Congress considering Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007

1EZduzit

Lifer
Feb 4, 2002
11,833
1
0
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- 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), Raul 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 at www.votehemp.com/federal.html

"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 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 "supports revisions to the federal rules and regulations authorizing commercial production of industrial hemp." The National Conference of State Legislatures 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."


More information about hemp legislation and the crop's many uses can be found at www.VoteHemp.com.

I don't know much about this, but the above article was ripped from a subscription site I belong to (hence no link) but it is a press release from http://www.votehemp.com/ Anyway, it seems like common sense to me?? ;)
 

steppinthrax

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2006
3,990
6
81
What bothers me about this is that farmers who choose to grow hemp my also exploit this action by growing "the real thing" along with it. Even though hemp contains small amounts of THC if is not grown properly you could increase the THC amount. Also the amount of things that hemp could be used for are quite small. There is not real large use for it that could be abs benifitial to the U.S. besides soaps, foods.
 

azazyel

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2000
5,872
1
81
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
What bothers me about this is that farmers who choose to grow hemp my also exploit this action by growing "the real thing" along with it. Even though hemp contains small amounts of THC if is not grown properly you could increase the THC amount. Also the amount of things that hemp could be used for are quite small. There is not real large use for it that could be abs benifitial to the U.S. besides soaps, foods.

You really don't know what you're talking about do you? Would you risk your entire farmland to grow actual pot? Cause if they did and believe me they are going to be watched, the government could seize all their assists, thanks to our ill written seizure laws.

I think this is great, my g/f's sister and her husband both used hemp silk for their wedding clothes. The silk of course had to be imported.
 

brandonbull

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
6,338
1,215
126
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
What bothers me about this is that farmers who choose to grow hemp my also exploit this action by growing "the real thing" along with it. Even though hemp contains small amounts of THC if is not grown properly you could increase the THC amount. Also the amount of things that hemp could be used for are quite small. There is not real large use for it that could be abs benifitial to the U.S. besides soaps, foods.

There are more than 25,000 known uses for hemp. Almost any product that can be made from wood, cotton, or petroleum, including plastics can be made from hemp. Hemp is considered the world's most versatile fiber.

The first drafts of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were printed on hemp paper. Not surprisingly the original Levi Strauss jeans made for the Sierra gold miners were made of hemp sailcloth. Alice in Wonderland was originally printed on hemp paper. Rudolph Diesel designed his namesake engine to run on vegetable oils, including hempseed oil. Hempseed oil once greased machines. Most paint, resins, shellacs, and varnisheswere made out of linseed and hempseed oils. Much of the bird seed sold in the United States has hemp seed in it. Hemp seed contains about 25% protein of which is more easily digestible than soybean protein.



 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,461
996
126
Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- 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), Raul 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 at www.votehemp.com/federal.html

"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 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 "supports revisions to the federal rules and regulations authorizing commercial production of industrial hemp." The National Conference of State Legislatures 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."


More information about hemp legislation and the crop's many uses can be found at www.VoteHemp.com.

I don't know much about this, but the above article was ripped from a subscription site I belong to (hence no link) but it is a press release from http://www.votehemp.com/ Anyway, it seems like common sense to me?? ;)

It wont pass, it won't even get out of committee. The Timber, Paper, and Cotton industry have a great deal of money to spend on lobbying. Same three industries had a large part in the original outlawing of pot.
 

Martin

Lifer
Jan 15, 2000
29,178
1
81
But if you smoke 5000 lbs of hemp you might get a tiny bit high!!! Think of of the children, oh why won't anybody please think of the children?
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
1
0
It would be very nice if this would pass, but I believe that America is not ready to let hemp (read: the devil weed) become part of the nation. There is still too much stigma related to cannabis and not enough education of the differences between the plants and the value of industrial hemp. I'm sure that sometime in the future when the monetary value of large hemp crops becomes more of a welcome idea, some large corporation will push a similar bill and become a monopoly of hemp.
 

speedstream5621

Senior member
Jan 9, 2004
787
0
76
I'd like to know what kind of impact this would actually have on the trade deficit...a fraction of a percentage point?
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,461
996
126
Originally posted by: senseamp
The Cotton industry is going to kill this bill.

Its not just cotton, the Timber and Paper industry dont want it either.

Timber would lose a lot of its money, and the paper industry doesnt want to have to retool everything.
 

Theb

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
3,533
9
76
Originally posted by: Wreckem
It wont pass, it won't even get out of committee. The Timber, Paper, and Cotton industry have a great deal of money to spend on lobbying. Same three industries had a large part in the original outlawing of pot.

Yep if it ever stood a real chance of passing we would see a campaign implying that the bill would legalize drugs.

Plus there's people like this
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
What bothers me about this is that farmers who choose to grow hemp my also exploit this action by growing "the real thing" along with it. Even though hemp contains small amounts of THC if is not grown properly you could increase the THC amount. Also the amount of things that hemp could be used for are quite small. There is not real large use for it that could be abs benifitial to the U.S. besides soaps, foods.
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
What bothers me about this is that farmers who choose to grow hemp my also exploit this action by growing "the real thing" along with it. Even though hemp contains small amounts of THC if is not grown properly you could increase the THC amount. Also the amount of things that hemp could be used for are quite small. There is not real large use for it that could be abs benifitial to the U.S. besides soaps, foods.

Oh noees!!! Teh drugs!!!
 

Shortass

Senior member
May 13, 2004
908
0
76
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed.

But seriously, this would be wonderful. After this, they should legalize the real stuff too. I mean, if anyone really cares about the economy this would put billions of extra dollars back into it.

Why could we possibly be opposed to better things? Oh right, business = government now. Darn. So much for progress :(
 

newmachineoverlord

Senior member
Jan 22, 2006
484
0
0
Originally posted by: senseamp
The Cotton industry is going to kill this bill.

Maybe it's just you're pessimism that is killing the bill, or maybe the bill can never really die as long as there are those who believe in it. Cheer up and put a copy of the "Hemp for Victory!" film into your shared folder in order to do your part. Surely this 1942 film will be successful in swinging opinion in favor of reason. While you're at it, burn a copy to dvd and send it to your congressional representatives along with a strongly worded letter. Then clap your hands three times while saying "I believe in legalizing the growth of mostly harmless agricultural products!":D
(As it was made by the US Government, it is public domain and is freely available for download on the Internet.)

Just don't ever look in the mirror and say "cotton industry" three times, or they'll appear and kill your favorite bill.:evil:
 

Drift3r

Guest
Jun 3, 2003
3,572
0
0
This is not going to see the light of day because of how corrupted our political system has become.
 

WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
7,628
183
106
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
What bothers me about this is that farmers who choose to grow hemp my also exploit this action by growing "the real thing" along with it. Even though hemp contains small amounts of THC if is not grown properly you could increase the THC amount. Also the amount of things that hemp could be used for are quite small. There is not real large use for it that could be abs benifitial to the U.S. besides soaps, foods.

Hemp is a cornucopia.