cannabisnews.com: Effort Arises To Legalize Industrial Hemp Effort Arises To Legalize Industrial Hemp Posted by CN Staff on January 18, 2006 at 06:45:43 PT Editorial Source: Appeal-Democrat California -- The California Assembly is poised to do something sensible - removing restrictions on an important activity, thereby opening opportunities rather than imposing new regulations or taxes - for once. It would do well to get on with legalizing and regulating industrial hemp.A fascinating alliance across party lines has emerged behind AB1147, introduced by San Francisco Democrat Mark Leno. Irvine Republican Chuck DeVore, a military veteran and solid conservative, has joined as a principal co-author. Hemp, of course, is the cannabis plant, also known as marijuana. Although California voters authorized the medical use of marijuana, recreational use - inhaling smoke or vapors from the buds and flowers, which contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - is forbidden. What has been lost by prohibiting recreational use is the fact that other parts of the plant, which do not contain THC, have important uses.The fiber from the plant's stalk is the strongest natural fiber known and has been (and still is) used to make paper, fabric, rope and other products. (The word “canvas” is derived from “cannabis,” and most sails during the era of the sailing ship were made from hempen fabric.) The stalk also is heavy in cellulose, which can be used in some plastics, building materials and other products. The seeds are edible and have an excellent balance of essential fatty acids. The oil is used in body-care products like lotions, soaps and shampoos.All these products are legally produced in the United States, constituting a $270 million market this year. While other states, notably North Dakota, have legalized industrial hemp, most of the hemp used in these products is imported, mostly from Canada. Why should California's farmers not be able to benefit from that market?Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in Escondido, the No. 1 producer of natural soaps in the world, has spent $800,000 in the past five years importing hemp oil from Canada, although Canadian supplies are subject to interruptions due to weather. Nutiva, an organic food company headquartered in Sebastopol, believes it could save $100,000 a year in transportation costs if it could buy hemp seeds from California farmers, according to a paper prepared by Leno's staff after interviews with the companies.California's climate is better-suited than Canada's to agricultural production of hemp, and it makes a good rotation crop with soybeans, helping to replenish the soil.Because some 30 countries grow hemp for industrial/commercial purposes, varieties of the plant that are extremely low in THC have been developed. AB1147 allows planting only varieties with less than three-tenths of 1 percent THC in the dried flowering tops. The varieties used for smoking contain 5 percent to 15 percent THC.Hemp was a commercial crop in California in the early 1900s, and during World War II, the government encouraged farmers to grow hemp when supplies in the Philippines were cut off. Assemblyman Leno told us he has talked to numerous small farmers in the Central Valley who would like to grow hemp because their calculations show they could make more per acre than with crops they are currently growing.AB1147, which does not legalize recreational use and regulates industrial production, has passed the Public Safety Committee and will be considered in the Appropriations Committee this week. Passing it would simply be common sense.Complete Title: Bipartisan Effort Arises To Legalize Industrial HempSource: Appeal-Democrat (CA)Published: January 18, 2006 Copyright: 2006 Appeal-DemocratContact: jcalderon appealdemocrat.comWebsite: http://www.appeal-democrat.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Hemp Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hls.htmCommittee OKs Bill Letting Farmers Grow Hemphttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21474.shtmlLegislative Movement To Legalize Hemp Beginshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21468.shtmlBill Would Allow Hemp Farming in Californiahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20461.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by Hope on January 31, 2006 at 04:51:08 PT Good morning! Hoping for a great day! [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by divinetribe on January 31, 2006 at 04:20:51 PT: divinetribe in china NOT too many facts on paper but I did find out about seed 16.9% dutties to import and not to many people know about the benifits of eating hemp here. hmmm I looked all over the markets for it and nothing just pumpkin and sunflowwer seeds mainly , however there is this company in beijing that does produce it I want to check it out.no website for divinetribe but you can email me divinetribe1 yahoo.com if you have more ?s [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by ekim on January 20, 2006 at 13:07:01 PT divinetribe do you have a web site for store divinetribe have you any knowledge of Hemp paper being used on a large scale in China do you have any idea of how many hemp acres are being grown there at this time. Are any Hemp foods sold and used by locals. Thank you good luck.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread11260.shtmlChinese Hemp Industry has Boundless Potential Posted 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. http://www.hempology.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 20, 2006 at 06:45:08 PT divinetribe What a nice comment to wake up too. Thank you. Maybe someday it will become reality. At least if we have our way. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by divinetribe on January 20, 2006 at 05:09:19 PT Wish it were legal I am in china right now ordring hemp tshirts for my company and I would love to support AMericans instead, don't get me wrong china is cool and all. but I have given over 100k to the chinese. My dream is to feed the world with hemp seed, have hemp fuel in all cars, and hemp stainmaster carpets in everyones house instead of dupont's nasty cancer causing fibers. maybe we can start a crop from bakersfield to stockton and go public and end world hunger, stop using trees for paper, stop using so much cotton (1/3 of all pesticides in the USA go toward cotton farms)nasty. sincerely matt macosko divine tribe hemp clothing co. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by ekim on January 18, 2006 at 08:46:51 PT does anyone know of such a study One wonders if the cardboard sent to USA in the form of packaging from all over the world were tested to find what its made from, does anyone think that Hemp would be in some of the samples? http://www.thehia.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by j christen-mitchell on January 18, 2006 at 08:10:22 PT: The Most Important Issue in the world Save The Planet - Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - Relegalize Replace Petroleum. Natural Medication. End the Police State. Perfect nutrition - Good enough for the Buddaha -The true sacrament. HEMPTOPIA! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on January 18, 2006 at 07:30:33 PT potpal I just love the flashing one for my state! I don't think we have a medical law pending though. We just have decriminalization that was done back in the 70s. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by potpal on January 18, 2006 at 07:24:57 PT Sidelined CA hemp farmers all http://phone.people.yahoo.com/py/psPhoneSearch.py?srch=bas&D=1&FirstName=&LastName=Hemp&City=&State=CA&Search=Yahoo%21+Searchhttp://phone.people.yahoo.com/py/psPhoneSearch.py?srch=bas&D=1&FirstName=&LastName=Hemphill&City=&State=CA&Search=Yahoo%21+Searchhttp://phone.people.yahoo.com/py/psPhoneSearch.py?srch=bas&D=1&FirstName=&LastName=Hempstead&City=&State=CA&Search=Yahoo%21+SearchJust a little fun.btw, http://www.atbeach.com/burgerlink/greenstate.swf Have a look and if anyone knows of a state or states needing to be update, say leaning or passed legislation, give me a heads up and I'll add 'em. Hope there lots of adding to do... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 18, 2006 at 07:11:11 PT OverwhelmSam We have a little bit on good tillable land and I wish so much that before I feel I couldn't tackle the work that we could grow a little Hemp. Other then rich meadow grass this land hasn't grown anything since the late 70s and then it grew field corn. I would love this small amount of land to do something good for people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 18, 2006 at 07:07:03 PT The GCW I do have a complaint. You made me hungry! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on January 18, 2006 at 07:05:32 PT The GCW Good Morning! We love you too! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on January 18, 2006 at 07:01:43 PT FoM, and My family, GOOD MORNING, THCU Breakfast.*Fresh strawberry omelet (this came to My mind 2 days ago from the Spirit of Truth)*Toast with hummus*Banana smoothie-Prep banana smoothie: banana, Horizon Vanilla yogurt with cream on top, shelled hemp seeds, pineapple juice and 2 medium ice cubes. Set in freezer for a few minutes till ready to serve.-Make omelet with 3 eggs, fresh sliced strawberries, cream cheese, salt.-Toast 2 slices of French Meadow Bakery sprouted hemp bread, spread with hummus.Serve with Heartsfield programmed with, *Racin the Sun*The Wonder of it All*House of LivingI'd like to try others with fresh peaches and also with a fresh mango salsa in the future, but for now the fresh strawberries are available year round from South America.Joy & Enjoy.I love You all,The Green Collar Worker [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 18, 2006 at 06:56:30 PT Growing Hemp What make it just about impossible for law enforcement to continue the insane prohibition of recreational marijuana. I can't wiat until this initiative spreads nation wide. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment