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Video - Monson v DEA Press Conference - November 14, 2007
On June 18, 2007 the two North Dakota farmers granted state hemp farming licenses, Rep. David Monson and Wayne Hauge, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota in an effort to end the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) obstruction of commercial hemp farming in the United States. If successful, the legal action would result in licensed hemp farmers receiving assurances that no federal agency could hold them criminally liable under the Controlled Substances Act. Vote Hemp's grassroots supporters are funding the legal action.
Please click here to listen to a recording of the June 18, 2007 teleconference discussing the filing case of Monson vs DEA. Participants were: Rep. David Monson, North Dakota House assistant majority leader, farmer; Wayne Hauge, Seed breeder, licensed hemp farmer; Roger Johnson, North Dakota agriculture commissioner; Tim Purdon, Vogel Law Firm, Bismarck, attorney for the plaintiffs; Joe Sandler, legal counsel for VoteHemp.com; Eric Steenstra, president, VoteHemp.com. (mp3 file 13MB)
On May 18, 2010, North Dakota's Speaker of the House, David Monson, and North Dakota farmer Wayne Hauge filed a legal action against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The DEA has delayed the approval of the farmers' applications for federal licenses to grow industrial hemp for more than 3 years. Both farmers have recieved state liscenses to grow hemp for the past four growing seasons under North Dakota's industrial hemp program. Monson and Hauge are seeking federal registrations that would enable them to cultivate oilseed and fiber varieties as farmers in Canada and Europe already do.
For over a decade, North Dakotans have tried to implement non-drug industrial hemp farming under a state licensing program. Even though the state does not require farmers to obtain permission from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to grow hemp, Monson and Hauge have done so to ensure their farms will not be raided by federal drug control agents.
Petition for Review (PDF file 152k)
David Monson v. Drug Enforcement Administration - United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - May 18, 2010
Petition for Review (PDF file 160k)
Wayne Hauge v. Drug Enforcement Administration - United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - May 18, 2010
Opinion - U.S. Court of Appeals Case No: 07-3837
District of North Dakota - Bismarck
[PUBLISHED] [Bowman, Author, with Melloy and Smith, Circuit Judges] Civil case - Controlled Substances Act. District court did not err in concluding the cannabis plants plaintiffs proposed to cultivate fell within the Controlled Substances Act's definition of marijuana and that their planned cultivation of industrial hemp under North Dakota state law was subject to federal regulation under the Controlled Substances Act; plaintiffs had standing to challenge the Act because they established they were targets of DEA action and showed actual injury sufficient to confer standing; their claims were ripe for review, and the district court did not err in finding that further efforts to exhaust the DEA's administrative procedures would be futile; Congress has the authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate marijuana that is grown on a large scale for the undeniably commercial purpose of generating products for sale in interstate commerce; Congress's decision to regulate the manufacture of all marijuana plants - regardless of the grower's ultimate purpose - was a rational means of achieving the congressional purpose of controlling the supply and demand for controlled substances and state law restrictions, such as prohibiting the plant from leaving the farmer's property, did not place the cultivation beyond Congress's reach. Click here to download the opinion (PDF file 52k)
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit - December 22, 2009
Oral Arguments - 07-3837 (mp3 file 7.8MB)
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit - November 12, 2008
Documents For Case 07-3837David Monson v. Drug Enforcement
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Transcript of Proceeding (PDF file 1000k)
Taken at United States Courthouse, Bismarck, North Dakota before the Honorable Daniel L. Hovland, United States District Judge - November 14, 2007
Brief Of Amicus Curiae (PDF file 3.1MB)
North Dakota State University In Support Of Plaintiffs' Cross-Motion For Summary Judgement And In Opposition To Defendants' Motion To Dismiss. Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota - October 25, 2007
Motion By Amicus Curiae (PDF file 832k)
North Dakota State University For Leave To File Brief In Support Of Plaintiffs' Cross-Motion For Summary Judgement And In Opposition To Defendants' Motion To Dismiss. Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota - October 25, 2007
North Dakota State University letter to DEA (PDF file 176k)
The letter is in support of the Application of David C. Monson as a Manufacturer of Controlled Substances. The letter is signed by Associate Professor Burton Johnson, Ph.D. and Dean and Director Kenneth Grafton - July 27, 2007
