Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul Introduce Hemp Farming Legislation

[boaz]

Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul Introduce Hemp Farming Legislation


by Vote Hemp. Posted on Friday, April 3 2009

A federal bill was introduced yesterday that, if passed into law, would 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 U.S. House members split equally between Republicans and Democrats.

"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 yesterday before the U.S. 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 co-sponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act," concluded Paul.

"With so much discussion lately in the media about drug policy, it is surprising that 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 here for over fifty 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 stop confusing industrial hemp with its genetically distinct cousin, marijuana. While the new bill in Congress is a welcome step, the hemp industry is hopeful that President Obama's administration will prioritize hemp's benefits to farmers. Jobs would be created overnight, as there are numerous U.S. companies that now have no choice but to import hemp raw materials worth many millions of dollars per year," adds Steenstra.

AdvertisementU.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 two million cars on the road today. 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 now grows wild across the U.S., a vestige of centuries of hemp farming here, 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." The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has also passed a pro-hemp resolution.

Numerous individual states have expressed interest in and support for industrial hemp as well. Sixteen states have passed pro-hemp legislation, and eight states (Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia) have removed barriers to its production or research. North Dakota has been issuing state licenses to farmers for two years now. The new bill will remove federal barriers and allow laws in these states regulating the growing and processing of 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 Steenstra. "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 2009 will return us to more rational times when the government regulated marijuana, but allowed farmers to continue raising industrial hemp just as they always had."

- Article from Vote Hemp.

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boaz Reviewed by boaz on 04-05-2009. Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul Introduce Hemp Farming Legislation Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul Introduce Hemp Farming Legislation by Vote Hemp. Posted on Friday, April 3 2009 A federal bill was introduced yesterday that, if passed into law, would 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 U.S. House members split equally between Republicans and Rating: 5

[FlyGuyOU]

I love how the politico thinks industrial hemp will mean people are going to hide weed plants amongst the hemp...could anyone think of an easier way to ruin your genetics?

[MdmPele]

Barney Frank and Ron Paul are our friends...

[bigtopsfinn]

I love how the politico thinks industrial hemp will mean people are going to hide weed plants amongst the hemp...could anyone think of an easier way to ruin your genetics?

Good point!

They grow industrial hemp here in Europe. Regulators come by and take random tests to ensure low thc levels. Works here, why not there?

[MdmPele]

Good point!

They grow industrial hemp here in Europe. Regulators come by and take random tests to ensure low thc levels. Works here, why not there?

Here, it's a mind-set issue. Prohibition has warped logic over here.

If in a field of hemp one high-thc plant was found, then the entire PROGRAM would be considered a failure by most.

I know, it's sick.

[killerweed420]

Great that they've finally got a bill on the table. I wouldn't expect it to pass this time but its a start. There's just still too many uneducated congressmen yet for this to pass. All it would take is 5 minutes of reading but I think thats just too much to ask of our congessmen.

[boaz]

Barney Frank and Ron Paul are our friends...

true. :jointsmile: its kinda funny if you think about, they are almost the opposite ends of the spectrum politically. It just shows how this is not liberal vs. conservative issue.

Click here to follow along on Thomas. Just search for 'hemp', I found only one result, this bill. I could be wrong, but I would think this could have a shot at passing the House. I'm not sure if the Senate would follow suite or if Obama would sign it but if you look at all the states that have passed their own laws contrary to this federal law, I would think that all those state's reps should support this bill. if not they need to be weeded out. :stoned: sorry.


================================================== =
ALL ACTIONS:
4/2/2009:
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E860-861)
4/2/2009:
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
4/2/2009:
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
4/2/2009:
Referred to House Judiciary


================================================== =
SPEECH OF HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009

Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act requires the Federal Government to respect State laws allowing the growing of industrial hemp.

Eight States--Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia--allow industrial hemp production or research in accord with State laws. However, Federal law is standing in the way of farmers in these States growing what may be a very profitable crop. Because of current Federal law, all hemp included in products sold in the United States must be imported instead of being grown by American farmers.

Since 1970, the Federal Controlled Substances Act's inclusion of industrial hemp in the schedule one definition of marijuana has prohibited American farmers from growing industrial hemp despite the fact that industrial hemp has such a low content of THC (the psychoactive chemical in the related marijuana plant) that nobody can be psychologically affected by consuming hemp. Federal law concedes the safety of industrial hemp by allowing it to be legally imported for use as food.

The United States is the only industrialized nation that prohibits industrial hemp cultivation. The Congressional Research Service has noted that hemp is grown as an established agricultural commodity in over 30 nations in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act will relieve this unique restriction on American farmers and allow them to grow industrial hemp in accord with State law.

Industrial hemp is a crop that was grown legally throughout the United States for most of our Nation's history. In fact, during World War II, the Federal Government actively encouraged American farmers to grow industrial hemp to help the war effort. The Department of Agriculture even produced a film "Hemp for Victory'' encouraging the plant's cultivation.

In recent years, the hemp plant has been put to many popular uses in foods and in industry. Grocery stores sell hemp seeds and oil as well as food products containing oil and seeds from the hemp plant. Industrial hemp is also included in consumer products such as paper, cloths, cosmetics, and carpet. One of the more innovative recent uses of industrial hemp is in the door frames of about 1.5 million cars. Hemp has even been used in alternative automobile fuel.

It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has stood in the way of American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet, competing in the global industrial hemp market. 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.

:s4:

[luciddreamer]

This is good guys. Get writing/e-mailing to Obama to tell him to support this bill!

[Rusty Trichome]

There is a downside...

Ever been in a field of corn, when the wind picks-up, and the pollen starts flying across the valley...? Ever grown gourds, just to fond-out your neighbor is growing a different strain, and your crop comes-out all fucked-up?

The fears of growing cannabis in a field of hemp is real stupid. What happens to cannabis genetics and seedless buds, when the hemp pollen hits your ladies pistols? What happens to the hemp genetics if catching hybrid cannabis pollen? A lose-lose situation for both.

Adding HEPA filters to catch the hemp pollen before it reaches my ladies would be a costly investment I couldn't afford, and buying from seed banks could eventually become hit-n-miss as far as purebred cannabis genetics goes.

In some regions, it might even be the end of sinsemilla. (seedless buds) I guess we could just grow off-season, but it would sure put a dent in crop scheduling, lol.
But as long as it's in someone else's geographic area, or it's mandated to only grow in sealed greenhouses...I think it would be great. :jointsmile:

[yokinazu]

the cross polination could actually be an up side in some situations. say you have some very potent ladies but they are not resistant to pests and disease or just not a very strong plant adding hemp could actualy give you a strong healthy plant that still packs plenty of punch.

heres another idea lets put all of our males outside rather than sentancing them to an early death so that they will polinate their females and now that crappy hemp may just be able to get you high.

i just cant beleive that people here are bitchin about a step in the right direction for the cause. we been workin the medicinal value angle for 20 years now lets start on the indutrial and agricultural aspect and soon we will have full blown de-crimalization.

in the words of john kay: DONT STEP ON THE GRASS SAM