cannabisnews.com: Legislative Movement To Legalize Hemp Begins Anew Legislative Movement To Legalize Hemp Begins Anew Posted by CN Staff on January 10, 2006 at 07:20:05 PT By Tom Ragan, Sentinel Staff Writer Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel Watsonville, CA -- A San Francisco assemblyman is expected to take up the controversial issue of legalizing hemp for commercial growing when he presents the bill before the Assembly's Public Safety Committee today in Sacramento.Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, is scheduled to bring the bill forward this afternoon, arguing that California farmers are losing out to 30 other countries, including Canada, where hemp can be grown. Many Pajaro Valley farmers are backing the bill, AB 1147, which was introduced last year in November and could well make it to the Assembly floor in a matter of weeks. Although there is money to be had in hemp, farmers here say, a good reason behind legalizing it wouldn't just be for commercial reasons. Its 16-foot stalks are perfect for cover crops, which help to enrich the soil and prepare the land for primary crops, such as strawberries."We need to have the ability to at least experiment on our land," said Vanessa Bogenholm, a local strawberry grower who's been traveling to Sacramento to lobby for the bill. "I have one field this year where hemp could have been perfect as a cover crop, but the government isn't letting me grow it."That sort of sentiment isn't just felt in California. The frustration is also playing out in several other states trying to legalize hemp, including Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee and even traditionally conservative states like Mississippi.North Dakota became the first state to legalize hemp cultivation for licensed growers in 1999. Backers of the Assembly bill say there is a big misunderstanding in the world of hemp. People tend to associate the weed with its illegal cousin, marijuana, even though "it's nothing of the sort," according to Bart Broome, a legislative aide to Leno."There are major differences between hemp and marijuana, and the biggest difference is that hemp contains minuscule amounts of THC and marijuana contains a lot," he said, referring to tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient that creates a sense of euphoria when smoked. Leno's contention, said Broome, is that U.S. farmers should at least be able to compete against Canada, which is the primary supplier of hemp to the United States. Myriad of businesses extract its seeds and oils and make body care products from it, including lip balms, shampoos and soaps.The seeds, for example, can also be found in plenty of energy and nutrition bars around town, Bogenholm said."Even the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp," she said.To date, the only politician who has outright opposed the bill is Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, a Democrat that represents the 30th District in Bakersfield.Last year, Parra said through her press officers that she thought more important issues needed to be addressed in the state Legislature, and legalizing hemp wasn't one of them.Some of the other backers of legalizing hemp include Institute for Cultural Ecology, Organic Agricultural Advisors, California's Sierra Club, Whole Balance and Sensuous Beauty, Inc."The bottom line," said Broome, "is that hemp is not new to California and it's time to bring it back."Broome said that the plant was grown during the 1900s through the 1930s, but it was mistakenly categorized by the U.S. government as similar to marijuana in 1937, when it was ruled illegal.But up until that point, the plant was grown in Gridley, Butte County, lower Sacramento Valley, Rio Vista in Solano County and in Lerdo near Bakersfield.Complete Title: Legislative Movement To Legalize Hemp Begins Anew Today Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)Author: Tom Ragan, Sentinel Staff WriterPublished: January 10, 2006 Copyright: 2006 Santa Cruz SentinelContact: editorial santa-cruz.comWebsite: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Hemp Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hls.htmBill Would Allow Hemp Farming in Californiahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20461.shtmlAssembly Mulls Industrial Hemp Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20334.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by j christen-mitchell on January 15, 2006 at 15:44:52 PT Save The Planet Reduce Reuse Recycle Relegalize Hemptopia [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ekim on January 11, 2006 at 10:19:58 PT California farmers are losing out to 30 countries http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread11260.shtmlPosted by FoM on November 05, 2001 at 09:01:46 PT Business News Source: People's Daily As world fashion increasingly moves toward simplicity, comfort and health protection, experts point out that hemp, a major economic crop in China, could have great market prospects after the nation's entry into the World Trade Organization. Xia Jingyuan, a senior official with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture in charge of the extension of agricultural technology, said that the annual output of Chinese linen is worth over 10 billion yuan (about 1.2 billion US dollars). According to Xia, the ongoing upgrading of China's agricultural industry has given Chinese hemp a great opportunity. Environmentally friendly, high value-added and versatile, Chinese hemp products could be a major money-maker in market both here and abroad, said Xia. For example, ramie, once used as forage, could provide a new type of vegetable protein for livestock and boost stockbreeding of southern China. Red hemp used in paper making could prevent the felling of forests while clothing made from hemp is particularly comfortable to wear and poses no health hazard. Being one of the earliest fabrics used in China, hemp's heyday can date back 4,000 years when only nobles and royal families could afford to wear finely spun linen while coarse linen were favored by commoners. The production technology of linen has undergone constant improvement. In 1984, the country made a breakthrough in the degumming technology, bringing worldwide attention to linen products. Analysts say that to establish a modern linen manufacturing and processing system with Chinese characteristics, China should double its efforts in scientific research and international cooperation, because each breakthrough in relevant technology will greatly boost the sector's upgrading.Source: People's Daily (China) Published: Sunday, November 04, 2001 Copyright: People's Daily Online Website: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/home.html FB: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/other/feedback.html http://www.jackherer.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Max Flowers on January 11, 2006 at 08:48:07 PT Dankdude Not as much a disaster as you think. Canada has both hemp and medical cannabis, and their (outdoor) medical cannabis industry hasn't been ruined. I think you just can't have them within a mile or three of each other. And indoor crops can be protected as long as you have HEPA type filtration on the air intake. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dankdude on January 10, 2006 at 16:45:19 PT I see a problem If Industrial hemp is allowed to be produced in the United States, it could totally ruin the Medical Marijuana crops with in 3 generations. Now this would be a boon for the DEA, but would be a disaster for Medical Marijuana producers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on January 10, 2006 at 14:35:16 PT jared3602 I don't know but if you find something please post it. I thought we imported Hemp from China too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by jared3602 on January 10, 2006 at 13:17:32 PT NAFTA If memory servers me correct it is written into NAFTA that Canada is the only one to supply hemp. I will have to recheck into that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by potpal on January 10, 2006 at 09:54:31 PT Let 'em grow again... 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