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| State To Begin Taking Applications for Hemp |
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Posted by CN Staff on December 05, 2006 at 09:24:53 PT By James MacPherson, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press 
Bismarck, N.D. -- North Dakota farmers may start applying for state licenses to grow industrial hemp next year but no seed may be sown until federal drug agents approve, Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson says."We'll see where it goes," said Johnson, who has been pushing industrial hemp as a crop in North Dakota for more than a decade. "Hopefully, North Dakota will be the first state where producers can grow hemp for legitimate uses." The federal Drug Enforcement Agency remains a major hurdle for would-be growers of marijuana's biological cousin. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said last month that the rules crafted by North Dakota's Agriculture Department comply with state law. A state legislative committee approved the rules on Monday, with no changes, Johnson said. "Nobody has ever put something like this in front of the DEA," he said. "We want to make industrial hemp happen. "We have put these rules together in such an airtight fashion that we know we are not going to have illicit drugs being grown in North Dakota," Johnson said." Hemp contains trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a banned substance, and it falls under federal anti-drug rules, said Steve Robertson, a DEA special agent in Washington. "There is no differentiation between hemp and marijuana," Robertson said. "The regulations for hemp are the same as they are for marijuana." The rules, which take effect on Jan. 1, require a criminal background check on farmers who want to grow hemp. The sale of hemp and the location of the hemp fields must be documented. The application fee for the state license will cost at least $150, said Ken Junkert, the state agriculture department's plant industries manager. He said the total amount of the application fee won't be known until next month. Industrial hemp would be an alternative cash crop for North Dakota farmers because it's used to make food, clothing, cosmetics, paper, rope and other products, Johnson said. It's the only crop that would have to be licensed in North Dakota, he and Junkert said. Johnson and Junkert said several North Dakota farmers are interested in getting a state license, despite the unknowns with DEA. "I don't think there is going to be a stampede, but there are going to be some farmers who will want to go through this process with the intent of at least planting a small amount of industrial hemp this spring," Johnson said. It would be up to farmers to seek the final approval from federal drug agents once the state license is approved, Johnson said. "Only after they do that can they can humbly ask the DEA for its stamp of approval," Johnson said. Robertson said the DEA would review each application fairly under the law. Johnson said farmers who want to grow hemp might go to court if the state issues them a license but the DEA ignores or denies it. "It's possible their (DEA's) response will be no response," Johnson said. "The license holder then would probably be in a position to take the matter to some sort of legal proceedings." Complete Title: State To Begin Taking Applications for Hemp Farmers Source: Associated Press (Wire) CannabisNews Hemp Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #9 posted by FoM on December 06, 2006 at 07:18:16 PT |
| I can't find any news worth posting but we are getting close to Christmas and the news will keep getting slower until after the holidays. As far as using the fungus on crops I hope it doesn't get approved because if it goes for a vote after the Denocrats are in power I doubt it will happen. Most of the Democrat care about environmental issues. Biden excluded. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by OverwhelmSam on December 06, 2006 at 06:11:08 PT |
| They've been on our radar for some time. Surely there are some good politicians from their district who can replace them. Can we hire private detectives to get the dirt on these guys, and expose them before they get re-elected in 2008? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by ekim on December 05, 2006 at 19:09:55 PT |
| http://drugwarrant.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=719 From the MAPtalk list: Sec. 1111 Requirement for Scientific Study of Mycoherbicide in Illicit Drug Crop Eradication CONGRESS TO VOTE ON POISONING PEOPLE THIS WEEK Dear Fellow Reformer, Earlier this year we warned you about a bill in Congress that would revive controversial research on the use of toxic, mold-like fungi called mycoherbicides to kill illicit drug crops in other countries. This provision could unleash an environmental disaster of monumental proportions. But Congressman Mark Souder and Senators Hatch and Biden are rushing it to the House and Senate floors this week. Here are three things you can do: ---------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ethanol-gec.org/fall2001/fall15.html Genencor Meets First Technical Milestone in Biomass to Ethanol Project Genencor Labs, Palo Alto, California Genencor International, Inc. announced that it has achieved its first technical milestone in its three-year contract with the U.S. Department of Energy Biofuels Program. Genencor developed and validated processes for improved cellulase enzymes that meet the intended objective at one-half the cost of currently available technologies. "Advances in molecular biology and functional genomics enable us to push the frontiers of commercial development and we're pleased to be making progress toward developing new enzyme systems to accomplish the goal of this project," said Michael Arbige, Ph.D, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. The goal of the program is to develop new enzyme systems for the economic conversion of plant matter into ethanol and other valuable materials. DOE has determined that the cost of converting biomass into useable form is a critical stumbling block to producing biofuels and chemicals from renewable raw materials. Specifically, Genencor and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are working to deliver enzyme systems enabling a 10-fold improvement in the economics of breaking down cellulosic material (plant matter) and other complex carbohydrates into fermentable sugars. "The United States is the world's leader in agriculture and biotechnology and the Department's biomass research and development efforts take advantage of that position," said David Garman, the U.S. Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "The President's Energy Policy promotes the development of renewable energy sources and we look to biomass for significant contributions to reducing America's dependence on foreign oil." [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by mayan on December 05, 2006 at 18:23:55 PT |
| "We have put these rules together in such an airtight fashion that we know we are not going to have illicit drugs being grown in North Dakota," Johnson said." Either the DEA will allow the cultivation of industrial hemp or their true motives for maintaining cannabis prohibition will be exposed for all to see. They must concede or they risk losing any remaining credibility. SHADOW OF THE SWASTIKA: The Real Reason the Government Won't Debate Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Re-legalization: http://www.hempfarm.org/Papers/Shadow_of_the_Swastika.html On an unrelated note, here is an enlightening piece which helps to explain how we got into the mess we're in. I strongly recommend that everyone read this and spread it around like wildfire... The Surreal Politics of Premeditated War: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1203-21.htm THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN... 9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL: http://www.911sharethetruth.com/ [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by potpal on December 05, 2006 at 18:15:42 PT |
| Thanks, FoM. Check this out. Create one to fund cannabis causes? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4585026.stm http://milliondollarhomepage.com/ [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 05, 2006 at 14:03:04 PT |
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Hemp Wrap gift wrap designs are printed with vegetable-based inks on generous sheets of our hemp blend paper. The long fibers of hemp and flax add strength to the shorter recycled fibers, creating a wrapping paper that offers strength, style, and sustainability. http://paporganics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=P&Category_Code=HW [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 05, 2006 at 13:59:38 PT |
| We just watched Al Gore on Oprah and they had a piece by http://www.treehugger.com and they mentioned using HEMP Christmas Wrapping paper. It was a very good show. I can't even remember when I tuned in to Oprah anymore. It's probably been 8 or more years. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by potpal on December 05, 2006 at 13:53:41 PT |
| Give them back their hertiage... Hempwallace, AR Hemp Swamp Brook, CT Hempstead Brook, CT Hemp Key, FL Hemp, GA Hemp Factory Branch, IL Hemp Ridge, KY Hemphill, KY Hemphill, LA Hempfield Lake, MI Hemphill Lake, MN Hemple, MO Hemp Hill, NH Hempstead, NY, Nassau Hempstead, NY, Rockland Hempstead Gardens, NY Hemp Patch Branch, NC Hemphill Bald, NC, Hemphill Creek, NC Hemphill Knob, NC Hempfield, PA, Hemp Branch, SC Hemphill Lake, SC Hemp Fork, VA Hemphill, TX Hempstead, TX Hemp Mill Branch, VA Hemppatch Branch, VA Hemppatch Mountain, VA Hemp Hill Creek, WA Hempel Creek, WA Hempel Lake, WA Hemphill, WV Hempton Lake, WI Weed, CA Weed, NM Weed, AR Weed, KY [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on December 05, 2006 at 10:28:28 PT |
| Al Gore will be on Oprah today if anyone is interested. He will be talking about global warming and how to help. *** Al Gore Films Conservation Spot at Lowe's Store for Oprah http://www.piercecountyherald.com/asap/index.cfm?page=asap_view&id=D8LQAGJG1 [ Post Comment ] |
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