cannabisnews.com: DEA Bans Some Hemp Products Beginning Feb. 6





DEA Bans Some Hemp Products Beginning Feb. 6
Posted by FoM on December 11, 2001 at 07:10:52 PT
By Sheryl Kornman and Dave Petruska, Citizen Staff
Source: Tucson Citizen 
Hemp, a variety of the marijuana plant with only tiny amounts of the ingredient that gives pot its kick, has been used for making everything from paper to clothing to snack foods.But new federal regulations soon will limit the type of hemp food products that can be sold legally. And that's causing stores that sell hemp food products to check out the fine print on the back of the packages.
Food products that contain any amount of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, will be banned Feb. 6 under new rules from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.Scott McMullen, community relations manager of the Food Conspiracy Co-Op, 412 N. Fourth Ave., said he checked all the hemp products his store sells after the DEA announced the change in October."Our food products don't have THC listed as an ingredient," he said. "Most hemp companies that sell food products don't want to put people at risk."Hemp advocates say the new rule is part of an effort to eliminate the multimillion dollar hemp industry. Hemp food products alone accounted for an estimated $25 million in U.S. sales last year.Tucsonan Mary McKenzie of the state chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws said the DEA just doesn't want hemp around."They want it out of the way so that they can get marijuana out of the way ... we're going to fight it," she said.Tomorrow marks the end of a 60-day public comment period for reaction to rule changes by the DEA clarifying the legal status of hemp.The changes, posted in the Federal Register Oct. 9, expand the definition of hemp and cite which additional types of hemp products are now subject to control under federal law.According to the DEA's expanded rules, whether a hemp product is legal or not depends on whether the product causes THC to enter the human body.If it does, it is an illegal substance that may not be manufactured, sold or consumed in the United States.Hemp backers say the type of THC and the amount of the chemical in these products doesn't cause a "high" and the rule should not have been changed.DEA officials counter that they are trying to "strike a fair balance" between protecting the health and safety of Americans and "accommodating legitimate industry.""I think there is a lot of misinformation out there, that we are trying to ban all hemp products. That is not the case. I think a lot of people have overreacted to this," said DEA spokesman Will Glaspy.Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, said the hemp industry has created its own standard for detecting THC in hemp products that already meets the federal government's requirements."So it's absurd for the federal government to step in and say these are products that can be potentially abused or that would make people test positive on a drug test," he said.DEA officials offer these guidelines to consumers of hemp products:* If you're uncertain whether a hemp food or beverage is illegal, check the ingredients list. If it contains THC, it is illegal.* Hemp products that may contain THC can be disposed of freely, DEA officials say, without penalty under federal law, until Feb. 6, 2001.More information about hemp regulation is available online at: http://www.dea.org -- http://www.votehemp.com -- http://www.norml.orgWHAT'S LEGAL, ILLEGALThe following hemp products are illegal if they contain THC:BeerCheeseCoffeeCorn chipsEnergy drinkFlourIce creamSnack barsSalad oilSodaVeggie burgersThe following products do not cause THC to enter the human body and are legal:Birdseed mixture containing sterilized cannabis seedsClothing, including hats, shirts and shoesCosmeticsLotionsPaperRope, twine, yarnShampooSoapSource: Tucson Citizen (AZ)Author: Sheryl Kornman and Dave Petruska, Citizen Staff WritersPublished: December 8, 2001Copyright: 2001 Tucson CitizenContact: letters tucsoncitizen.comWebsite: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/Related Articles & Web Site:FTE's Hemp Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hls.htmCannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtmlHemp Industry Asks Newspapers Look at Facts http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11533.shtmlDEA Rule Threatens To Shut Down Hemp Industryhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11476.shtml 
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 11, 2001 at 17:51:54 PT
All this is about is drug testing in my opinion
This isn't about Hemp. I just think it is because it is causing problems in the drug testing industry and they don't like it. I guess that is over simplified but that is how I feel. Just another rant. Don't mind me.
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Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on December 11, 2001 at 17:46:36 PT
DEA flew over the kukoo's nest
Protecting the health and safety of Americans.The health and safety of Tom Crosslin, Roland Rohm, Peter McWilliams, et al was the first consideration of the DEA.Have no fear, for they are there for your health and safety. You will be in 'good hands' when they knock on your door. Why worry at all? Pleasant dreams.
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