In a region where timber was once the economic mainstay, industrial hemp has the potential to not just build a similarÑyet sustainableÑeconomy, but to repair the damage left in the wake of logging. Wood products such as paper, fiberboard, and building materials could easily be replaced by hemp. Locally, hemp could be planted in areas that have been clearcut, and aside from restoring the soil, it could provide shade and the proper microclimate for replanting redwood seedlings. In areas where sediment from clearcuts destroys our watersheds, hemp could anchor and protect soil from runoff. How about converting the old Masonite plant in Ukiah into a hemp processing plant? Industrial hemp could be sown in the surrounding polluted area, creating "phytoremediation," where plants break down or degrade organic pollutants and stabilize metal contaminants by acting as filters or traps. Masonite's former employees could be rehired and retrained to process hemp.
Industrial hemp has been controversial ever since William Randolph Hearst's anti-hemp propaganda campaign resulted in the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In more recent times, hemp foods have come under attack by the DEA.
On October 9, 2001, the DEA published an interpretive rule regarding hemp foods. This would have made hemp seeds and oilÑwhich contain such minute traces of THC that one would have to ingest five pounds of shelled hemp seed or one pint of hemp oil to even have any intoxicating effectsÑillegal under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. These regulations were published without any notice or opportunity for public comment. An uproar from hemp businesses and their supporters ensued, resulting in more than 115,000 pro-hemp letters to the DEA, as well as a letter of opposition to the DEA's ruling signed by 22 members of Congress. The Hemp Industries Association, along with several hemp food manufacturers, filed a motion to stay these regulations in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The motion to stay was granted on March 7, and the case is now under review by a three-judge panel, with a final decision expected in the next three to nine months. Concurrently, a Canadian hemp company met with U.S. federal agencies on March 25th to review that company's notice of intent to sue the government under NAFTA. In the meantime, hemp food and oil products will remain legal and available for sale.
The hemp foods controversy is just one of several hemp issues. On March 28, Governor Wise of West Virginia signed the Industrial Hemp Development Act, making West Virginia the eighth state to allow hemp farming and research. A similar bill was approved by the Arizona Senate on March 25 and is moving on to the House of Representatives. Closer to home is AB 388, a bill under consideration by the California State Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee. AB 388 is an updated version of Senator Virginia Strom-Martin's previous hemp bill, AB 448, that was previously killed in the same committee. This bill would authorize the University of California to conduct an assessment of economic opportunities available through the production of alternative fiber crops including industrial hemp. The hearing takes place on June 4, and the committee needs to hear from constituents who support hemp. You can send a letter to the chair of the committee by going to www.capwiz.com/votehemp/.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe is planting industrial hemp on their reservation in South Dakota for the third time. The previous two crops were destroyed byÑyou guessed itÑthe DEA. The Oglala Sioux passed an industrial hemp ordinance in 1998 to encourage agricultural economic development on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The White Plume family planted its first hemp crop in 2000 hoping to establish a business that would also help the environment. However, armed agents from several federal bureaus came onto their land, held them at gunpoint, and seized their hemp crop just days before harvest. The feds had a search warrant whose own documentation revealed that the crop had no detectable THC.
A repeat attempt last year was thwarted once again due to unannounced visits by DEA and FBI agents, as well as unofficial communication between the U.S. Attorney and the White Plumes' private counsel. News was relayed that two of the parties involved could potentially be arrested and charged with offenses that would have resulted in long-term prison sentences. The family met and decided to allow the crop to be eradicated by federal agents in return for a guarantee that no charges would be filed.
Living Tree Paper Company started selling 90% post-consumer waste, 10% hemp paper in over 1,000 Staples office supply stores on Earth Day. Maybe this is an attempt on Staples' part to atone for its connection to the thousands of acres clearcut every year to create the wood-based products it carries, but at least now consumers are provided with an alternative to those products.
At this point I hope you're wondering, "What can I do to help legalize industrial hemp?" There are several options, but the first would be to vote with your dollar and support those companies that are providing hemp goods. Though usually more expensive than products produced from other fibers, hemp clothing, for example, is several times stronger than cotton and requires no pesticides, whereas cotton requires more insecticides than any other crop. Support hemp food companies and prove to the DEA that consumer demand is present. Become a member of the Hemp Industries Association, www.votehemp.com. The most important thing that all of us can do is educateÑhelp dispel the myths surrounding industrial hemp. It's time we get the facts straight.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2002
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited