Calif. Assembly Passes Hemp-Farming Bill

[DoYouEverWonder]

January 26, 2006, 8:50 PM EST

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The state Assembly on Thursday approved a bill that would add California to the growing number of states seeking to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp -- a biological relative of marijuana.

Lawmakers voted 41-30 to pass the bill, sending it to the Senate. If senators also approve it, the proposal would go to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not taken a position on it.

Supporters insist hemp is a safe product that could become a cash crop for farmers because of its use in a long list of products from soap and cosmetics to rope and luggage.

The bill's author, Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno of San Francisco, said passage of the measure marked a milestone.

"This makes sense," Leno said. "It could provide an opportunity of great value to family farmers. This could be a bonanza of job growth."


http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-hemp-farming,0,4351182.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

Good for CA. We need to do this in the other 49 States.

[MagickMuffin]

1. Hemp, Hemp, Hooray

It only makes sense that we would go back to our roots. Hemp was used in this country exclusively until the petro market, the paper market, and the Harry Anslinger started their campaign to destroy the hemp market altogether.

It was used for clothing, paint, paper, even Henry Ford made a vehicle out a hemp.

Go Cali :applause: lead the way....

But even if the measure becomes law, farmers would still face hurdles to cultivate the plant because hemp contains trace amounts of a banned substance and may still fall under federal anti-drug rules.
Some critics were concerned that allowing hemp to be grown could be the first step to permitting pot.

"You pass industrial hemp today and then something else and then something else," Republican Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy said. "And then at some point you will get legalized marijuana."

The Drug Enforcement Administration had classified hemp as a controlled substance because an average plant contains small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinols, or THC, the same drug that gives marijuana its intoxicating effect.
Processed hemp imported from other countries is sold throughout the United States for manufacturing products. A hemp trade group estimated the annual retail market in the U.S. at $270 million.

[wicket]

4. Harry Anslinger was just plan evil

:grr:

That being said, this hemp bill makes me very happy! :D

[IA_Seth]

18. You pass industrial hemp today and then something else and then something

"You pass industrial hemp today and then something else and then something else," Republican Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy said. "And then at some point you will get legalized marijuana."

um....good!

[kineneb]

20. I never did understand the whole hemp/pot problem

1. Hemp is an industrial plant, like rice, wheat or cotton, and has been grown in the US "forever"
2. Pot is not nearly as bad as alcohol in its effects, yet alcohol is legal. So far, I have never heard of anyone dying from "marijuana poisoning" and plenty of folks have died from too much alcohol. I have has so many relatives die from the effects of alcohol consumption, that I think the laws against pot are bogus.

[wyrd1]

2. i hope this starts something good

one of my dreams (the kind that could come true) is to look out over our farm and see several acres of beautiful hemp swaying in the breeze. the plant is a true godsend.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Well I hope your dream comes true

but in the meantime, welcome to DU :hi:

[wicket]

5. Welcome to DU!!!!

:hi:

I too would love to see hemp growing on my family's farm in Vermont. The plant could very well save the nation's failing family farms.

[LostinVA]

6. Especially the NC tobacco farmers

I know some, and they absolutely hate growing tobacco (for many reasons). Hemp would really help them out.

[wicket]

14. That would be excellent

Hemp is such an amazing plant and it could be a huge boon the economy.

[LostinVA]

7. Welcome to another VAer!

[wyrd1]

8. thanks for the welcome

and hey, lost in va, where you lost? we live on the eastern shore.

we farm organically and hemp would be a super plant, needs no pesticides, easy to fertilize, etc. milllions of uses. after all, it was a mainstay with the founding fathers from va.

[LostinVA]

13. I'm Lost in Central VA

There are alot of folks on here from The Charlottesville-Richmond area. And of course NOVA.

[Best_man23]

9. Another use for hemp -- FUEL!!

Not sure, but I heard hemp yields more alcohol per acre than corn or wheat.

Using hemp as fuel would benefit the farming industry, as well as decrease emissions and reduce US dependence on Middle East oil.

Website with info below.

http://www.hemp4fuel.com/nontesters/hemp4fuel/

[Gold Metal Flake]

12. Just use the oil.

Hemp is a very productive oil stock. Use it for biodiesel, or use it straight. The remainder can, of course, be used for it's fibers for fabric, paper and animal feed.

I think hemp farming can be a large part of a move back to rural, town-based local economies. Hemp can provide energy and fibers for a community, allowing local paper and clothing production. Just one little piece of a rural community based on interdependence.

[meganmonkey]

10. I think hemp could save our economy

This is a great step forward. Hemp is so useful & versatile, and from my understanding it is pretty easy to grow without a bunch of toxic chemicals.

As long as we can get get people to understand that you CAN'T GET HIGH FROM HEMP we may be able to push this movement forward.

Not that there is anything wrong with getting a buzz, mind you, but legalizing pot is a whole different issue and I think it would behoove us to keep them seperated :smoke:

[wordpix]

11. yay, California, SAVE THE FAMILY FARM

[shanti]

15. woo hoo!!

ever had hemp ice cream? it's delish! this is wonderful news and there's plenty of land to grow it. this news made my day!

[slackmaster]

16. Let me go in record here and now

The Legislature will pass the bill.

Governator will sign it into law.

[Copperred]

17. Stats?

If anyone has a link to the Industy Numbesr on this crop...please post.

Avg. Yield Per Acre....

Price per Bushel?

etc, etc...

Thanks,
RK

[skids]

23. Depends -- seed hemp or stalk hemp?

...It likely depends on whether you're producing low seed-bearing bushes or tall feilds for fiber/cellulose.

You can probably find some of the stats you are looking for by digging around on Canadian (where it has been legal for a few years now) government/non-profit sites like this one:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/seesem/indust/hemchae.shtml

(EDIT: found a better starting point:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/substancontrol/hemp-chanvre/about-apropos/stat/index_e.html

)

[LeftHander]

19. Icky stuff to smoke btw....nasty...bad ditch weed...

Makes a damn good and stiff calf rope though...at least back in the day...manila hemp ropes...



yee haw.

:dem:

[NickB79]

25. That's a great point that should be used against anti-hemp people

The old argument is that if you plant hemp, marijuana growers will be able to hide their plants in fields of legal hemp. However, that would allow the hemp to cross-pollinate the marijuana, ruining it and turning it into "bad ditch weed".

Growing hemp could be used as a way to fight illegal marijuana by "polluting" it with bad pollen :-)

[William Bloode]

21. It's good for the hemp industry, bad for smokable marijuana.

Just imagine huge pollen clouds pollinating fields of smoking marijuana, and diluting the gene pool with hemp qualities.Pollen clouds can travel for miles, and will seriously damage the gene pool of outdoor bred smoke.

This will put an end to many outdoor marijuana operations in many areas, and really effect the quality of any outdoor crops in cultivated hemp locations. Hahahaha! After a couple yrs wild hemp will be growing everywhere, as wild animals widely distribute the seeds.

We can always grow more indoors though. :D

[DemInDistress]

22. absolutely great news is it safe? rotflmfao

for 200 years Hemp has been an integral part of US Commerce,hell George washington grew and smoked Hemp and the list of dignitaries of longer than the Bush Crime Family MURDERERS. Go California!!!

[DiverDave]

24. Good news! But...

I cant see the gropenfuhrer signing this.
It would piss off to many of his bosses. (you know, oil, pharma,energy)
But it IS good to get it out to the mainstream.
Now will the MSM come out on the side of the farmer or the corporations?
I think we know the answer to that.

[hedgehog]

26. Can hemp be used to make soft fabric?

All I've ever seen are those itchy bracelets. Can it be dyed different colors? How absorbent is it? How does it compare to cotton or linen?

[shanti]

28. yes it can!

there's a hemp clothing store in berkeley called "three star dog" that sells wonderful hemp clothing. there are hemp t-shirts, jackets, pants, everything. it's much stronger than cotton. i have several pieces of hemp clothing. check it out...

ps-those hemp bracelets are made out of raw hemp rope. of course that is going to be scratchy!

[Ezlivin]

27. Damn. Now I'm getting a tractor and starting my own hemp farm

I wonder if the John Deere dealer would have any helpful cultivation tips?

:smoke: