cannabisnews.com: Pro-Marijuana Group Promotes Legalization of Hemp 





Pro-Marijuana Group Promotes Legalization of Hemp 
Posted by FoM on December 26, 1999 at 15:41:51 PT
By Associated Press
Source: Boston Globe
A pro-marijuana and hemp lobbying organization wants to team up with Maine's agricultural community to promote the legalization of hemp. Don Christen, founder of Maine Vocals, said industrial hemp could provide the state's farmers with a valuable cash crop that can be used to make fabric, paper, rope and multitude of other products. 
''It can bring $800 to $2,000 an acre,'' Christen said, noting that farm bureaus in 17 states now support industrial hemp farming. ''But let's make this clear: This is not pot. It is as simple as that,'' he said. Christen said the active ingredient in marijuana that causes smokers to get high, THC, is found in such low levels in hemp that it would have no appeal as a drug. Christen says two other states, Hawaii and North Dakota, have legalized hemp, and he is hoping to ally his group with the Maine State Grange and other agricultural organizations to promote the crop in Maine. In Minnesota, items made from hemp can be sold. A law passed this year also allows the Minnesota governor to apply for federal permits for demonstration plots of industrial hemp. The Clinton administration and the Drug Enforcement Agency oppose legalization. They say hemp plants look so similar to marijuana that allowing farmers to grow them would hinder efforts to curb drugs. Hemp was grown legally in the United States until the 1930s, when it was administered out of business with a tax act. It is now legally grown in 32 other countries, including Canada, which ships tons of hemp to U.S. manufacturers. According to Bud Sholts, chairman of the North American Industrial Hemp Council Inc., U.S. manufacturers bought 85 percent of the Canadian hemp crop last year. Annual hemp sales in this country, said Sholts, exceeded $225 million for products such as granola bars, beer, shampoo, clothing and cooking oil. ''This could be a huge moneymaker for Maine,'' said Christen. ''If we can get the farmers behind us on this thing, it could even be the papermaking alternative the state has been looking for.''Published: December 26, 1999 © Copyright 1999 Boston Globe Electronic Publishing, Inc. Cannabis News Hemp Related Articles:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on December 26, 1999
 at 21:55:50 PT
Maine Vocals Legalize Marijuana Web Site
Freedom Fighters Web Site!State of Maine'sVocal Cannabis Action Network & Educators:END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW!!!http://www.tdstelme.net/~mevocals/
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