cannabisnews.com: Hemp Study Bill Narrowly Misses Approval Hemp Study Bill Narrowly Misses Approval Posted by FoM on November 29, 2000 at 16:14:12 PT By Adriana Colindres, State Capitol Bureau Source: State Journal-Register A plan to authorize a study of industrial hemp - a biological relative of marijuana - fell two votes short of approval Tuesday in the Illinois House. But its House sponsor, Republican Rep. Ron Lawfer of Stockton, plans to seek another vote in January. He believes the measure could pass then.Critics of Senate Bill 1397 have said that passage of the legislation would send the wrong message to young people about drug use. Both marijuana and industrial hemp contain the psychoactive ingredient known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), although the amount in hemp is much lower than in marijuana. Opponents of the bill say THC in any amount poses a health risk, especially to fetuses in the womb, nursing infants and adolescents."We never said the people who were involved in (supporting) this were druggies," said opponent Joyce Lohrentz, president of the Illinois Drug Education Alliance. "We do not question the integrity of any of these people. We just believe they haven't educated themselves as well as they should."Supporters of the bill say it is merely meant to help the state's ailing agriculture industry, and it wouldn't legalize hemp or marijuana."This is not about drugs. This is about agriculture," said Lawfer, a dairy farmer who was asked by farmers in his district to push the legislation.The bill would allow the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University to study how feasible it would be to grow hemp in this state. The idea is to look into the possibility of making hemp an alternative cash crop that would provide more revenues for farmers.In the early 20th century, industrial hemp was grown legally in Illinois. People in Canada and other parts of the world raise it now. The crop can be used to produce various products, such as hand cream, paper and salad oil.Passage in the House would have sent the bill to Gov. George Ryan for consideration. The Senate voted 49-9 for the measure earlier this year.Because the bill carried an immediate effective date and because it was being considered after May 31, it needed 71 yes votes for House passage Tuesday. Most bills are considered earlier in the year, when a simple majority - or 60 in the House - is needed.Lawfer's bill attracted 69 yes votes, two fewer than necessary. After the bill's failure, Lawfer used a parliamentary maneuver to keep the legislation alive and allow a revote later.Lawfer said he plans to try again when the lame-duck legislature returns to Springfield in January, just before a new General Assembly gets sworn in and starts the spring session.Adriana Colindres can be reached at 782-6292 or adriana.colindres sj-r.comThe bill is SB1397. More information is available at: http://www.legis.state.il.us/Source: State Journal-Register (IL)Author: Adriana Colindres, State Capitol BureauPublished: November 29, 2000Copyright: 2000 The State Journal-RegisterAddress: P.O. Box 219, Springfield, IL 62705-0219Fax: (217) 788-1551Contact: letters sj-r.comWebsite: http://www.sj-r.com/Related Articles:Study of Hemp as Cash Crop Rejected by Househttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7808.shtmlBowles Defends Stance on Hemp Studyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7804.shtmlPlan To Study Hemp In Illinois Ignites Controversyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7672.shtmlU. Illinois May Grow Hemp Plants http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7055.shtmlCannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by defenderoffreeworld on November 30, 2000 at 18:12:34 PT: whydo we need approval for a study?? that doesn't make any sense. for crying out loud, what the hell is going on? wrong message to the kids? i really can't believe that a crop that could bring so many benefits to our community is being denied because of a wrong message to the kids. i mean, isn't it a wrong message to the kids to go to a country in which you have absoulutely no business and kill their civilians, destroy their property, and disrespect them in every way possible? isn't it a contradiction that at 18 years old you can go and fight a war in a land that isn't your own and perhaps lose your life, but you can't go and have a beer with your friend? it doesn't make any sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by r.earing on November 30, 2000 at 08:13:49 PT: grow up! 21st century and wadda we get? Wrong message to children!Grow up and quit electing these dullard wimps. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by michael on November 30, 2000 at 08:11:29 PT: Sick of it!!!!!!!! I am so sick of the " send the wrong message to the kids" thing!!!!!!!!! As a country, we have sent many and are still sending many wrong messages to " the kids". Lying,corrupt and evil backroom doings are not just the rumors of the fifties. We are here in a sea of dissinformation being distributed as truth. The difference is, we now know not to believe anything our government says. Saddly,the cryng wolve has eliminated all of our governments credibilty. I love my country, but, "for the kids", I have to live and die by the truth. As we see, so do our children. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Thomas on November 29, 2000 at 16:34:29 PT Pure Hypocricy "Critics of Senate Bill 1397 have said that passage of the legislation would send the wrong message to young people about drug use."--Yes, the message they would be sending is that the government has been lying to us since the days of Harry Anslinger."We do not question the integrity of any of these people. We just believe they haven't educated themselves as well as they should."--Now, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black."Opponents of the bill say THC in any amount poses a health risk, especially to fetuses in the womb, nursing infants and adolescents."--Apparantly the same concern does not apply to poppy seeds. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: