cannabisnews.com: House Backs Plan To Spur Vt. Hemp Industry





House Backs Plan To Spur Vt. Hemp Industry
Posted by CN Staff on February 08, 2008 at 06:17:54 PT
By Dave Gram, Associated Press 
Source: Times Argus
Montpelier, VT -- The House on Thursday overwhelmingly gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow hemp to be grown in Vermont if the federal government permits it.Hemp is a product of the same plant as cannabis or marijuana, and the House Agriculture Committee member who described the hemp bill to his colleagues and urged its passage later called it unfortunate that the hemp and marijuana measures advanced on the same day.
"It's important for people to realize that industrial hemp is not marijuana," said Rep. Will Stevens, I-Shoreham.Backers of the hemp measure said the seeds of the cannabis plant can be used in a variety of food products and in the manufacture of high-quality oil. The inside of the plant's stalks historically was an important source of fiber for rope and clothing. The plant would grow well in Vermont and be an important new source of income for Vermont farmers, they maintain.But while the seeds and stalks can be made into hemp, the leaves and buds of the cannabis plant are marijuana, according to a Web site maintained by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.The DEA site says "many Americans do not know that hemp and marijuana are both parts of the same plant and that hemp cannot be produced without producing marijuana."The Vermont House bill would require the state to issue licenses to hemp farmers, who would be subject to criminal background checks and could not get into the business if they had a felony on their record.The farmer would be required to ensure that "all parts of the industrial hemp plant that do not enter the stream of commerce as hemp products, such as flowers and leaves, are destroyed or recycled at the place of production," under the bill.Under questioning from Rep. Norman McAllister, R-Franklin, Stevens said North Dakota was the only other state to have passed a law to allow hemp to be grown within its borders. He said federal law allows the DEA to issue special permits for hemp production, but that the agency has declined to do so to date.Hemp supporters hope that a new administration in Washington next year will take a more liberal stance. Stevens argued that the law would make Vermont poised to have its farmers take advantage if the DEA begins issuing permits."States that are in the lead on this will be in the best shape if the DEA ever issues permits," he said in an interview.Gov. Jim Douglas said at his weekly news conference Thursday that he was cool to the hemp bill. "I don't know that it has much significance," he said. "I don't know what purpose it serves."Complete Title: House Overwhelmingly Backs Plan To Spur Vt. Hemp Industry Source: Times Argus (Barre, VT)Author: Dave Gram, Associated Press Published: February 8, 2008 Copyright: 2008 Times ArgusContact: letters timesargus.comWebsite: http://www.timesargus.com/ Related Article:Vt. House OKs Hemp Farming Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23650.shtmlCannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml 
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on February 09, 2008 at 09:45:58 PT
The Situation Prohibitionists Have Created.
They've lied and carried on and created a very, very foolish hysteria. That created hysteria has left us all in a situation that no matter how true and how important what we are saying is, they blow us off by saying ... "You just want to smoke pot!"It's hard to not despise them for this. If I wrote my congressman about my fears for the birds and mentioned hemp... you know what his response would be.Prohibitionists definitely have some sort of State and self induced dementia in this matter. And they think they're soooo smart. Funny how when people are like that... that it's usually the first sign that they're not.Hemp fields and hemp seed might not help the birds... but true facts, and not baseless prejudices and fears, say that it might. The prohibitionists are very, very stubborn, as well, in their dementia. 
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Comment #7 posted by Had Enough on February 09, 2008 at 04:52:10 PT
Quit ‘saying’ and start ‘doing’!!!
VoteHemp -- A Critical Progressive Issue(By Richard Greene and producer Julian Suchman)on October 12, 2007 - 2:38pmAs insane as this administration is, nothing is more insane (except perhaps Ann Coulter, actually) than the prohibition on industrial hemp. (With the help of Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Mike Gravel and others, we will fight for decriminalization of marijuana later).It's real simple:1. Hemp is a gift from God.2. It is the perfect agricultural produce3. It is the most sustainable crop ever4. It is a profitable crop for farmers,5. It produces seeds which are the most nutritious food product ever (Highest amount of protein with all essential amino acids, Highest amount of essential fatty acids - Omega 3, 6 and 9, the perfect balance of Omegas for the human body with no danger of mercury or other toxins like fish oil, one of the best sources of dietary fiber for heart health, etc., etc.)6. It is the best source of bio or sunfuel. Volkswagen told me this. They grow it!!!!!7. Canada and countries around the world happily grow it.8. It has nothing to do with marijuana or medical marijuana.9. Ron Paul has introduced federal legislation to legalize it.10. North Dakota has made it legal and is currently battling the federal government for the right to do so within its own borders.11. Arnold Schwarzenegger, despite his obvious appreciation for the uses of a completely different variety of this weed vetoed, for the 2nd year in a row, a bill passed in the California legislature with bi-partisan support.more…http://www.airamerica.com/node/5499Enough 'IS' enough, just do it!!! (No question about what the definition of the word "IS" is... I hope)
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Comment #6 posted by Had Enough on February 09, 2008 at 04:01:51 PT
Lots of things being said…
“Jim Douglas 'said' at his weekly news conference Thursday that he was cool to the hemp bill. "I don't know that it has much significance," he said. "I don't know what purpose it serves."”And before that...“It's important for people to realize that industrial hemp is not marijuana," 'said' Rep. Will Stevens, I-Shoreham.”Well I think they should get together and share their knowledge, then go here and remove this…“The DEA site 'says' "many Americans do not know that hemp and marijuana are both parts of the same plant and that hemp cannot be produced without producing marijuana."”
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Comment #5 posted by ekim on February 08, 2008 at 13:57:59 PT
well said Hope
when will the spotlight fully shine on the fact that thur lies and dirty deeds this great plant has been hunted down and killed with no mercy --all in full view of so called treehuggers
http://www.hempology.org
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on February 08, 2008 at 13:04:38 PT
Hemp, Hemp Seed and Birds
In the last year or so, I've become very, very concerned about birds. Songbirds in particular.I've lived here in this house for about forty years. We've always had many, many birds. It's been wonderful. Especially, there have been many Mockingbirds and Bluebirds. I used to think that if this place had a name, it would be Mockingbird Hill. Mockingbirds were everywhere. Bluebirds nested in the pipe fence around the corral every year. They're gone. Completely gone. I noticed the Bluebirds missing first. Now, the Mockingbirds, which have been here in abundance, we even had the special extra joy of a tame one. The Mockingbirds would sometimes whistle "Sweet Caroline", Neil Diamond's song, that my husband whistled when he was mowing or out in the shop. The first time I heard it, I thought he was home, when he shouldn't be. It sounded EXACTLY like him whistling that exact tune. I went searching for him and heard it again, in the trees. Once, a Mockingbird joined me in the hot tub after he flew reconnaissance over me a couple of times. It was so sweet.I used to wake to the sound of Mockingbirds singing. Now it's only crows, which moved in this year. We've never had crows, except out in the meadows, other than passing through. Now that's all we have.We don't have a cat. Having a cat never slowed them down in the past. We don't use poisons.I'm very worried about the birds. I think fields of hemp and hemp seeds might give them back the health that birds found in their seed and that our skanky government and idiotically hate filled prohibitionists took away. It really worries me and makes me so sad. Hemp could maybe help them, too.
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Comment #3 posted by dongenero on February 08, 2008 at 12:40:30 PT
Just plead ignorance Gov. Douglas
You're very believable at it.Let the people show you the way. sheesh! 
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on February 08, 2008 at 12:15:13 PT
Gov. Jim Douglas Admits He's Uninformed
{
Gov. Jim Douglas said at his weekly news conference Thursday that he was cool to the hemp bill. "I don't know that it has much significance," he said. "I don't know what purpose it serves."
}Do Some Research, B-u-u-ddy!
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on February 08, 2008 at 11:55:35 PT
While State after State is approving Hemp to 
save the family farm and planet earth as a whole (meaning us, we the people) we find ourselves pleading and wishing the DEA would 'grant us a license.' As if praying to the devil or a heroin dealer, so he would lessen our suffering, just a little please!This is where we are with this issue in America today! Quite pathetic isn't it? This is plutocracy and fascism at its best!
On a mission from God!
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