DEA To Ban Hemp Products!

Industrialhemp.net

Vote Hemp

Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2003
From: listserver@votehemp.com
Subject: HEMP FOODS PICNIC

*** PICNIC WITH THE DEA ***

WHO: You and your friends
WHAT: DEA Hemp Taste Test, Round 2
WHERE: At your local DEA office or nearby location TBD
WHEN: Monday April 21
HOW: Contact Nadine Bloch ASAP by Thursday 4/10 for more information and to sign up. Tel: 301-891-3680 or nbloch@igc.org We provide FREE hemp foods for distribution at the event. See press release below for more info.

*************************************

On March 21, 2003, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced its final rule on hemp food products. This rule purports to ban the sale of all hemp food products on April 21, 2003. The DEA's rule is currently being challenged by the hemp industry in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and hopefully will be Stayed. Regardless, the public, Congress and Courts need to hear from outraged citizens.

Say No to DEA Attempts to Ban Hemp Products
Nationwide Hemp Taste Test with the DEA - April 21, 2003 - 12 PM

Please join Vote Hemp, Hemp Industries Association, Organic Consumers Association, Students for Sensible Drug Policy and other organizations around the country when they visit their local DEA outposts at noon on April 21, 2003 to challenge the DEA's final rule on hemp food products.

At lunchtime, concerned citizens will set up tables with hemp products and information near -not on- DEA property. The goal of the Taste Test is to solicit participation of the DEA employees and pass out educational materials about the benefits of hemp foods in a non-confrontational way.

We will draw national media attention to the nutritional and other positive values of hemp. While this will NOT be an opportunity to discuss recreational or medicinal cannabis rights, it will provide a forum to highlight the absurdity of the DEA prohibiting hemp foods.

David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps has agreed to make sure that people participating in DEA Hemp Taste Test will be provided with the hemp products they need for the event.

Please contact Nadine Bloch via email at nbloch@igc.org or via phone at 301-891-3680, if you are interested in organizing or participating in this action in your local area. If you're unable to participate, you can do your part by visiting http://www.VoteHemp.com and sending a letter to Congress.

Thank you for joining the challenge to the DEA's absurd and destructive policies.

** Background on the DEA Hemp Food Fight **
Because trace infinitesimal THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marihuana) in hemp seed is non-psychoactive and insignificant, the U.S. Congress exempted non-viable hemp seed and oil from control under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) (see 21 U.S.C. ß802(16)), just as Congress exempted poppy seeds from the CSA, although they contain trace opiates otherwise subject to control. Hemp seed has a well-balanced protein content and the highest content of essential fatty acids (EFAs) of any oil in nature: EFAs are the "good fats" that, like vitamins, the body does not produce and requires for good health. Dr. Udo Erasmus, an internationally recognized nutritional authority on fats and oils, writes in Fats that Heal - Fats that Kill: "Hemp seed oil may be nature's most perfectly balanced oil." Not surprisingly, shelled hemp seed and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as corn chips, frozen waffles, nutrition bars, hummus, nondairy milks, breads and cereals. In the last few years, the hemp foods industry has grown from less than $1 million a year to over $6 million in annual retail sales.

The DEA's previous attempts to ban hemp foods prompted a major public outcry. Over 115,000 public comments were submitted to the DEA against their new rules. On December 4, 2001, Vote Hemp, working with students, nutritionists, and hemp manufacturers, organized the first ever "DEA Taste Tests" at DEA offices and natural food stores in 76 cities around the country in order to educate the public. In 2002, 25 members of Congress wrote the DEA telling the agency that their "Interpretive Rule" that attempts to ban edible hemp seed or oil products containing "any THC" is "overly restrictive."

North American hemp food companies voluntarily observe reasonable THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations as well as Canada and Australia. These limits protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from any psychoactive effects or workplace drug-testing interference [see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at http://www.testpledge.com]. The DEA has hypocritically not targeted food manufacturers for using poppy seeds [in bagels and muffins, for example] even though they contain far higher levels of trace opiates. The recently-revived global hemp market is a thriving commercials success. Unfortunately, because the DEA's Drug War paranoia has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive "marihuana" varieties, the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing of industrial hemp.

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VOTE HEMP ACTION ALERT

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Please support Vote Hemp's efforts to educate the public, legislators, businesses and environmental groups about the benefits of industrial hemp. Our goal is legislation which would define low-THC industrial hemp as distinct from marihuana and allow regulated hemp farming. We need your help to continue making progress.

Please support our efforts by making a donation today and get a free gift. Give what you can today at:

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DEA FINAL RULE ON HEMP FOODS CHALLENGED
Stay on DEA Rule Continues; Hemp Industry Confident DEA
Harassment to End Soon

March 28, 2003

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - U.S. COURT of APPEALS for the NINTH CIRCUIT - On March 21, while most Americans were captivated by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published their final rules on hemp foods. The new "Final Rule" essentially bans the sale of all hemp food products by April 21, 2003 and is virtually identical to an "Interpretive Rule" issued on October 9, 2001 that never went into effect because of a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Stay issued on March 7, 2002. Today, the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) and several hemp food and cosmetic manufacturers will petition the Ninth Circuit to once again prevent the DEA from ending the legal sale of hemp seed and oil in the U.S.

"The DEA's charade of supposedly protecting the public from safe and nutritious hemp food is finally going to end," says David Bronner, Chairman of the HIA's Food and Oil Committee. "The Court is currently hearing a substantive challenge to the 'Interpretive Rule,' and in light of the announcement of the 'Final Rule,' the hemp industry is optimistic that the Court will ultimately invalidate the DEA's rule, as one of the prime criteria in granting the Stay was whether the hemp industry is likely to ultimately prevail on the merits of the case," adds Bronner.

*** Background on the DEA Hemp Food Fight ***

Because trace infinitesimal THC (an active ingredient in marihuana) in hemp seed is non-psychoactive and insignificant, the U.S. Congress exempted non-viable hemp seed and oil from control under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) (see 21 U.S.C. ß802(16)), just as Congress exempted poppy seeds from the CSA, although they contain trace opiates otherwise subject to control. Hemp seed has a well-balanced protein content and the highest amount of essential fatty acids (EFAs) of any oil in nature: EFAs are the "good fats" that, like vitamins, the body does not produce and requires for good health. Dr. Udo Erasmus, an internationally recognized nutritional authority on fats and oils, writes in Fats that Heal - Fats that Kill: "Hemp seed oil may be nature's most perfectly balanced oil." Not surprisingly, shelled hemp seed and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as corn chips, frozen waffles, nutrition bars, hummus, nondairy milks, breads and cereals. In the last few years, the hemp foods industry has grown from less than $1 million to over $6 million in annual retail sales.

