U.S. Farmers Want In on Industrial Hemp

[NVMojo]

It's time ...

Nov. 22, 2005

As the market

for products grows, farmers fight to legalize controversial crop

David Monson is a conservative Republican in North Dakota's legislature. He's also a farmer who believes that a new cash crop could revitalize his state's agricultural industry, which has been suffering from poor harvests and depressed soy and corn prices.

The problem: The crop coveted by Monson and hundreds of farmers like him is hemp, the same species of cannabis plant as marijuana — with virtually no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient in marijuana that makes users high. The federal government doesn't recognize that distinction, and bans the production of hemp in the USA. It does, however, allow manufacturers of cosmetics, clothing, paper and foods to import hemp fiber, seed and oil from Canada and Europe for use in their products.

That policy has led to an explosion in goods containing high-fiber, high-protein hemp that has been fueled by Americans' thirst for organic products — and perhaps by the tie some consumers see between hemp and marijuana, a counterculture symbol for decades. It also has put the cannabis plant at the center of a battle between unlikely foes: angry farmers such as Monson who are leading increasingly vocal calls for the U.S. government to legalize the growing of what's known as “industrial” hemp, and federal anti-drug officials who say that allowing such crops would create a slippery slope toward legalizing marijuana.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20051122/a_hemplaws22.art.htm

[MarsThe Cat]

1. industrial hemp would destroy outdoor marijuana cultivation.

cross-pollination.

[acmejack]

2. bummer.

Doesn't the hemp have to be in close proximity though?

[MarsThe Cat]

5. i think it's something like a 20 mile radius...

but it can be grown in every state, and farmers are sure to get in on it.

[lastout]

18. My Dad ,who was VERY consiverative,and a full time Farmer

advocatived the production of high qiality weed by farmers under a "quota" system--- you sell everything to the government, they process and sell in their stores (as Liquor is in some states)
The economic benefit of this plan would add what? Millions? 10's of millions? a Billion? to the GDP----fwiw

[lastout]

17. a few years ago Spain recorded record amounts of weed pollen from

north africa ---- so a strong wind at the wrong time could be bad

[creeker]

21. I saw a report last year that said hemp pollen from

north africa was being detected in spain---

[NickB79]

9. Then shouldn't the feds support industrial hemp?

It would effectively "pollute" outdoor marijuana operations in the area, making marijuana more expensive as it is pushed to indoor-only operations.

How about this for a slogan: Support the war on drugs, legalize hemp!

[carzen]

14. Don't expect them to be so sensible

[IDemo]

12. I think their concern is the reverse would also happen,

that THC-free industrial hemp would become increasing not so. Not sure if this is the case or not, however.

[hipneck]

19. Unlikely

Most places where industrial hemp is grown require farmers to use certified ultra-low-THC seed.

[lastout]

16. that is a strong point in the "pro hemp " production lobby--the anti drug side

[hipneck]

20. Harm, maybe, change, surely, destroy? Nah

It would provide a big boost for seed sellers, because of the risk that homegrown seeds might be contaminated by the low THC varieties, but this would not affect the genetics of the plants in the field, just their offspring.

The pollination might be a problem in other ways - marijuana with seeds in it is generally considered crap, because potency goes down when plants put their energy into seed production and because seeds can be most of the dried weight.

Virgin female plant flowers are the desirable stuff. I don't know how outdoor growers deal with this; maybe they pull the males, but it seems like they might still get some pollination in areas with a lot of growing.

If the "war on drugs" has demonstrated anything, it's that marijuana cultivation will never go away, it will adapt and march on.

[Odin2005]

3. Isn't this the REAL reason Marijuana was banned in the first place?

[Gyre]

4. Those farmers voices are insignificant

next to Seagrams and Coors lobbyist voices who are scared shitless about anything even remotely looking like the legalization of pot. Hence the irrational bans on any cannibis product regardless of it's psychotropic qualities.

There is NO THREAT of anything marijuana getting allowed as long as the corporations are calling the shots on domestic policy here.

Gyre

[bvar22]

22. Don't forget the Pharm Industry.

Their lock on sleep aids & happy pills would disappear if Joe Public could just grow a little pot in his back yard. Even the Viagra market would take a big plunge.

Where is the profit in that?

Not to mention the privatized For Profit Prison Indusrty.

[abbeyco]

6. Fuel from hemp can also be used

in place of oil...something that BIG OIL certainly doesn't want us to explore - major threat to them.

It took long enough for ethanol to be developed and used as an alternative and I fear that, while there's another potential alternative for us to get away from fossil fuels, conservative government will not allow this type of alternative to be further developed.

[xray s]

7. Henry Ford used hemp to fuel his first Model T's

He grew the hemp on his farm and converted it to ethanol.

The oil industry was instrumental in getting hemp banned.

[Gogi]

8. You'd have to smoke a joint the size of a telephone pole to get...

high off 'industrial' hemp. I live in a farming area and it would be great if farmers here had another crop to rotate with milo, soybeans, soft winter wheat and corn.

[grannylib]

10. Thomas Jefferson grew hemp and strongly believed that every farmer

should grow it.
There are SO many uses for it.
And the DEA claim that it would create a problem for agents not being able to tell the difference...what a crock. The plants look different and they know it.
There are farmers in Canada who have developed hemp with THC levels well below even what the government requires.
And of course, cannabis should be legal anyway, in my opinion...
Big oil, big alcohol will try to stand in the way.

Think of the redeployment of DEA agents that could happen, putting them to use for REAL problems, if they weren't on the warpath looking for WEED for God's sake...

[LWolf]

11. I have a pair of hemp yoga pants.

Only one; they are way too expensive at this point, at least for me. Durable? More so than any denim I've ever worn. Comfortable? The older they get, the more comfortable they get, which is probably predictable.

There are so many uses for hemp; if I was going to start a "real" farm, other than my few trees, garden, and critters, I'd want to grow hemp.

[murielm99]

13. During World War II, hemp was grown

in my part of northern Illinois. Hemp was considered essential to the war effort. It was used for rope, and I don't know what else. It was grown on the farm I live on. To the north of me is the place that used to be the processing plant for the hemp.

[XxRouninxX]

15. never ending list

of uses.. first lets see.. hemps is a wonderful primer crop, especially with the poor conditions in the mid-soutwest. but i guess jack herer has already summed up my argument for hemp!