cannabisnews.com: Senate Panel Approves Industrial Hemp Bill  





Senate Panel Approves Industrial Hemp Bill  
Posted by FoM on January 26, 2001 at 10:02:02 PT
By Todd Dorman 
Source: Des Moines Register 
Swayed by arguments that it would fire up Iowa's farm economy but not its drug trade, a Senate panel has approved a bill that could make it legal to grow hemp for industrial purposes. "We talk about value-added agriculture a lot, and I think hemp fits into that very well," said Sen. Mark Zieman, R-Postville. Zieman's father, former Sen. Lyle Zieman, championed industrial hemp and his son has picked up the cause. Passage makes the bill available for Senate debate. 
The bill's biggest obstacle is obvious: many equate industrial hemp, a benign ingredient in products ranging from car seats to rope, with illegal marijuana, the botanical brother of hemp. Anti-drug forces have long opposed industrial hemp, arguing that it is a gateway to marijuana legalization. That is why much of the bill approved Tuesday is devoted to safeguards. The state would issue annual permits to hemp growers. And anyone ever convicted of a felony, aggravated misdemeanor, any drug charge or of any crime involving "moral turpitude" would be ineligible for a permit. Also, growers who got a permit would be required to keep careful records and hemp plots could be inspected at any time by agriculture and law enforcement officials at the owners' expense. Violations of the law could lead to civil penalties up to $50,000 and criminal sanctions. Industrial hemp, Sen. Zieman said, contains less than 1 percent tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical that causes the "high" experienced by marijuana users. Marijuana contains 7-12 percent THC, he said, and smoking industrial hemp would simply make a person sick. Beyond the safeguards is a sales pitch. Zieman said hemp can be used to make more than 25,000 products. One acre of hemp, he added, can produce as much paper as two to four acres of trees. It can make plastic stronger, fabrics sturdier, can be used as a biomass fuel and requires fewer chemicals to grow and process, he said. But a few senators expressed strong concerns. They argued, for instance, that while police can spot an illegal marijuana patch in a cornfield, it would be tougher to find potent marijuana in a field of otherwise harmless, but virtually identical, hemp. "I'd rather be safe than sorry," said Sen. Sandy Greiner, R-Keota. Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson, R-Dows, said he is uncertain whether the measure will be debated by the full Senate. Des Moines, Iowa Source: Des Moines Register (IA) Author: Todd Dorman Published: January 25, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Des Moines Register. Address: P.O. Box 957, Des Moines IA 50304-0957 Fax: (515) 284-8560 Contact: letters news.dmreg.com Website: http://www.dmregister.com/ Feedback: http://desmoinesregister.com/help/letter.htmlRelated Article:Hemp Good for Iowa http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8463.shtmlCannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by mr. skullhead on January 28, 2001 at 07:13:09 PT:
moral turpitude?
What the hell is 'moral turpitide'? I suppose that probably includes non-missionary position sex outside of marriage. Despite the draconian provisions, I am heartened by the fact that some politicians are waking up to the economic uses of hemp. We're making sloooow moves foward, but any progress is good!
Ghost Rocket weblog
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Comment #2 posted by meagain on January 26, 2001 at 12:49:10 PT
safe than sorry
I'd rather be safe than sorry too so...Why is alcohol so legal but cannabis which is much safer is still prohibited ...Your comment better safe than sorry ain't holdin water Sen. Sandy Greiner, R-Keota.
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Comment #1 posted by shishaldin on January 26, 2001 at 12:42:09 PT:
Silly same-old same-old arguments... 
But a few senators expressed strong concerns. They argued, for instance, that while police can spot an illegal marijuana patch in a cornfield, it would be tougher to find potent marijuana in a field of otherwise harmless, but virtually identical, hemp. >>>Not only tougher, but *impossible* to find potent marijuana in that patch of hemp. With all the male hemp plants around, any grower trying to grow potent marijuana in a patch of hemp should be convicted of stupidity or ignorance, not cultivation of the "deadly weed". Do all the anti's/prohibs use the exact same *approved* responses from the ONDCP? They chant this same drivel again and again like a mantra. Brainless...."I'd rather be safe than sorry," said Sen. Sandy Greiner, R-Keota. >>>> No, Sandy, you'd rather be ignorant than find out what value this crop could be to the citizens of your state. Shame on you....peace to all,shishaldin
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