Industrial Hemp Called 'No-Brainer' Reform

One would think that Congress is the perfect place to take a 'no-brainer' but it doesn't work that way...

On The Hill

For the third time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States more than 50 years ago, a federal bill will be introduced that will remove restrictions on the cultivation of non-intoxicating industrial hemp.

The chief sponsors, Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) have circulated a dear colleague letter seeking support for the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. The bill will be identical to HR 1009 which was introduced in the 110th Congress, according to a hemp advocacy group.

"Under the current national drug control policy, industrial hemp can be imported, but it can't be grown by American farmers," says Vote Hemp's 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 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."

I hope this bill will go somewhere this time. It probably won't. Common Sense Be Damned should be Congress' motto.

From Vote Hemp:

Canadian Govt. Can Tell Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana, Why Can't the US?

Because the Canuckistanian government isn't near as stupid, nor is it in thrall to a puritanical mindset or the pharmaceutical and liquor lobbies. On the off chance that someone, somewhere, will be stupid enough to try and smoke enough ditchweed to get high, the sentiment seems to be, "Ya wanta get yer head, ya use our profit-generatin' dope or go to jail." Our government damn well knows the difference between rope or canvas and smokin' dope, but the tighter the rules and the more intensive the enforcement, the bigger the DEA can get and the bigger its budget and power.

Also see:

Hemp Hoe Down. Gee, that sounds like Saturday night at Fixer's house! Actually, in all seriousness, the F-Man's weapons-grade mota is best not wasted on practical applications! Heh.

Native Americans & Hemp: A call for reverse colonization. Basically, everything about growing hemp in states where it is legal on supposedly sovereign Indian land, to which the DEA's attitude is 'fuck your sovereignty, blanket ass, and the state you live in'.

Hemp as bio-fuel. Tried it. The roaches kept clogging the fuel filter...