Shop Online or By Phone
1-866-465-4489
Toll Free!
| |
Shop Online or By Phone 1-866-465-4489Toll Free! |
| BagsHatsClothingBath & Body Home & Garden FoodJewelry & TwineEarth Divas |
|
Hemp Information > Hemp Today >
Hemp TodayHemp is grown and processed in many countries of the world, but the information on this site, which is based in North America, focuses primarily on the state of the hemp industry in Canada and the United States. Hemp in CanadaIn Canada, parliament passed bill C-8 in May of 1997, freeing industrial hemp from the drug legislation imposed in 1938 when Canada followed the United States lead and banned hemp production. The responsibilities to regulate the new crop were given to Health Canada. Health Canada made an announcement that they would publish the new regulations for the commercialization of industrial hemp in the Canada Gazette Part I before the end of December, 1997. The Senate Finance Committee planned a follow-up meeting in the fall to inquire on Health Canada's progress. A few companies were already gearing up for production in 1998. On Aug. 7, 1997, 1:30 P.M. at what was identified as "Industrial Hemp Field Day" in Pain Court, Ontario, the Canadian Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, addressed the assembled crowd with a message that should serve as a wake-up call to all who are involved with the issues surrounding industrial hemp. Click here to read a transcript of the Minister's address. Recently, there has been some tension and confusion caused by the off-again, on-again nature of the DEA's embargo on Canadian hemp seed products. For the latest news, please visit http://hempembargo.com. Hemp in the United StatesMany state legislatures are considering or have passed laws indicating a willingness to legalize industrial hemp. We've put together a collection of press releases concerning such legislation, organized by state. ArkansasArkansas Passes Industrial Hemp & Kenaf LegislationArkansas Legislators have passed a resolution (below) calling for the University of Arkansas to study the potential uses of industrial hemp and kenaf. The Division of Agriculture will conduct studies regarding the uses and economic benefits of industrial hemp to determine the feasibility of growing hemp as an alternative and profitable crop in Arkansas. The studies will include an analysis of required soils and growing conditions, seed availability, harvest methods and environmental benefits. The Division of Agriculture will report its finding to the House and Senate Interim Committees on Agriculture and Economic Development no later than December 31, 2000. State of Arkansas SENATE RESOLUTION“To request the University of Arkansas to study the potential uses of industrial hemp and kenaf.” SUBTITLE WHEREAS, Around the nation, there is much interest in growing industrial hemp and kenaf in order to conduct research its use as an alternative fiber crop; and WHEREAS, Industrial hemp and kenaf have throughtout history contributed to the economic welfare of this country and are renewable natural resources; and WHEREAS, Alternative fibers crops production could create new farming opportunities and create more competitiveness in the global market, and create processing and manufacturing jobs in such industries as textiles, plastics, pulp, paper, oil, timber, and food; and WHEREAS, According to the National Conference of State Legislature’s studies, alternative fiber crops can serve as good rotation crops. All parts of the plants have economic uses and the crops can be grown under varied conditions; and WHEREAS, Arkansas is a predominately agricultural state and the need for alternative crops and improved methods of farming is an ongoing concern; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY; THAT the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture conduct studies regarding the uses and economic benefits to this state of industrial hemp to determine the feasibility of growing hemp as an alternative and profitable crop in Arkansas. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the studies shall include an analysis of required soils and growing conditions, seed availability, harvest methods and environmental benefits. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture
shall report its findings to the House and Senate Interim Committees on
Agriculture and Economic Development no later than December 31, 2000. Friday, September 10, 1999, at 5:47pm, the California State Assembly approved "HR32 Regarding Industrial Hemp" which reads as follows: House Resolution No. 32 Relative to industrial hemp.WHEREAS, Industrial hemp was first domesticated 10,000 years ago; was required in 1619 to be grown by all farmers in Jamestown, Virginia; was legal tender in America and accepted as payment for taxes from 1631 to the early 1800's; was a cash crop grown on the plantations of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson; was grown in America and regulated by the Department of Agriculture until 1937; and was the domestic source of maritime rope during the 1942 to 1945 World War II “Hemp for Victory” campaign; and WHEREAS, Industrial hemp provided the ropes and sails for Christopher Columbus' ships and the paper on which the Declaration of Independence was first drafted; and WHEREAS, Industrial hemp has been used to produce more than 25,000 products; and WHEREAS, Industrial hemp is produced by thirty nations, including Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Romania, Australia, and China, none of which are classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as drug-producing countries; and WHEREAS, The DEA permits industrial hemp to be grown under strict rules and regulations that are currently being revised; and WHEREAS, The importation of industrial hemp is permitted by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the North American Free Trade Agreement; and WHEREAS, North Dakota has legalized industrial hemp for commercial farming; Hawaii and Minnesota have legalized test crops of industrial hemp; the Legislatures of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin are considering the legalization of industrial hemp; and the City and County of San Francisco is currently drafting an ordinance to permit its residents to grow industrial hemp; and WHEREAS, Industrial hemp can be easily distinguished from marijuana by appearance, cultivation methods, and chemical analysis because industrial hemp is a nonintoxicating, benign form of the cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 1% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while marijuana contains 5 to 20 percent THC; and industrial hemp seeds are planted to yield more than 1,000 stalks per two square yards, while only one marijuana plant can be grown in the same size plot; and industrial hemp matures in 70 to 120 days and is harvested before it flowers, while marijuana is cultivated for its flowertops and takes 120-180 days to mature; and, when grown together, industrial hemp will pollinate marijuana, reducing its THC content to a nonintoxicating level; and WHEREAS, Industrial hemp thrives without herbicides, reinvigorates the soil, requires less water than cotton, matures in three to four months, and can potentially yield four times as much paper per acre as trees, building materials that are twice as strong as wood and concrete, textile fiber that is up to eight times as strong as cotton, better oil and paint than petroleum, clean-burning diesel fuel, biodegradable plastics, and more digestible protein per acre than any other food source; and WHEREAS, Industrial hemp can be planted and harvested in California several times per year, and gross $200 to $600 per acre per harvest at current market prices; and WHEREAS, All industrial hemp raw materials currently must be imported to manufacture products that are distributed by, and sold in, more than 60 specialty shops and 250 general stores throughout California, with national sales and exports exceeding $100 million per year; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly find and declares that industrial hemp is a vital, sustainable, renewable resource for building materials, cloth, cordage, fiber, food, fuel, industrial chemicals, oil, paint, paper, plastics, seed, yarn, and many other useful products; and be it further Resolved, That the Assembly finds and declares that the domestic production of industrial hemp can help protect California’s environment, contribute to the growth of the state economy, and be regulated in a manner that will not interfere with the enforcement of marijuana laws; and be it further Resolved, That the Assembly finds and declares that the Legislature should consider action to revise the legal status of industrial hemp to allow for its growth in California as an agricultural and industrial crop; and be it further Resolved, That the Assembly finds and declares that the Legislature should consider directing the University of California, the California State University, and other state agencies to prepare studies in conjunction with private industry on the cultivation, processing, and marketing of industrial hemp. HawaiiDEA Permits Hawaii To Plant Industrial Hemp for the First Time in U.S. History Since WWII; Hawaii Becomes Mentor State in Campaign To Farm Industrial Hemp in America LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 1999--Hawaii makes American history as the first industrial hemp seeds are planted in U.S. soil since the crop was banned after WWII. Hawaiian Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano will host the historical hemp seed planting ceremony at the Alterna Hemp Research Project agricultural plot in Whitmore Village on Oahu on Dec. 14, 1999, at 10 a.m. (Hawaiian time). Hawaiian Hemp's Political HistoryAfter three years, the dedication and tenacity of Hawaii State Representative Cynthia Thielen paid off last May when the legislation to conduct the research needed to initiate the recovery of the industrial hemp crop in the United States passed in Hawaii. Governor Cayetano signed the industrial hemp bill into law and the political minutia building up to the seed planting again ensued. "The project was made possible by a $200,000 grant from hemp shampoo maker Alterna's Professional Hair Care Products," explained Thielen. "Due to Alterna's financial support, the construction for the facility for the one-quarter acre industrial hemp plot began." Built exactly per the strict requirements set forth by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the one-quarter acre is surrounded by chain length fencing with razor wire top, and a 24-hour infrared security system. Construction was completed in September, allowing for the state permit application to be submitted. The state permit issued in October and the federal permit application was submitted promptly to the DEA. With the guidance of Thielen hot on the Fed's heels, the final and most difficult leg of the now four-year conquest was granted to Hawaii a month later. Hawaii is currently the only state in the United States to obtain permission from the DEA to grow industrial hemp following WWII. Cayetano said, "My administration supports stimulating Hawaii's economy and keeping our agricultural lands productive. Industrial hemp could meet both of these objectives." Minnesota Minnesota State Legislation Minnesota third state to pass hemp legislationThe Minnesota Legislature has passed a bill paving the way for growing experimental and demonstration plots of industrial hemp in the state, according to State Representative Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis). Rep. Kahn was chief author of the language that was incorporated in the House Omnibus State Government Finance Bill. “It was an uphill battle, but in the end I was able to persuade my colleagues to include this provision in the bill,” Rep. Kahn said. “Our farmers are facing an incredible financial crisis, and as a result our rural communities are dying. They need to be able to diversify, and adding hemp into their crop rotation is just one option. The hemp bill we passed this session, that Gov. Ventura signed into law, is the first step toward legalization of growing hemp.” Under the new law, “by Sept. 30, 1999, the governor, in consultation
with the commissioners of the Department of Agriculture and the Department
of Trade and Economic Development will submit an application for federal
permits, as may be needed to authorize the growing of experimental and
demonstration plots of industrial hemp, by Sept. 30, 1999. The governor
shall also direct the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, in
consultation with the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and
other appropriate commissioners, to establish standards and forms for persons
wishing to register for growing experimental and demonstration plots of
industrial hemp.” H.B. 239 Passes The House!On Jan. 5, 2000, the NH House of Representatives overturned an Environment and Agriculture Committee recommendation of Interim study and passed HB239, a bill permitting an industrial hemp industry in New Hampshire. The E. & A. Committee had experienced difficulty reaching a consensus. The initial "ought to pass" motion was narrowly defeated 9-10. The following "Inexpedient to Legislate" motion was soundly defeated 7-12. Therefore it had come out of committee 14-5 "Recommended for Interim Study". Prime sponsor of the bill Rep. Derek Owen, D-Hopkinton, spoke strongly on the floor against Interim Study. This was a risky move. If we defeat "Interim Sudy" and then lose "Ought to Pass" it would have lost in the House for the third time. His speech, as well as thoughts from Rep. Amy Robb-Theroux, D-Claremon, and Rep. Karen McRae, R-Goffstown, facilitated defeat of the recommendation 176-172 and allowed him to make the motion of "Ought to Pass". A raging floor fight then ensued. Representing the opposition, Rep. Tony Soltani, R-Epsom, echoed Law Enforcement's erroneous views of "hemp is marijuana" and "sending the wrong message to our children." The longer he spoke, the more credibility he lost. Rep. Owen pointed out the fact that this individual was not present at committee hearings and had not heard any of the evidence refuting law enforcement's arguments. In the end the vote was 181-167. It passed by 14 votes. This bill now goes on to the House Finance Committee. North Dakota Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 Organization: C.A.I.R. Subject: Industrial Hemp Legal in North Dakota!!!Clare Carlson of the North Dakota Governor's office just called me to let me know that the Governor just signed Bill No. 1428 permitting the agricultural production of Industrial Hemp. The bill is effective on August 1, missing this year's growing season. However, another bill, approved earlier, permits and subsidizes the University of North Dakota to grow experimental crops, and that could be done indoors throughout the winter. All Academics should contact them to see what support they can use. Special details about the bill:
|
 Customer Comments |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Click for LIVE Help 
