cannabisnews.com: Growing Hemp in Damp Oregon Faces Challenges
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Growing Hemp in Damp Oregon Faces Challenges
Posted by CN Staff on August 11, 2009 at 05:18:42 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Seattle Times
Albany, Ore. -- Despite recent approval from state lawmakers, industrial hemp growth in Oregon faces a number of hurdles, including a less than ideal local climate and likely opposition from the Drug Enforcement Agency, an Oregon State University official said.Hemp and its close cousin, marijuana, were outlawed by the federal government in the 1930s. But Oregon will become one of a handful of states to give farmers the option of growing it when the new law — signed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski on Tuesday — takes effect Jan. 1.
Hemp contains high fiber, protein and fatty acids, and can be used to make food or industrial materials like paper. But it falls under federal anti-drug rules because it has trace amounts of the mind-altering chemical THC that is found in marijuana.The legislation requires industrial hemp to have very low levels of THC, and the law also redefines "marijuana" and "controlled substance" under Oregon law to further distinguish industrial hemp.The DEA has put restrictions on hemp research, said Mark Mellbye of Oregon State University.And the agency has shut down growing operations in other states that have legalized hemp, and prevented the Lakota Sioux tribe in South Dakota from growing it on sovereign land, said Daryl Ehrensing of Oregon State's Crop and Soil Science Department.Whether the agency cracks down on any eventual Oregon growers is anybody's guess, Ehrensing said. But he said he doubts the federal government would follow Oregon in making similar changes to federal law."Nobody knows what the feds will do at this point," he said. "I don't think anybody's going to take a chance with forfeiting their land to the federal government."Also, commercial growers in Oregon wouldn't be able to grow hemp on a large scale because of the dry summers that much of the state experiences, Ehrensing said.But Ehrensing said that he's received calls from companies interested in experimenting with growing hemp. He thinks somebody may try growing hemp a try as early as next year.Note: Despite approval from lawmakers this past session, growing hemp industrially in Oregon may not be a reality.Source: Seattle Times (WA)Published:  August 9, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Seattle Times CompanyContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/u0f6GHDuRelated Article:Governor Expected To Sign Bill Legalizing Hemp http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24944.shtmlCannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on August 11, 2009 at 15:23:35 PT
we created a monster
just wondering - can the government ever regain control of the DEA? It looks like Obama is barely able to control them, with Congress behind him. they're like rogue pirates turned loose on our own population. Sort of like land pirates. what a terrible mistake
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on August 11, 2009 at 11:57:15 PT
rancher
I am really sorry.
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Comment #4 posted by rancher on August 11, 2009 at 11:45:43 PT:
daryl
Sad to report that right after I read this article quoting Daryl, I got an email informing me that he died of a massive heart attack. Too bad he couldn't live to see hemp cultivated here in Oregon.
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Comment #3 posted by museman on August 11, 2009 at 11:43:04 PT
#1_
I Second that motion.Any power in them people out there?LEGALIZE FREEDOM
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by ripit on August 11, 2009 at 11:21:26 PT
i believe one more step
in the right direction! thank you Oregon!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by runruff on August 11, 2009 at 07:40:58 PT
Reparations!!!!
All those who have conspired through deliberate deception to place and maintain cannabis prohibition!DuPont's should do prison time! Hearst Corp. Mellon Banking, the Rockefeller's, Supreme Court, Mark Souder, ET. AL. should be force to make reparations to our society and our planet!Of course you may consider that I am a radical, one who happens to be 1000% right!
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