growing and processing of industrial hemp to take effect.

"Under the current national drug control policy, industrial hemp can be imported, but it can't be grown by American farmers," says Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp. "The DEA has taken the Controlled Substances Act's antiquated definition of marijuana out of context and used it as an excuse to ban industrial hemp farming. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007 will bring us back to more rational times when the government regulated marijuana, but told farmers they could go ahead and continue raising hemp just as they always had," says Mr. Steenstra.

Vote Hemp is a non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow low-THC industrial hemp. More information about hemp legislation and the crop's many uses may be found at www.VoteHemp.com or www.HempIndustries.org. BETA SP or DVD Video News Releases featuring footage of hemp farming in other countries are available upon request by contacting Adam Eidinger at 202-744-2671.

State of play in the USA - Industrial Hemp Bills

To date, twenty-eight states have introduced hemp legislation and fifteen have passed legislation; seven (Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia) have removed barriers to its production or research.


California had a farming bill introduced on 2/21/07. Passed out of the General Assembly on 5/10/07 by a vote of 41 to 29. Passed the Senate by a vote of 26-13 on 9/11/07. In the Assembly the concurrence vote was 46-29 on 9/12/2007. Vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger on 10/11/07. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

Hawaii had a legalization and regulation bill introduced on 1/24/07. Carried over to 2008.

New Mexico passed a hemp study memorial and Congressional resolution on 3/5/07.

North Dakota is now issuing licenses to farmers to grow hemp under existing state law and North Dakota Department of Agriculture rules. There are also five new bills this year that have been passed by their House and Senate. Two of which were resolutions and the rest have been signed by Governor Hoeven. On June 18, 2007 the two North Dakota farmers granted state hemp farming licenses, Rep. David Monson and Wayne Hauge, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota in an effort to end the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) obstruction of commercial hemp farming in the United States.

Minnesota had a hemp farming bill introduced on 3/19/07. Carried over to 2008. Public Safety and Civil Justice committee report, to pass as amended and re-refer to Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee on 3/6/08. An agriculture committee omnibus bill was introduced on 3/10/08 that includes a section on Industrial Hemp Development And Regulation. There is companion bill in the Senate.

South Carolina had a study bill introduced on 1/17/07. Carried over to 2008.

Vermont had a hemp farming bill introduced on 2/9/07. Carried over to 2008. Unanimous vote to pass out of committee (11-0-0) in the House Agriculture Committee 1/30/08. Passed the House by a vote of 126 to 9 on 2/7/08.

Wisconsin had a study bill introduced on 3/5/07. Carried over to 2008. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 on 3/21/08.

A federal hemp bill was introduced in Congress on 1/13/07. The bill excludes industrial hemp from the definition of "marihuana" in the Controlled Substances Act and gives states the exclusive authority to regulate the growing and processing of industrial hemp under state law.

http://www.votehemp.com/federal.html for more....