Hemp Farming Introduced in Congress

Hemp Farming Introduced in Congress



Feb 2007 - 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 Congressman Ron Paul, a Texas Republican. A 
clutch of Democrat co-sponsors also back the measure. 
"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," he 
said. 
"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 the advocacy group 
Vote Hemp. 
He says the Drug Enforcement Administration 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," said Steenstra. 
U.S. companies that manufacture or sell products made with 
hemp include Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, a California company 
that manufactures the number-one-selling natural soap, and 
FlexForm Technologies, an Indiana company whose natural fiber 
materials are used in over two 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 United States, 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.

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