cannabisnews.com: Legislature Again Sends Ryan Bill on Hemp Legislature Again Sends Ryan Bill on Hemp Posted by FoM on May 11, 2001 at 18:14:39 PT By Kevin McDermott Source: Post-Dispatch For the second time this year, the Illinois Legislature has sent Gov. George Ryan a measure to allow the study of industrial hemp as a potential cash crop for Illinois. And, for the second time, the anti-drug lobby will attempt to convince Ryan that signing the bill would send a soft-on-drugs message to Illinois' youth.The fibrous stalk from hemp can be used to make clothing, rope and other materials. But it is illegal to grow in Illinois because it contains the same hallucinogen as marijuana, though in smaller amounts. Ryan in February vetoed a bill that would have launched a study by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the University of Illinois into the viability of allowing Illinois farmers to grow hemp.Ryan objected to the price tag for the study -- almost $1 million in state funds -- and said it would send "a mixed message" to the state's youth.The Illinois Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a new, similar measure, but one that wouldn't use any state funds for the study.The new measure also cuts Southern Illinois University out of the study, assigns Western Illinois University to study the law enforcement impact of commercial hemp, and sets a goal of coming up with a form of hemp that contains no hallucinogens.State Sen. Evelyn Bowles, D-Edwardsville, a co-sponsor of the bill, told her colleagues that finding a new crop is crucial to struggling Illinois farmers. She stressed that the bill would only authorize a study of the issue, and wouldn't allow widespread cultivation of hemp."Where would we be if every time something new was presented, that we shut our ears and our eyes and turned off our brains and said no?" Bowles asked.State Sen. Peter Roskam, R-Glen Ellyn, who voted in favor of the previous hemp bill, said he was going to oppose this one because he received letters of support "from folks in favor of marijuana legalization.""This is an initiative that, in my view, is going to have a ripple effect all across our culture," Roskam said.Bowles told the Senate that the latest bill addresses Ryan's concerns from his previous veto. Instead of state dollars, for example, the study would rely on federal and private sources for its funding."They didn't address the mixed message that this sends to kids," countered Jean Lowe, spokeswoman for the Illinois Drug Education Alliance. She said the group, which led the opposition to the previous bill, will try to persuade Ryan to veto this one.A spokesman for Ryan's office declined to speculate on whether Ryan would sign the bill.The bill is HB3377.Newshawk: mayanSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)Author: Kevin McDermott, Post-Dispatch Springfield BureauPublished: May 11, 2001Copyright: 2001 St. Louis Post-DispatchWebsite: http://www.postnet.com/Contact: letters post-dispatch.comRelated Articles:Revised Hemp Bill Would Grant U of I Studyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9298.shtmlBill To Study Hemp Farming Crops Up Again http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9080.shtmlCannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by Kevin Hebert on May 14, 2001 at 09:00:28 PT: Thanks Hope I was pleased to see it had been printed. Then the Supreme Court unanimously voted their ignorance and it ruined my whole day! It is SO HARD to maintain optimism in the face of such incredible stupidity. But I will remain optimistic because I know the truth will set us free. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by lookinside on May 13, 2001 at 13:04:53 PT: WE NEED FRANCES!!!! LOL...with people like frances arguing against legalization,we may end up with manditory drug use! he/she/it has yet tomake a substantive argument against anything...crop scams have been around a very long time...it's up tothe individual to do his/her homework and come to aninformed decision concerning a newcrop/product/service...the jerusalem artichoke fiasco was anexample of people jumping on the bandwagon to avoid beingleft behind..(if joe next door gets rich, i'm gonna get richtoo) it happens all the time...if hemp is to become a viable cash crop, the infrastructuremust be put in place to process it into the hundreds ofproducts it can become..this will take time and investment...we can all help by purchasing these alternative products asthey become available...we can create demand/availability for them by TALKING about hemp to the various retailers aswe see the products come on line...thank you FRANCES! your inane comments are much appreciated... [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by freedom fighter on May 13, 2001 at 12:25:34 PT Ok potheads (This is crazy.We all could start writing letters to him letting him know that we are not in favor of hemp bill while are in favor of cannabis legalization. )State Sen. Peter Roskam, R-Glen Ellyn, who voted in favor of the previous hemp bill, said he was going to oppose this one because he received letters of support "from folks in favor of marijuana legalization.""This is an initiative that, in my view, is going to have a ripple effect all across our culture," Roskam said(Yes, it will show how many products that are useful to the society in general.. We can make gas out of hemp for the autos. I personally do not own any vek. I rather have a vek that runs on hemp....) [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 12, 2001 at 20:34:37 PT Here's something interesting about hemp HEMP "EATS" CHERNOBYL WASTE, Offers Hope for HanfordFrom the Central Oregon Green PagesMail: 557 NE Quimby, Bend, Oregon 97701Winter 1998-99By Elaine CharkowskiEnlightened Living Page 22 http://www.edenspace.com/An explosion at a nuclear reactor on April 26th, 1986 in Chernobyl, Ukraine created the world’s worst nuclear disaster - so far.The blast heavily contaminated agricultural lands in a 30 km radius around the reactor. The few people still living there must monitor their food and water for radiation. However the combination of a new technology (phytoremediation) and an old crop (industrial hemp) may offer the Ukraine a way to decontaminate it’s radioactive soil.In 1998, Consolidated Growers and Processors (CGP), PHYTOTECH, and the Ukraine’s Institute of Bast Crops began what may be one of the most important projects in history - the planting of industrial hemp for the removal of contaminants in the soil near Chernobyl.CGP is an ecologically-minded multinational corporation which finances the growing and processing of sustainable industrial crops such as flax, kenaf, and industrial hemp. CGP operates in North America, Europe and the Ukraine.http://www.hempchannel.com/nws1_7.htmlMy Hemp Pagehttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/hemplink.