cannabisnews.com: State Assembly Approves Hemp Farming Bill





State Assembly Approves Hemp Farming Bill
Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2007 at 15:40:44 PT
By Samantha Young, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press
Sacramento, CA -- The state Assembly on Thursday approved legislation that would allow farmers to grow hemp, narrowly overcoming objections that it violates federal drug laws and could put growers behind bars. The bill by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp, a biological relative of marijuana used to make clothing, paper, soap, cosmetics and food.
"This is an agricultural product that will provide jobs to our communities," said Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia, who voted to support the bill, against the majority of his party. "This is an agricultural product we currently use." U.S. manufacturers currently import processed hemp to use in their products because it is illegal to grow in the United States. Lawmakers voted 41-29 to pass the legislation. If senators approve it, the bill would need Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature. Bill Maile, a spokesman for the governor, said he had not yet taken a position on the measure, although Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year. In his 2006 veto message, Schwarzenegger said legalizing hemp farming in California would give farmers a "false sense of security" because the practice is against federal law. Under current national drug control policy, industrial hemp can be imported, but it can't be grown in the United States except with permits from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which are difficult to get. Some object to growing hemp because the plant contains tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the same drug that gives marijuana its intoxicating effect. The California bill would require that hemp crops contain less than three-tenths of 1 percent of THC, significantly lower than the amount commonly found in marijuana. Critics said legalizing hemp farming would send the wrong message to anti-drug efforts and complicate law enforcement efforts because marijuana plants could be hidden in hemp fields. "At the end of the day, the cultivation of this crop in California will still be a federal crime," said Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton. "I don't want to put a farmer in my district, or your district, in jeopardy." Supporters said the state has legal standing to enact its own law after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2004 ruled that the DEA did not have authority to regulate hemp. The bill positions California among at least 10 other states seeking to legalize hemp farming in what supporters say has become a $300 million-a-year import business, mostly from Canada and Europe. On the Net: Read AB 684 at: http://www.assembly.ca.govSource: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Samantha Young, Associated Press WriterPublished:  May 10, 2007Copyright: 2007 Associated Press CannabisNews -- Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by afterburner on May 28, 2007 at 18:41:06 PT
One More Voice of Reason
CN ON: PUB LTE: There Are Ways for US to Cut High Fuel Prices, Windsor Star, (24 May 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n653/a11.html?176
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Comment #5 posted by mayan on May 11, 2007 at 03:59:40 PT
New "Hamp"shire
They should change the name of their state immediately.How about Anti-Hampshire?
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 10, 2007 at 21:48:32 PT
New Hampshire: Senate Kills Hemp Sales 
 Friday, May 11, 2007CONCORD, NH -- The state Senate killed a move to legalize the sale of industrial hemp in the state that could be used for consumer products ranging from clothing to shampoo.Rep. Derek Owen, D-Hopkinton, said the state could reignite farming in the state if it allowed harvesting of this element from the plant that produces marijuana.But the state’s law enforcement community turned out in opposition to the bill and their lobbying intensified after it won the narrow approval of the House of Representatives in March.Without debate, the Senate killed it on a voice vote. http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070511/NEWS01/205110307/-1/XML07
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Comment #3 posted by HempWorld on May 10, 2007 at 21:32:48 PT
Oh Yeah?
Here we go again with the "marijuana plants could be hidden in hemp fields" ... Duh! Did you know that you can hide marijuana plants in a basement or rent a house somehwere!... Much cheaper! and easy to keep track of... Duh!Actually, there has NEVER been any case of 'hidin' marij ju ana plants in them hemp fields' so this is just another lie!Dear Mr. Schwarzenegger,Can you please do this valiant deed and NOT veto this! In doing so you will save our collective asses from global warming AND the California economy (and your tax revenue...) Have you seen what your home country Austria has been doing with hemp lately! Austria has been doing amazing things with hemp and is in the forefront of hemp research world-wide. Why not give CA a chance to catch up to your home country? This will save lots of lives.If you do veto this bill (again) then we can all clearly see that you are kissing up to Law enforcement and the Prison Guard Union of California and then shame on you as Mr. G. Davis. Apparently then, you want to be president of this country, God beware.Sincerely,HempWorld
Give California a chance!
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Comment #2 posted by tintala on May 10, 2007 at 21:32:41 PT:
I THOUGHT Schwarzenegger supported HEMP!?!?!
I thought I read he supported marijuana and hemp JUST RECENTLY!?!?!? Anyone else hear this?
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Comment #1 posted by mayan on May 10, 2007 at 18:14:31 PT
Swarzenegger
Don't count on any help from that fascist a**hole. It will be murderers like him who support and cover-up the next 9/11. It's time for a uniter...Only Ron Paul Can Defeat Hillary Clinton:
http://infowars.com/articles/us/vote_08_only_ron_paul_can_defeat_hillary.htmRon Paul and the MSNBC Debate: 
http://www.lewrockwell.com/hornberger/hornberger126.htmlRon Paul Leads The Pack: 
http://stopthelie.com/ron_paul_leads_the_pack.htmlTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...HOMELAND INSECURITY:
http://mujca.com/homelandinsecurity.htmHannity and Colmes Get Angry Over WTC 7, Attack Tarpley: 
http://tinyurl.com/34bbn89/11 Truthers Should Thank Fox News:
http://infowars.net/articles/may2007/100507Thank_Fox.htmHow to Give a Successful 9/11 Interview:
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/may2007/100507interview.htmItalian TV: "Seven is Exploding":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58h0LjdMry0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2E911blogger%2Ecom%2Fnode%2F82679/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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