DEA attempts to ban hemp foods prompted a major public outcry. Over 115,000 public comments were submitted to the DEA against their new rules. On December 4, 2001, Vote Hemp, working with students, nutritionists and hemp manufacturers, organized the first ever "DEA Taste Tests" at DEA offices and natural food stores in 76 cities around the country to educate the public. In 2002, 22 members of Congress wrote the DEA telling the agency that their "Interpretive Rule" that bans edible hemp seed or oil items that contain "any THC" is "overly restrictive."

Unlike the U.S., other Western countries (such as Canada, Germany and Australia) have adopted rational THC limits for foods, similar to those voluntarily observed by North American hemp food companies which protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from any psychoactive effects or workplace drug-testing interference (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at http://www.testpledge.com). The 14-year-old global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Unfortunately, because DEA's drug-war paranoia has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive "marijuana" varieties, the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing and processing of industrial hemp.

Please support our efforts and make a contribution today at: http://www.VoteHemp.com/contribute.html

To download a PDF copy of the Urgent Motion for Stay, go to: http://www.VoteHemp.com/PDF/hiafinalrules_motion.pdf

Visit the Vote Hemp news page for news stories and past press releases at:
http://www.VoteHemp.com/news.html

Action Alert

Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002
From: list-manager@votehemp.com
Subject: DEA Meets With Hemp Industry

U.S. State Department, DEA Meets With Hemp Industry
NAFTA Challenge to DEA Rule Likely to Continue; Oral Arguments in
Federal Court April 8

WASHINGTON, DC - Representatives of Kenex Ltd. and the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) met with various federal agencies at the U.S State Department this week regarding Kenex's NAFTA action filed in January. Kenex filed notice of its intent to arbitrate under NAFTA chapter 11 in response to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA's) previously impeding and, through its recent ruling, seeking to effectively prevent Kenex from accessing American markets for its hemp food products. Kenex is a Canadian agro-firm that has been growing and processing hemp oil, seed and fiber products in Canada and has invested heavily in its expansion into the United States markets for edible oil, seed and fiber over the past five years.

At the meeting with representatives from the State Department and DEA, as well as the Departments of Justice, Treasury and Commerce, lawyers representing Kenex made clear that the U.S. government will be forced to compensate Kenex for tens of millions of dollars in lost investments if Kenex proceeds with its claim. Kenex's NAFTA challenge compliments a lawsuit brought by the HIA and numerous hemp food companies, including Kenex, in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Court has already granted the hemp industry's Motion to Stay the new DEA rule on hemp foods, effectively blocking the DEA from enforcing the rule pending the Court's final decision, and oral arguments are scheduled in San Francisco on April 8, 2002. Despite the fact that the Ninth Circuit Court's action sends a clear signal that DEA's rule is on thin ice, Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp, who represented Kenex at the State Department meeting, stated: "We unfortunately received no indication from the officials that we met that they understand the gravity of their position or are in any way interested in finding some middle ground so that we can all put this nonsense behind us." Kenex is looking forward to the final decision that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will likely make later this year, and intends to press forward with its NAFTA claim for compensation before the end of the summer. While equally satisfied with the progress of their domestic case, other Canadian hemp seed companies are considering filing their own NAFTA claims for compensation as well.

On October 9, 2001, without public notice or opportunity for comment, the DEA issued an interpretive rule purporting to make hemp foods containing harmless infinitesimal traces of naturally-occurring tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient found in marijuana, immediately illegal under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970. Because trace THC does not pose any potential for abuse as a drug, the U.S. Congress had exempted non-viable hemp seed and oil from control under the CSA in the same place and way as poppy seeds containing harmless trace opiates. The Government of Canada, in response to the DEA's new rule, has stated that, "there is no evidence that the effective ban on relevant Canadian food products on the U.S. market is based on any risk assessment. Therefore, Canada objects to these measures."

Sterilized hemp seeds have been available in the U.S. for decades and are recognized as an exceptional source of protein, omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs). Independent studies and reviews conducted by foreign governments have confirmed that trace THC found in the increasingly popular hemp foods cannot cause psychoactivity or other health effects, or result in a confirmed positive urine test for marijuana, even when unrealistically high amounts of hemp seed and oil are consumed daily. The 10-year-old global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Popular hemp foods include pretzels, tortilla chips, energy bars, waffles, bread, salad dressing, cereal, ice cream and even non-dairy milk.

The DEA's ban of hemp food sales in the U.S. is clearly in conflict with NAFTA for several reasons. The DEA did not provide any notice and opportunity to U.S. trading partners or foreign companies to provide input into its ruling; the agency did not conduct a risk assessment or offer any other science-based rationale for issuance of the rule; the DEA did not seek to minimize impact on international trade; and it has not similarly regulated poppy seeds and their trace opiates.

For more information on the DEA regulations and industry efforts to counter them, visit Vote Hemp at: http://www.votehemp.com

To make a donation to support Vote Hemp's ongoing efforts go to: http://www.votehemp.com/contribute.html

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Action Alert

Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2002
From: list-manager@votehemp.com
Subject: Vote Hemp Update

NINTH CIRCUIT COURT BLOCKS DEA HEMP RULE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - U.S. COURT of APPEALS for the NINTH CIRCUIT - Late yesterday the Court granted the hemp industry's Motion to Stay the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA's) "interpretive" rule, which was issued October 9, 2001 without public notice or opportunity for comment and would have banned the sale of nutritious hemp foods containing harmless trace amounts of naturally-occurring THC under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970. The hemp industry was happily surprised, as just this week the industry had learned that the Ninth Circuit's Motions panel had referred the industry's Motion to Stay to the Merits panel, who had in turn scheduled expedited oral argument for April 8. The industry had not expected that a ruling would be forthcoming on their Motion to Stay.

The Motion to Stay was brought jointly by the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) and several major hemp food companies in the U.S. and Canada. The court is currently hearing a substantive challenge to the interpretive rule, and in light of today's ruling, the hemp industry is optimistic that the Court will ultimately invalidate DEA's rule, as one of the prime criteria in granting the Stay was whether the hemp industry is likely to ultimately prevail on the merits of the case. Because trace infinitesimal THC in hemp seed is non-psychoactive and insignificant, the U.S. Congress exempted non-viable hemp seed and oil from control under the CSA, just as Congress exempted poppy seeds from the CSA, although they contain trace opiates otherwise subject to control. The hemp industry is assuring retailers and consumers that hemp food products should continue to be stocked, sold and consumed. Joe Sandler, counsel for the HIA, stated: "The Court's order effectively prevents DEA from enforcing its 'Interpretive Rule' until a final ruling by the Court on the validity of DEA's action. With this stay in effect, all those who sell, import, manufacture, distribute and retail edible hemp oil and seed, and oil and seed products, can continue those activities secure in the knowledge that such products remain perfectly lawful."

Hemp seed has a well-balanced protein content and the highest content of essential fatty acids (EFAs) of any oil in nature: EFAs are the "good fats" that, like vitamins, the body does not produce and requires for good health. Dr. Udo Erasmus, an internationally recognized nutritional authority on fats and oils, writes in Fats that Heal - Fats that Kill: "Hemp seed oil may be nature's most perfectly balanced oil." Not surprisingly, shelled hemp seed and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as corn chips, nutrition bars, hummus, nondairy milks, breads and cereals. In the last few years, the hemp foods industry has grown from less than $1 million a year to over $5 million in retail sales.

The court ruling allows the hemp foods industry segment to continue its phenomenal expansion. Popular hemp foods include pretzels, tortilla chips, energy bars, waffles, bread, salad dressing, cereal, cooking oil, ice cream and even non-dairy milk. Unlike the U.S., other Western countries (Canada, Germany Australia) have adopted rational THC limits for foods, similar to those voluntarily observed by North American hemp food companies which protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from any psychoactive effects or workplace drug-testing interference (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at http://www.testpledge.com). The 10-year-old global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Unfortunately, because DEA's drug-war paranoia has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive "marijuana" varieties, the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing and processing of industrial hemp.

If you would like to read more about the case, please visit http://www.VoteHemp.com

If you would like to make a donation to support Vote Hemp's continuing efforts, please visit http://www.votehemp.com/contribute.html

list-manager@votehemp.com

Action Alert

Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001
From: list-manager@votehemp.com
Subject: Vote Hemp Update

** "DEA Taste Tests" a Success! **

On Dec. 4th, hemp activists set up "DEA Taste Tests" in 76 cities around the United States. A table was set up at the perimeter of the property of local DEA offices (or a natural food store if there was no DEA office), and hemp foods were handed out courteously and politely to DEA employees and passerby on their lunch breaks. Informative flyers on the malicious DEA rules were handed out and people were educated about safe and nutritious hemp foods. They were also invited to try a poppy seed bagel (with trace naturally occurring opiates) and drink some orange juice (with trace alcohol present through natural fermentation).

While most DEA employees were generally distant and aloof, regular passerby were very interested in trying hemp chips, pretzels, pasta, nutrition bars and non-dairy milk, and shocked at the DEA's absurd attack. Local television and newspaper media present got a great education and footage, and approximately 20 TV news segments appeared on local network affiliates around the country including major media markets like Washington, DC, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The event also generated numerous articles in newspapers around the country as well as radio interviews. As a result, millions of people got the message that hemp foods are safe and nutritious and the DEA rules are ridiculous.

The 76 cities were: Arlington, Austin, Boulder, Burlington, Chas, Chicago, Columbia, Columbus, Delhi, Denton, Denton, Detroit, Detroit, Dillon, Dover, Eau Claire, Eugene, Fayetteville, Flagstaff, Folly Beach, Ft. Collins, Hood River, Houston, Indianapolis, Ithaca, Jupiter, La Crosse, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Lubbock, Manchester, Manitou Springs, Miami, Middletown, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Missoula, New Paltz, New York City, Norfolk, Oakland, Ogden, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Paducah, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Potosi, Providence, Quad Cities, Richland, Richmond, Roanoke, Sacramento, Saginaw, Salem, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Seattle, Sebastopol, Springfield, St. Louis, Syracuse, Tallahassee, Tampa, Templeton, Trinidad, Tucson, Tumwater, and West Palm Beach.

Vote Hemp extends our deep thanks to all the activists who took part in this historic action. We educated a great many citizens as to the benefits of hemp foods and industrial hemp in general, and showed them the arbitrary, over-reactive and unreasonable nature of the DEA and the excesses of our government's war on drugs. We generated a media "buzz" and over a thousand comment letters and cards were sent to DEA by citizens activated by the DEA Taste Tests.

Special thanks to the Mintwood Media Collective for their amazing work coordinating both this particular action, and generally creating appropriate, sensitive media coverage in this time of crisis.

** Support Hemp Foods - Buy Some Products Today **

One of the best things that you can do to support the hemp industry right now is to buy hemp foods at your local natural foods store or co-op. Many natural foods retailers around the country carry hemp foods. If your local store does not have any hemp foods on the shelf, make sure to request that they add some. You can view a list of hemp foods and bodycare manufacturers at: http://www.TestPledge.com/companies.html

** Vote Hemp Media Center **

Vote Hemp now has a media page, which has links to some of the great articles that have been generated through our media strategy (http://www.votehemp.com/media.html).

** Comment Letters to DEA **

On Dec. 10th, the HIA and other members of the hemp industry submitted a 43 page comment letter to DEA along with numerous supporting attachments. You can view the comment letter at http://www.votehemp.com/PDF/hemp_group_comments_dea.pdf

Our lead counsel, Joe Sandler, with Jack Young behind the scenes, has performed his usual magic, devoting great effort and time in crafting this submission, which, as you will see, rocks. The Vote Hemp/HIA legal team (Eric Steenstra, David Frankel, David Bronner and Don Wirtshafter) worked tirelessly reviewing and editing successive drafts; San Francisco local counsel Patrick Goggin provided key feedback as well. Special thanks to: Gero Leson, who provided both a general excellent review and particular review of the health risk analysis and drug-testing sections (and who generated the health risk analysis and drug-testing study in the first place); Todd Weiler, who stepped up and did a marvelous job arguing the numerous international trade violations of DEA's rules; John Lupien, who provided an excellent and exhaustive analysis of the relevant legislative and general history regarding hemp seed and oil; and Jon Gettman, who provided an exhaustive regulatory analysis of hemp seed, including a key appendix on the government policy history in regulating poppy seeds with trace opiates.

In addition, Vote Hemp and HIA worked behind the scenes to get letters of opposition sent to DEA from the Canadian government, Congressman George Miller (D) CA, Congressman Barney Frank (D) MA and Hawaii State Rep. Cynthia Thielen and California State Rep. Virginia Strom-Martin sent in great letters as well. Thousands of other comments were submitted to DEA from concerned citizens around the country. Many of these were submitted via the Vote Hemp Action Alert Center while others were collected by activists around the country.

** Legal Update **

We are still waiting on the Court's ruling on our Urgent Motion for Stay, and have been informed that we can expect it before the holidays. The extended time this is taking may be a good sign, in that the court is carefully reviewing and considering the issue, and carefully crafting a ruling taking a powerful government agency to task. However, they may well rule against us in this initial phase as courts do not often stay a federal agency regulation before the full court hearings. However, even if the court does not issue an injunction against the interpretive rule, we still expect to overturn the rule when the full case is heard next year.

A positive decision by the court on the Motion for Stay would strongly indicate that the court believes that we will prevail on the merits of the case. A negative outcome would create some uncertainty as to potential DEA enforcement actions but we are continuing to reassure retailers and consumers that with no detectable THC according to Canadian standards (the DEA did not state any standards in the new regulations), hemp food products should remain on the shelves, pending our (hopefully) ultimate victory in court some months down the line. Even without a Motion to Stay, we feel that our case is compelling enough that a positive outcome is likely.

** Make a Donation to Support Vote Hemp **

We continue to work hard to educate, defend and advocate for industrial hemp. We have accomplished quite a bit in the year and a half since we began. Our efforts are making a difference but we need to continue building on our solid foundation. We plan to send educational materials to every member of congress and all 2,800 local farm bureau's across the US. We still have lots of education left to do. Please help us complete these important projects by making a donation today. Whatever you can give will help but if you can give us $36, we will send you a complimentary hemp blend Vote Hemp logo t-shirt. If you would like to support our efforts, visit our contributions page at: http://www.votehemp.com/contribute.html

list-manager@votehemp.com

Action Alert

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001
From: list-manager@votehemp.com
Subject: Flyer & Public Comment Form for Local Health Food Stores

** ACTION ALERT **
Please Distribute Flyers & Public Comment Forms to Your Local Health Food Stores

Vote Hemp has generated a flier that we would like you to distribute detailing the current situation with DEA and hemp foods, which can be printed out from: http://www.votehemp.com/PDF/DEAregs_fullflyer.pdf

Vote Hemp and HIA have generated a PDF comment form for citizens to fill in their contact information, sign their names and check off comments to the DEA regarding their new rules affecting hemp foods. The DEA is accepting comments from the public until Dec. 10.

Go to http://www.votehemp.com/PDF/DEA_notecard.pdf to print out the comment card form. There are four comment cards to a page, and we encourage everyone to get at least three pages of the comment card form filled out (12 comment cards) by tabling at local health food stores, bookshops, etc., as well as by getting friends and family to fill them out. Please fax each comment form with four comments filled out directly to the DEA at the number on the form (202-307-8570), and also fax them to Vote Hemp at 760-745-6675 so we have a copy in our files.

If you have any problems downloading PDF's from this e-mail, download them directly from the Quick Click Guide on the Vote Hemp Action Alert page at: http://www.votehemp.com/action.html

list-manager@votehemp.com

Hemp Report Subscriber Bulletin

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001
From: arthur hanks <hcfr@sk.sympatico.ca>
Subject: [HempReport] Reminder - DEA Public Comment Period

Dear Subscribers,
Please remember that you have until December 10th to submit comments to the DEA on the "hemp" rules published in the Federal Register: October 9, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 195) Pages 51529-51544. Vote Hemp has a link on their Action Page at <http://www.votehemp.com/action.html> to "Send a Pre-written Fax or Letter to DEA to register your opposition to the new rules before Dec. 10th." You can customize the text of the letter to suit you needs. Canadians and people from other countries can submit comments. If you are a U.S. citizen you should also send a copy of your letter to your elected representatives in Congress as well.

Please use the Vote Hemp link above or send your comments to:

Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of Diversion Control
Drug Enforcement Administration
Washington, DC 20537
Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative/CCD

For further information contact:

Frank Sapienza
Chief, Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section
Drug Enforcement Administration
Washington, D.C. 20537
Telephone: (202) 307-7183

Please be polite and professional in your letter as it will have a greater impact. It is suggested that you mention:

1. You are opposed to the "hemp" rules that the DEA published in the Federal Register: October 9, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 195) Pages 51529-51544.

2. That these rules are a substantive change.

3. You feel that DEA should immediately suspend the "interpretive", "interim" and "proposed" rules and initiate a new rulemaking process with public hearings.

4. The DEA should use the Negotiated Rulemaking Procedure of the Administrative Procedures Act to negotiate rules that would be acceptable to both the DEA and the hemp industry.

5. Any economic or personal damage that you, your company, or companies that you have invested in may suffer because of these rules.

For reference you can view the text files at our web site at:

<http://www.hempreport.com/downloads/01-25024-filed.txt>

<http://www.hempreport.com/downloads/01-25023-filed.txt>

<http://www.hempreport.com/downloads/01-25022-filed.txt>

To keep up on Hemp News please go to:

<http://www.hempreport.com/news.html>

We encourage you forward this email as you see fit!

arthur hanks
editor/publisher
the hemp report
hcfr@sk.sympatico.ca
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada
@}-+-+-
The Hemp Report @ http://www.hempreport.com
NEW land mail address (August 1st, 2001):
#13-2255 Smith St. Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 2P5, tel (306) 790-9305 fax (810) 314-2138
editor: arthurhanks@hotmail.com
sales and sponsorship: hcfr@sk.sympatico.ca
The Hemp Report is an industry-sponsored trade journal

Action Alert

Date: Mon, 05 Nov 2001
From: list-manager@votehemp.com
Subject: Please send comments to DEA on hemp food rules

As we have previously communicated, DEA recently issued new rules that attempt to ban hemp seed and oil based foods containing any amount of THC. Although "any THC" is not currently detected by the official Health Canada protocol in most hemp foods (which are thus still being sold to consumers at natural foods retailers like Whole Foods and Wild Oats), the DEA's rules do not specify a detection protocol and thus put hemp foods' future in an unacceptably ambiguous position. These rules are blatant violations of the original Congressional intent that exempted hemp seed and oil from DEA's control: the miniscule trace non-significant THC in hemp seed and oil presents absolutely no potential for abuse. Poppy seed bagels are legal even though they contain trace amounts of opiates, yet DEA has not tried to remove them from your local bakery.

Thousands of letters were sent to Congress in response to our previous request that individuals send their federal elected officials a pre-written fax from the Vote Hemp website. If you were one of the many who sent letters to Congress, thanks for taking action to support hemp foods.

Now we need to send comments directly to DEA during the public comment period which ends December 10. DEA had previously tried to avoid hearing from concerned citizens by refusing to accept comments by e-mail and fax. However, as a result of pressure from Vote Hemp, DEA will now accept comments by fax which you can do for free from the Vote Hemp site. Please go to the Vote Hemp Action Alert page (http://www.votehemp.com/action.html) and click on the "Send a Pre-written Fax" feature which is now revamped with a different pre-written letter special for the DEA. Then, please edit and customize the pre-written letter as you like to make it your own, and click to send it to DEA. Thanks for your continued support!

list-manager@votehemp.com

Action Alert

Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001
From: list-manager@votehemp.com
Subject: Hemp Foods Contain No Detectable THC

Hemp Foods Contain No Detectable THC

After extensive meetings and discussions with most of the major hemp food companies, it has become clear that according to the official Health Canada testing protocol, none of these hemp food companies have any detectable THC in their products. These companies feel they comply with the DEA's regulations as written and wish to reassure distributors, retailers and customers that their nutritious hemp foods remain perfectly legal for resale and consumption.

However, since the DEA has not specified a detection protocol and a corresponding de minimus limit of detection, the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) and supporting plaintiffs are filing for a "Stay Pending Review" in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. If granted, the stay would have the effect of invalidating the interpretive rule and force the DEA into a formal rule-making process with an opportunity for public notice and comment and hopefully public hearings before any rule would take effect.

If, after receiving public comments, the DEA went ahead with a rule that could cause hemp foods to become illegal, plaintiffs intend to litigate on the substantive issues. These include the facts that hemp seed and oil and hemp seed and oil based foods are exempted from control under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and that hemp products are safe and healthy for human consumption, being an excellent and tasty source of protein and essential fatty acids (EFA's) which are needed by the body for good health. Our goal is reasonable regulations to fully protect, without ambiguity, the manufacture, resale and consumption of hemp food.

The hemp industry has responsibly addressed all psychoactive health and drug-testing issues with a wide margin of safety (see the TestPledge program at http://www.TestPledge.com).

We need to let Congress know that the DEA's actions are wrong and educate them about the benefits of hemp foods. Please take a moment to write your Senators and Congressperson today by visiting http://www.votehemp.com/action.html and clicking on the "Send a Pre-written Fax" link.

list-manager@votehemp.com

Action Alert

Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001
From: list-manager@votehemp.com
Subject: DEA Issues New Rules to Ban Hemp Foods

Oct. 11, 2001
For immediate release

DEA Issues New Rules to Ban Hemp Foods

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published rules regarding industrial hemp products in the Federal Register on October 9, 2001 which were effective immediately. Without any compelling reason or the required public notice and comment period, the DEA issued an interpretive rule banning hemp seed and oil food products that contain any amount of trace residual THC, devastating the hemp food industry and potentially subjecting businesses and consumers to federal criminal penalties. DEA also issued an interim rule exempting hemp bodycare and fiber products from DEA control, but the legal status of bodycare products is now ambiguous. Hemp seeds and oil have absolutely no psychoactive effect and are about as likely to be abused as poppy seed bagels for their trace opiate content, or fruit juices because of their trace alcohol content (present through natural fermentation).

Furthermore, the hemp industry has established the science based TestPledge (http://www.testpledge.com) program. TestPledge companies clean their seed and oil to assure consumers a wide margin of safety from confirming positive in a workplace drug-test even when eating an unrealistic amount of hemp foods daily. The DEA's actions are especially puzzling, as they have not targeted poppy seeds and their trace opiates. In fact, the U.S. government raised drug-test thresholds for opiates in the 1990's to accommodate the poppy seed industry.

Hemp seed is one of nature's most perfect sources for human nutrition. In addition to its excellent flavor profile, the seeds supply all the essential amino acids in an easily digestible form with a high protein efficiency ratio. Hemp oil offers high concentrations of the two essential fatty acids (EFA's) in a perfect ratio of the omega-3/omega-6 acids. This superior nutritional profile makes shelled hemp seed and oil ideal for a wide range of functional food applications and as an effective fatty acid supplement. Not surprisingly, shelled hemp seed and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as corn chips, nutrition bars, hummus, nondairy milks, breads and cereals.

The high and balanced essential fatty acid content of hemp oil also makes it ideal as a topical ingredient in both leave-on and rinse-off bodycare products. The EFA's help soothe and restore skin in lotions and creams and give excellent emolliency and smooth after feel to lotions, lip balms, conditioners, shampoos, soaps and shaving products.

Estimated retail sales for hemp food and bodycare products in the U.S. exceeded $25 million in 2000, up from less than $1 million in the early 90's. Hemp foods and bodycare products have penetrated the mainstream marketplace and rapid growth was expected to continue before Tuesday's DEA action.

Poppy seeds contain trace opiates, fruit juice contains trace alcohol, hemp seeds contain trace THC. Trace contaminants exist in nature and in our food supply, and our government regulatory agencies set limits to protect consumer health. The hemp industry has responsibly addressed all health, safety and drug-testing issues with a wide margin of safety, and would like to formalize TestPledge standards with governmental sanction. However, the DEA does not want to acknowledge the truth of hemp seed and oil foods: that they are a superior nutritional resource for Americans.

Hemp offers environmental advantages and has a long history of use for paper, fabrics, cordage and birdseed, as well as being a nutritional food and superior bodycare ingredient. Hemp is now being grown in 29 countries including Canada, England, France, Germany and Spain. Each of these countries has adopted regulatory models that allow for safe human consumption of hemp products. Legislation relating to hemp has been passed in 16 states. This past year, the National Conference of State Legislatures adopted a resolution calling for changes to federal laws to allow for domestic hemp cultivation. For more information on the phenomenal potential of industrial hemp, please visit: http://www.votehemp.com and http://www.thehia.org.

The DEA's planned new rules will cause substantial harm to hemp businesses and consumers alike and are not based on any real threat or abuse potential. Like poppy seed, hemp seed is clearly exempted from the Controlled Substances Act by Congress. 21 U.S.C. 802(16), (19) and (20). The hemp industry is currently pursuing legal action.

Please go to our Action Alert page and send a pre-written letter to Congress at: http://www.votehemp.com/action.html

list-manager@votehemp.com

WARNING: DEA to ban hemp products!

The DEA published rules banning hemp on October 9th.
The public comment period runs until December 10th.

Please see our Action Page for the latest updates.

This might be your last chance to do something about the proposed rules listed below. This has been in the works since at least mid-April of 2000. Anyone who thinks that the DEA is backing off is wrong as they just published the proposed rules again in the Federal Register, Unified Agenda on Monday, May 14, 2001. Please email your friends and tell them what is going on and send them to this page. Write letters to your representatives in Congress telling them you oppose the proposed DEA hemp rules. Ask you local newspaper, TV station, radio station to cover the story. So far I have yet to see it on the TV news or hear it on the radio, though some stories have appeared in newspapers. Tell the owner of your favorite health food store, have them tell their distributors. There is plenty of information here, so take action!

All links will open in a new browser window

Hawai`i State Representative Cynthia Thielen writes:

There is a very real threat to the Industrial Hemp industry! Please take the time to educate yourself, as a business person or as a consumer, as products that you make or buy may be made illegal, especially those intended for human consumption. Industrial Hemp trade and lobby organizations need to be especially vocal on this issue.

Letter to Representative Cynthia Thielen
The March 30, 2001 letter from Toni P. Teresi, DEA Chief, Office of Congressional Affairs to Hawaii State Representative Cynthia Thielen. Clarifies the DEA's current position on the Proposed Hemp Rules "Use Of Marijuana For Industrial Purposes" and spells out the DEA's responsibilities under the Administrative Procedure Act with respect to publication of Rules and Public Comment. March 30, 2001, 2 pages, Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.

Click here to see the February 9, 2001 letter from a bi-partisan group of Hawai`i Legislators to President George W. Bush. A copy of the 2/5/2001 update of the State Legislative Action For The Development Of A Hemp Industry In The U.S. was sent with the letter to President Bush. Also enclosed was a copy of the April 7, 2000 letter from Hawai`i Governor Benjamin Cayetano to DEA Administrator Donnie Marshall.

Click here to see the December 30, 1999 memo from past ONDCP Director Barry McCaffery to DEA Administrator Donnie Marshall.

RCA Industrial Hemp Page
The Resource Conservation Alliance main Industrial Hemp page. Includes the March 6, 2001 letter to the Bush administration requesting that they reconsider the industrial hemp petition denied during the last few weeks of Clinton's presidency and the accompanying press release. Recommended.

Note: The Industrial Hemp Action Links and contact information are after Representative Cynthia Thielen's latest email.

The updated proposed changes, cut and pasted below:

To download the .pdf version of the "INDUSTRIAL USE OF PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS DERIVED FROM CANNABIS PLANTS" or the see the original text use the GPO Access Multi-Database Search below to search for "hemp" in the Unified Agenda (2001) database.

DEA publication of proposed rules on Industrial Hemp. Page 25625 from the Federal Register, Volume 66, Number 93, Unified Agenda, Monday, May 14, 2001, 1 page.

Note: the document you download will be an Adobe Acrobat document, but it will be called "waisgate.cgi" and you may need to save it and open it from Adobe Acrobat Reader.

GPO Access Multi-Database Search
If you want to go searching for U.S. Government documents this is a good start. There are quite a few databases to choose from. If you do searches for "marijuana" and "cannabis" as well as "hemp" you will pull up most of the relevant documents on the subject of Industrial Hemp. Please search all of the various databases, there are a lot of interesting items in there.

[May 14, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 93)]
[Unified Agenda]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:ua14my01_011-50]

[Page 25625]

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) Proposed Rule Stage

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
_______________________________________________________________________

1677. INDUSTRIAL USE OF PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS DERIVED FROM CANNABIS
PLANTS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 21 USC 802; 21 USC 811; 21 USC 812; 21 USC 871(b)

CFR Citation: 21 CFR 1308

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: DEA is planning to publish three rules simultaneously in the
Federal Register regarding the status of products manufactured from the
cannabis plant. It is anticipated that the three rules will be as
follows.
The first rule will be an interpretive rule, which will provide DEA's
interpretation of existing law with respect to the listing of
tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances
Act (CSA) and DEA regulations. (Please see "Additional Information"
for further details.)
The second rule will be a proposed rule, which will propose to revise
the wording of the DEA regulations to more clearly reflect DEA's
interpretation of the law as set forth in the interpretive rule. The
proposed rule would make clear that the listing of THC in Schedule I
includes both natural and synthetic THC and that any substance
containing any amount of THC is a Schedule I controlled substance--even
if such substance is made from "hemp."
The third rule will be an interim rule, which will exempt from
application of the CSA and DEA regulations certain industrial "hemp"
products. DEA would be issuing this rule to allow the continuation of
what have historically been considered legitimate industrial uses of
"hemp." Under this rule, industrial "hemp" products such as paper,
rope, and clothing may continue to be marketed in the United States
without being subject to the CSA. At the same time, in order to protect
the public health and safety, the interim rule will not allow "hemp"
products that result in THC entering the human body. In this manner, it
will remain clear that the only lawful way THC may enter the human body
is when a person is using a federally approved drug or when the person
is the subject of federally approved research.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Clarification of Listing of Tetrahydrocannabinols NPRM 10/00/01

Exemption from Control of Certain Industrial Products and Material
Derived From the Cannabis Plant Interim Final Rule 10/00/01

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined

Government Levels Affected: None

Additional Information: While agencies are not required to include
information regarding interpretive rules in the Unified Agenda, DEA is
providing a description of this interpretive rule for informational
purposes. The interpretive rule will provide DEA's interpretation of
existing law with respect to the listing of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC)
in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and DEA
regulations. The rule will further provide DEA's interpretation of the
current legal status of products containing THC. In recent months, DEA
has received numerous inquiries from members of the public about the
legal status of products made from "hemp" (portions of the cannabis
plant excluded from the CSA definition of marijuana). As stated in this
rule, DEA interprets the CSA such that any substance containing any
amount of THC is a Schedule I containing any amount of THC is a
Schedule I controlled substance--even if such substance is made from
"hemp."

Agency Contact: Frank Sapienza, Chief, Drug and Chemical Evaluation
Section, Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office
of Diversion Control, Washington, DC 20537
Phone: 202 307-7183

RIN: 1117-AA55

_______________________________________________________________________

The original proposed changes, cut and pasted below:

To download the .pdf version of the "USE OF MARIJUANA FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES" or the see the original text use the GPO Access Multi-Database Search below to search for "hemp" in the Unified Agenda (2000) database.

DEA publication of proposed rules on Industrial Hemp. Page 74025 from the Federal Register, Vol. 65, No. 231, Unified Agenda, Thursday, November 30, 2000, 1 page.

Note: the document you download will be an Adobe Acrobat document, but it will be called "waisgate.cgi" and you may need to save it and open it from Adobe Acrobat Reader.

ce, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of
Diversion Control, Washington, DC 20537
Phone: 202 307-7297

RIN: 1117-AA53
_______________________________________________________________________

<DOC>
[November 30, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 231)]
[Unified Agenda]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:ua30no00_011-52]

[Page 74025]

Department of Justice (DOJ) Proposed Rule Stage

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

_______________________________________________________________________

1985. <bullet> USE OF MARIJUANA FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 21 USC 802; 21 USC 811; 21 USC 812; 21 USC 871(b)

CFR Citation: 21 CFR 1308

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: DEA is planning to publish three rules simultaneously in the
Federal Register regarding the status of products manufactured from the
cannabis plant. It is anticipated that the three rules will be as
follows.
The first rule will be an interpretive rule, which will provide DEA's
interpretation of existing law with respect to the listing of
tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances
Act (CSA) and DEA regulations. [Please see "Additional Information"
for further details].
The second rule will be a proposed rule which will propose to revise
the wording of the DEA regulations to more clearly reflect DEA's
interpretation of the law as set forth in the interpretive rule. The
proposed rule would make clear that the listing of THC in Schedule I
includes both natural and synthetic THC and that any substance
containing any amount of THC is a Schedule I controlled substance--even
if such substance is made from "hemp."
The third rule will be an interim rule, which will exempt from
application of the CSA and DEA regulations certain industrial
"hemp"
products. DEA would be issuing this rule to allow the continuation of
what have historically been considered legitimate industrial uses of
"hemp." Under this rule, industrial
"hemp" products such as paper,
rope, and clothing may continue to be marketed in the United States
without being subject to the CSA. At the same time, in order to protect
the public health and safety, the interim rule will not allow
"hemp"
products that result in THC entering the human body. In this manner, it
will remain clear that the only lawful way THC may enter the human body
is when a person is using a federally approved drug or when the person
is the subject of federally approved research.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Clarification of Listing of Tetrahydrocannabinols NPRM 11/00/00

Exemption from Control of Certain Industrial Products and Material
Derived From the Cannabis Plant Interim Final Rule 11/00/00

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined

Government Levels Affected: None

Additional Information: While agencies are not required to include
information regarding interpretive rules in the Unified Agenda, DEA is
providing a description of this interpretive rule for informational
purposes. The interpretive rule will provide DEA's interpretation of
existing law with respect to the listing of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC)
in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and DEA
regulations. The rule will further provide DEA's interpretation of the
current legal status of products containing THC. In recent months, DEA
has received numerous inquiries from members of the public about the
legal status of products made from "hemp" (portions of the
cannabis plant excluded from the CSA definition of marijuana). As stated in
this rule, DEA interprets the CSA such that any substance containing any
amount of THC is a Schedule I containing any amount of THC is a
Schedule I controlled substance--even if such substance is made from
"hemp."

Agency Contact: Frank Sapienza, Chief, Drug and Chemical Evaluation
Section, Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office
of Diversion Control, Washington, DC 20537 Phone: 202 307-7183

RIN: 1117-AA55
_______________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C.
December 21, 2000

PRO-HEMP RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE
LEGISLATURES AT WASHINGTON DC MEETING

At its winter meeting on Dec. 13-15, the National Conference of State Legislatures adopted a resolution on the subject of hemp. The resolution contains the following recommendations:

- The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) strongly urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to collaboratively develop and adopt an official definition of industrial hemp, as per those nations currently producing hemp.

- NCSL also strongly urges Congress to amend US Code sections 21 U.S.C. Sec. 812 (10) and 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841 to distinguish between industrial hemp and marijuana varieties of cannabis as they relate to production, possession, delivery, and intended use.

- NCSL requests the USDA and the DEA to review the procedures under which their Canadian counterparts are authorized to sanction the commercial development of industrial hemp.

- NCSL also strongly urges Congress statutorily to direct the DEA to revise its policies to be less restrictive and to allow states to establish state regulatory programs, thus fostering the development of domestic hemp production by American farmers and manufacturers.

- Toward this end, a copy of this resolution will be sent to members of the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Acting DEA director Donnie R. Marshall, the office of ONDCP, and the President of the United States. (END)

The NCSL is considering whether it will comment on the new proposed rules regarding the treatment of hemp products, which are to be published in the Federal Register.

Rep. Jon Nelson (R-N.D.) introduced the resolution before the Agriculture and International Trade Committee. The meeting, moderated by Rep. Maxine Bell (R-Idaho) offered a debate, with John Howell of Hempwell Inc. speaking on behalf of the resolution, and Col. Robert Maginnis of the Family Research Council speaking against it, followed by a lengthy question and answer period. After the presentation, a voice vote was taken and the measure passed by over the required three-quarters majority.

The next day, the full plenary session conducted a lengthy debate and again, passed the measure by voice vote with a more than three-quarters majority.

This resolution was the result of a similar presentation at the NCSL's annual meeting, held in Chicago in July. A display booth of hemp products was presented by Hempwell Inc. and was supported by The Body Shop, Eco Fields retail store, EcoDragon, Hemp Basics, Artisan Gear, and Living Tree Paper Company. Over 1,200 legislators, staff members, policy makers, and lobbyists passed through the hemp informational display. Following this meeting, John Howell of Hempwell was invited to speak on behalf of the resolution at the winter meeting in Washington D.C.

For more info contact: jhowell@hempwell.com
-END-

Friend Letter to President Clinton Regarding the Cultivation and Marketing of Industrial Hemp
This is the original letter to President Clinton on the NCSL web site. You will need to click on the "Public User" login on the NCSL splash screen that appears.

Hawai`i State Representative Cynthia Thielen's home page
Representative Cynthia Thielen, Assistant Republican Floor Leader in the Hawaii Legislature, is a leader in the national movement to reestablish Industrial Hemp as an agricultural crop for America's farmers and businesses. She co-sponsored the bill, which allowed Hawaii to be the first state in the nation to plant Industrial Hemp and expects this crop to be a replacement crop for the ailing sugar industry in the Islands. To read more about the project and related legislation, please visit her web site.

Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001

From: Cynthia Thielen <thielen@aloha.net>

Reply-To: thielen@aloha.net

Subject: Re: DEA regulations

I've received the following update from DEA on the status of its proposed rules to outlaw all hemp products intended for human consumption. Please distribute this to those in the hemp industry.

Donnie Marshall, DEA Administrator under the Clinton Administration, has been asked to stay as Administrator. Mr. Marshall is in favor of the proposed rules.

DEA will be tying "THC & human consumption" to health issues. The reason this is important for you to know is that President George W. Bush's hold on all new rules/regulations does not include those necessary for health reasons. I do not know if DEA is trying to get approval from OMB to go ahead and publish its proposed rules, claiming a health exemption, but that is a likely possibility.

The Department of Justice probably will be looking at this issue again. DEA feels it will ultimately go to court, and the agency apparently is not upset about this. DEA also feels it may need a "legislative fix." The agency knows there is confusion or conflict in the Controlled Substances Act, [and this is evidenced by the John Roth DOJ letter.]

DEA has heard from a number of Congressional members on the proposed rules issue, but again the requests are for information rather than a pro or anti statement from the congress members.

What to do at this point: several suggestions. 1. Write the Acting head of OMB asking him/her not to approve any proposed rule changes affecting hemp, as it is not a health issue. Explain why. 2. Write to Attorney General John Ashcroft. Be polite. Be concise! State who you are, explain what DEA proposes, explain why it will harm your company & farmers, explain why it is not necessary (the Gero Lesson study, etc.), and ask for a response or contact name/tele # of the person in the DOJ who will be handling this issue. Remember, you need to educate A.G. Ashcroft. 3. Write to President George W. Bush. Same as above. Do not alienate the new administration. Mention the number of states that have enacted industrial hemp legislation or are considering it this legislative session. Joe, please email this list with web site for that info. 4. Write Donnie Marshall. When he first came into office, he was open to considering rules to allow America's farmers to grow industrial hemp. Be polite. Tell him it is a farmer issue, and economic issue, and how many states are proposing to grow industrial hemp. (14 as of today). 5. If you have Republican Congress members or hemp supportive members, ask them to work with President Bush to get this crop legalized. And ask them to contact Donnie Marshall again, urging him to reexamine the regulations to allow farmers to grow hemp.

Another suggestion from a former DOJ official under Clinton: Write a brief letter to Attorney General Ashcroft, asking for a DOJ review of the issue, a review of the DEA's proposed rules, explaining the movement among states to authorize industrial hemp as an agricultural crop. Offer to be a resource and why your particular expertise would be helpful. Ask for the name of the DOJ attorney he will be assigning to this issue.

Ashcroft hasn't been confirmed yet, so people should draft letters but date and send them after Senate confirms him. OMB Director is confirmed. His name is Mitch Daniels--Director of White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

If you are in Washington State, then please use this easy to contact form: http://www.house.gov/inslee/emailform.htm

With aloha,
Rep. Cynthia Thielen
Assistant Republican Floor Leader
Hawaii House of Representatives

Editor's note: John Ashcroft has been confirmed as U.S. Attorney General

To read past emails from Representative Thielen go to our: Cynthia Thielen Email Archive.

All links will open in a new browser window

Industrial Hemp Action Links

|Top |

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
president@whitehouse.gov
202-456-1414 - phone
202-456-2461 - fax
Vice President Dick Cheney
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
vicepresident@whitehouse.gov
202-456-1414 - phone
202-456-2461 - fax

Mr. Asa Hutchinson, Administrator
Drug Enforcement Administration
U.S. Department of Justice
700 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22202
202-307-4689 - fax

John Ashcroft, U.S. Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Ann Veneman, Sec. of Agriculture
US Dept. of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW #200A
Washington, DC 20250
Ann.Veneman@usda.gov
202-720-3631 - phone

Chuck Winwood, Acting Commissioner
U.S. Customs
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20229
(202) 927-1000 - phone
(202) 927-1380 - fax

Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., Director
White House Office of Management and Budget
Old Executive Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20503
(202) 395-4840 - phone
(202) 395-1005 - fax

Paul Henry O'Neill, Secretary
Department of the Treasury
Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20220
(202) 622-2000 - phone
(202) 622-2599 - fax

Norman Mineta, Secretary
Department of Commerce
Herbert Hoover Bldg.
Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues NW
Washington DC 20230
(202) 482-2000 - phone
(202) 482-2741 - fax

Edward H. Jurith, Acting Director
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Executive Office of the President
Washinton, DC 20503

Global Hemp - Portal to the hemp community
A very up to date hemp news source. There are many actionable news items listed including a very well written letter by David Bronner of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. The title is "Re: DEA Interpretive Rule Banning Hemp Foods/Oils."

The Federal Register, United States of America
What is the FEDERAL REGISTER?
The Federal Register is a legal newspaper published every business day by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). It contains Federal agency regulations; proposed rules and notices; and Executive orders, proclamations and other Presidential documents. The Federal Register informs citizens of their rights and obligations and provides access to a wide range of Federal benefits and opportunities for funding. NARA´s Office of the Federal Register prepares the Federal Register for publication in partnership with the Government Printing Office (GPO), which distributes it in paper, on microfiche and on the World Wide Web.
Why should I read the FEDERAL REGISTER?
If you need to know about the day-to-day operations of the Federal Government;
If your business is regulated by a Federal agency;
If you are an attorney practicing before a regulatory agency;
If your organization attends public hearings or meetings or applies for grants;
If you are concerned with Government actions that affect the environment, health care, financial services, exports, education, or other major public policy issues

-- Then reading the Federal Register may be vital to you and your customers. You should read it daily!

Click on "Today's Table of Contents" in the left-hand navigation bar to see each day's Federal Register.

Contacting the Congress
Contacting the Congress is a very up-to-date database of congressional contact information for the 107th Congress. As of June 26, 2001 there are 509 email addresses (of which 201 are Web-based email homepages), and 535 WWW homepages known for the 540 members of the 107th Congress. More traditional ground mail addresses are available for all Congressmembers.

Vote Hemp
VoteHemp.com was created by prominent members of the Hemp Industry to educate and reactivate voters who have lost faith in the political system. Site offers voter registration and lists positions of all State and Federal candidates on industrial hemp. Site goal is to put pressure on government officials to allow hemp cultivation in the US. Please remember to sign up for the VoteHemp Action Alert e-mail list.

Project Vote Smart - A Voter's Self Defense System
Project Vote Smart is a national library of factual information on over 13,000 elected offices and candidates for public office --- President, Governors, Congress and State Legislatures. We cover them in five basic areas: backgrounds, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and the performance evaluations made on them by over 100 conservative to liberal special interests.

NAIHC POSITION PAPER - Separating the Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Issues
Industrial Hemp is not a drug and is therefore not a drug issue-except to the extent that it is presently misclassified by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration as a drug.
Industrial Hemp is not marijuana. It should be regulated as an agricultural crop. This is another must read!

United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.
Article 28 states:

"2. This Convention shall not apply to the cultivation of the cannabis plant exclusively for industrial purposes (fibre and seed) or horticultural purposes."

Click on the "Articles " link to get to Article 28.

21 USC 802 - Definitions
Scroll down in the lower window to get to Definition 16

From 21 USCS 802, Definition 16 (US Code as of: 01/23/00)

"The term "marihuana" means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin. Such term does not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination."
Industrial Hemp is not "marihuana", but if the legal definition is changed or interpreted differently, it will be.

Nader/Laduke blast DEA proposed hemp food policy, raid in SD
You can see the press conference on the web courtesy of C-SPAN at the above URL. You will need RealPlayer. Running time 57 minutes. Highly recommended!
Note: This link will open a Real Player document.

Please email us with any suggestions, links, dead links, etc.

IndustrialHemp(at)mac.com

Last updated 3 September 2003 7:15 pm GMT