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Rambler on May 12, 2001 at 19:16:42 PT Gimme a break! Comparing hemp to the Jerusalem artichoke,is like,is like comparing the space shuttle to a 1972 Ford Pinto.You are way out there Frances.I dont really think your somewhat simplistic comments are doing much tofurther your views.Why dont we have a serious discussion or debate somehow.See if Mary Friend is home.We are sincere in wanting to have a civilized discussion of these matters,but your side seems to come up short when looking for someone who is willing to represent your viewpoint.I challenge you to back up your views with actual facts,or coherent discussions. We are home,and we are waiting. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by observer on May 12, 2001 at 19:14:16 PT Father/Government/Papa-Joe (Stalin) Knows Best Pulleesse!! Farmers don't always know best. . . .Just a little study, Frances. We aren't afraid of what we might find in the study, are we?" . . . a study by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the University of Illinois into the viability of allowing Illinois farmers to grow hemp."Farmers don't always know best.Oh no! Government. Government knows best, Frances. It is true. Authorities and officials, police and prosecutors all agree: government knows best. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Frances on May 12, 2001 at 18:45:17 PT: Farmers don't always know best. Gentle Tokers:Pulleesse!!Farmers don't always know best.According to the Farm Journal, March 1999, pg 16:"Everyone remembers the Jerusalem artichoke mainly for its role in the American Energy Farming Systems debacle of the early '80s. The Marshall, Minn., home-grown fuel evangelists sold $25 million worth of seed to 2,500 growers from 31 states.The company predicted that within a decade, U.S. FARMERS WOULD BE GROWING 100 MILLION ACRES AT PROFITS BETWEEN $1,000 AND $2,000 AN ACRE. But they never got around to making a single kilowatt of energy and went bankrupt after less than two years."Some farmers lost their farms. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on May 12, 2001 at 15:35:47 PT Only a Study These ladies from Naperville,Il(Illinois Drug Education Alliance) have to be the dumbest people in the state. Our farmers are overwhelmingly behind this & I doubt if they are a bunch of "potheads". This bill addresses all of his excuses for vetoing the last one. This bill is only for a study but the IDEA makes it seem like marijuana will be legal tomorrow if the governor signs it. Our farmers are really hurting & they are desperate for a new crop. The farmers know what the farmers need. The ignorant few from Naperville should "educate" themselves a bit. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by sm247 on May 12, 2001 at 08:30:53 PT B.S. (not Ball State either) Sending a wrong message to kids is b.s. they already "got" the message and are smokin it (not that we condone use by minors). There is no direct scientific study proving any corelation between hemp and use of marijuana by kids.Maybe the guv would cough up a cool mil to study that instead of a crop that will be bountiful to their states farmers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by aocp on May 12, 2001 at 04:41:45 PT Uh-huh "They didn't address the mixed message that this sends to kids," countered Jean Lowe, spokeswoman for the Illinois Drug Education Alliance.Same ole sh**. It must be nice to just say the magic words, "mixed message to kids" and you get a Get-Out-of-Need-for-Evidence-Free card. Listen up, grosse salope. Tolerance is NOT the same thing as encouragement, despite how much y'all would love it to be so. If that were the case, then anything the gov't tolerated would be the same thing as encouraging the abuse of said practice. We all know that is, of course, ludicrous.So, why is hemp any different? Probably just b/c you need a freaking hobby and like the title of intrusive busybody. What a waste. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Hope on May 11, 2001 at 22:18:34 PT Kudos! Kevin Hebert's letter in Sat., May 12 NYT To the Editor:Re "Bush Names a Drug Czar and Addresses Criticism" (news article, May 11):While President Bush pays lip service to treatment and prevention, it is clear that his main drug strategy will be to continue to punish harshly anyone who uses substances made illegal by the government.This strategy is doomed to fail. It has failed miserably in the last 30 years, helping virtually no one except those involved in the building and maintenance of prisons.When will we learn that we cannot incarcerate ourselves out of this problem? All we will end up with is more prisoners, more broken families, fewer rights and, perversely, a worse drug problem. KEVIN M. HEBERT [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by lookinside on May 11, 2001 at 21:56:25 PT: hemp for farmers... jack herer needs to talk to the guv...the anti's are stillthe most naive, uneducated group in america(or are theyfinancially influenced?) has to be one of the twopossibilities... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: