cannabisnews.com: Another Bill In Illinois Legislature Promotes Hemp Another Bill In Illinois Legislature Promotes Hemp Posted by FoM on March 08, 2001 at 09:12:28 PT By Mary Massingale, PD Springfield Bureau Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch - It's the plant that just won't die. Legislation to allow industrial hemp to be grown under controlled circumstances has sprouted again in the Illinois House, a little more than a week after Gov. George Ryan vetoed a similar bill. However, the new proposal cuts Southern Illinois University at Carbondale out of the project, which is spearheaded by the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. "The University of Illinois is ready to move faster than Southern," said Rep. Ron Lawfer, R-Stockton, sponsor of the bill. Sen. Evelyn Bowles, D-Edwardsville, sponsored the vetoed bill and is backing Lawfer's proposal. She said eliminating SIUC from the study was a matter of economics. "We have to have a secured area, and U of I has a secured area already, which will reduce the cost factor," Bowles said. The vetoed legislation would have provided $1 million in state money for both the University of Illinois and SIUC to study industrial hemp as an alternative crop for Illinois farmers. A spokesman for SIUC said the university still would like to take part if funding is available. "We were and remain interested in participating," said Scott Kaiser. "We're willing to do the work. We would need funding to do it whether from the state or a private source or a combination of both." Lawfer's bill calls for private funding of the study and would limit the levels of the hallucinogenic tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in the hemp that is grown. Both hemp and marijuana contain THC, although hemp has smaller amounts. Ryan cited both the study's cost and hemp's relationship to marijuana when vetoing Bowles' bill. "We drafted this bill based on the governor's veto message," Bowles said. Critics of industrial hemp view the crop as a possible inroad to the legalization of marijuana. Priss Parmenter, president of Illinois Drug Education Alliance and a substance abuse counselor in Olney, Ill., said she was not surprised at the new hemp proposal but remains bewildered at the crop's popularity. "Why would they choose a crop that has controversy around it and not even explore the alternative crops that are already being researched?" Parmenter asked, adding later, "What's behind this?" In his veto of Bowles' bill, Ryan said the study would "send a mixed message to the youth of our state" about drugs. "I don't understand that," Lawfer said. "There's a difference between industrial hemp and marijuana . . . and kids are smart enough to know the difference." The bill is HB3377 and awaits a House committee hearing. Complete Title: Another Bill In Illinois Legislature Would Promote Hemp Cultivation Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) Author: Mary Massingale, Post-Dispatch Springfield Bureau Published: March 8, 2001Copyright: 2001 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Address: 900 North Tucker Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63101 Contact: letters post-dispatch.com Website: http://www.postnet.com/ Forum: http://www.postnet.com/postnet/config.nsf/forums Related Articles:Ryan's Veto Nixes Chance To Research Hemp http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8817.shtmlRyan Rejects Hemp Study http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8789.shtmlCannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by ras james rsifwh on March 08, 2001 at 14:00:30 PT His Truth is Marching on! The One World Government is Now...the USA. A plant is fruiting (cannabis achenes) on both sides of the streets each month of the year in the cities of this one world government. Yes in small growrooms! This is a truth and a reality. Crystal clear waters are now flowing down the middle of our streets in the USA. Yes in bottled spring waters! And the leaves shall be medicine for the Nations.This is Good News people...Revelation 22: 1&2 is the sign of the Tree of Life...the establishment of the City of God here on Earth. The Sons prayer to the Father has been answered. "Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Cannabis Sativa is indeed God the Father's gift to mankind. Marijauana is sacred. This is what Bob Marley meant when he said, "It is not so important that people use cannabis. It is more important they accept cannabis." Yes! People! Accept Cannabis Sativa as the promised sign, the Tree of Life".A Rastafari Overstanding is the Wonderful Fruit of Judeo-Christian-Musleum Traditions...Do not doubt that the Father would not answer the Son's Prayer.The Rasta Overstanding is an Eternal Redemption for ALL. Redemption for the DEA, Clinton, Ras James, dishonest politicians, killers, sinners, as well as the saints. We All played our parts in this mystic dance of God's Grace. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: