cannabisnews.com: Ventura Sends Letter To President Clinton On Hemp





Ventura Sends Letter To President Clinton On Hemp
Posted by FoM on October 01, 1999 at 08:16:31 PT
By Ashley H. Grant
Source: Star Tribune
Gov. Jesse Ventura is taking his push to allow farmers to grow hemp all the way to President Clinton. Ventura sent a letter to Clinton late Thursday, outlining his plan to implement pro-hemp state legislation enacted last spring. 
" Given the success we have seen in Canada and the continuing economic challenges Minnesota farmers face, I am anxious to move forward, " Ventura wrote. He also announced plans for a state-sponsored informational seminar to teach farmers how to apply for state and federal permits to grow hemp. State Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson and Trade and Economic Development Commissioner Jerry Carlson will co-host the Nov. 19 event. Hemp is a close relative of marijuana, but is not strong enough to be used as a recreational drug. Ventura also contacted federal drug authorities Thursday to ask for their cooperation. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has strongly opposed legalizing hemp production. Food- and fiber-producing hemp and smokable marijuana are nearly indistinguishable varieties of the same Cannabis plant, differing only in their content of the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Ventura' s letter proposes that farmers apply for permits through the state Board of Pharmacy and the DEA. Rules for cultivation would be set by the DEA. Tim McCormick, head of the DEA' s Minneapolis office, said the policy had not changed, but that the agency was " seriously looking at it right now." Pro-hemp laws were enacted this year in Minnesota, Hawaii and North Dakota. Hemp seeds produce an oil that can be used to make tofu, butter, cheese, salad oils and other foods. Hemp fiber can be used to make clothing, ropes, paper, particleboard products and more. McCormick said the DEA probably would require farmers to post bonds of up to $1, 000 an acre to pay for government seizure and burning of hemp that crosses a THC threshold of about 0.3 percent. Published: October 1, 1999Copyright 1999 Associated PressGovernor Jesse Ventura's Web Sitehttp://www.mainserver.state.mn.us/governor/State Awaits DEA Nod For Hemp Plan - 10/01/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3092.shtmlState Moving Toward Uncertain Future of Hemp - 9/29/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3075.shtmlDEA Drug Hawks Swoop Down on Birdseed - 9/30/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3089.shtmlGrowing Pains - E/The Environmental Magazine http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3055.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by bob on October 02, 1999 at 12:36:22 PT:
pro hemp
HI GOV.IM A PRO HEMP SUPORTER I AGREE WITH YOU ON YOUR HEMP FARMING IDEAS.THIS COULD REALY HELP SAVE OUR PLANET.IM LOOKING FOR A SMALL HOBBIE FARM AND I WOULD LIKE TO HELP SAVE THE PLANET BY GROWING HEMP SOME DAY.I THINK WE ALL NEED TO PUSH HARDER FOR THE LEGALIZING OF HEMP FOR FARMERS.THIS COULD GET A LOT OF FARMERS OUT OF DEBT SOONER THAN JUST SELLING CORN OR BEENS.GO GO GOWERE BEHIND YOU ALL THE WAY!!!!STAY COOL AND DONT EVER SELL OUT.PEACE.
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on October 02, 1999 at 07:55:54 PT
Finally, a truth-telling politician
Keep the faith, America; there are at least a few honest, rational and forward thinking souls like Jesse in public office. How refreshing to see a politician whose brains don't reside in his buttocks.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 01, 1999 at 16:50:17 PT:
Governor Ventura's Letter To President Clinton
STATE OF MINNESOTA OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA 130 Capitol, 75 Constitution Avenue Saint Paul, Minneapolis Contact: John Wodele(651) 296-0001September 30, 1999 The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Clinton: It is no secret that farmers in Minnesota and around the country are looking for creative answers to the farm crisis. Prices for corn, soybeans and other commodities continue to wallow far below break-even levels, and for an alarming number of producers, the financial crunch is devastating. Minnesota farmers pride themselves on their self-sufficiency, and as days go by, more and more of them are looking for new ways to attack the price problem. For many, the idea of growing alternative crops is attractive. The 1999 Minnesota Legislature passed a law directing the Governor, in consultation with the Commissioners of Agriculture and Economic Development, to prepare an application to the federal government to authorize growing experimental and demonstration plots of industrial hemp. After researching the federal permitting process, we learned that individual producers must apply on their own, and that a state cannot apply for a general permit. In the next few weeks, my administration will hold a public meeting to talk with interested farmer about the state and federal permitting process required to grow industrial hemp. We are also exploring opportunities to streamline the permitting process. The hope is that experimental plots will one day lead to an exciting economic opportunity for Minnesota farmers to produce this potential alternative crop that once thrived around the world. Industrial hemp is a hardy crop that was once grown around the world for a wide variety of uses. In America, it was grown during World War II for fiber. Today, industrial hemp products are being sold across the nation, yet few states have actually passed legislation allowing the crop to be raised. Industrial hemp has a number of uses, ranging from construction materials and cosmetics to papers and textiles. According to a study completed by North Dakota State University’s Institute for Natural Resources and Economic Development, retailer sold $75 million in hemp products in 1997. This figure is estimated to grow to $250 million by next year. Clearly, additional research and development needs to be done with regard to marketing and processing opportunities, but I believe that industrial hemp can become a lucrative alternative for Minnesota farmers. Our neighbors in Canada are ahead of us in the effort to establish industrial hemp as an alternative crop for farmers. They have already given their producers the opportunity to grow industrial hemp, and I understand their process is working well. Given the success we have seen in Canada and the continuing economic challenges Minnesota farmers face, I am anxious to move forward on the opportunity to grow experimental and demonstration plots of industrial hemp. I look forward to the day when our producers can grow this crop as a profitable alternative to corn, soybeans and wheat. I anticipate that a crop of industrial hemp from Minnesota could be used to fulfill many of the 25,000 documented uses for this crop. I realize the production of industrial hemp raises concerns in the area of public safety. I have asked the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to work with the DEA to address those concerns directly. However, as we address those concerns we must be careful not to over-regulate or make industrial hemp production prohibitively cost for farmers – otherwise all our efforts could be wasted. I look forward to working with DEA and the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, which regulates the use of controlled substances, to ensure that our producers can grow experimental plots safely and without unnecessarily burdensome regulations. Our producers are looking for economic alternatives, and government should not stand in their way. I hope that by working together in a fair and rational manner, we can create a viable opportunity for industrial hemp production in Minnesota.Sincerely, Jesse VenturaGovernor cc: U.S. Department of AgricultureSecretary Dan Glickman Drug Enforcement Agency Acting AdministratorDonnie Marshal 
Governor Jesse Ventura's Web Site
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