Washington, DC — October 14, 2008

On Tuesday October 13th, farmers Wayne Hauge of North Dakota and Will Allen of Vermont were arrested at DEA headquarters in Arlington, VA for planting industrial hemp seeds on the DEA lawn. Also arrested were David Bronner of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Steve Levine of the Hemp Industries Association and Vote Hemp, Isaac Nichelson of Livity Outernational and Adam Eidinger of Vote Hemp.

Hemp Industries Association members were in Washington, DC for their annual meeting and to lobby members of Congress to support H.R. 1866, The Hemp Farming Act of 2009.

Approximately 20 protesters arrived at DEA at around 10:30 am with signs and ceremonial shovels and began digging and planting industrial hemp seeds on the lawn. DEA security began asking if the protesters had a permit. The protesters explained that North Dakota farmers had applied for DEA permits almost 2 years ago and still had not received a reply. They were arrested a short while later by Arlington County police. All 6 were released later that day after being charged with trespassing.

The Washington Post published a good story on the DEA protest today and media around the US is picking up the story.

Thanks to your continued support, Vote Hemp has secured 16 co-sponsors for H.R. 1866 this year and we are pushing for hearings in Congress. Vote Hemp is coordinating a North Dakota farmers lawsuit against DEA in Federal Court. Vote Hemp is also working with farmers and businesses to educate the Obama administration and to convince them to review the policy on hemp farming and once again allow U.S. farmers to grow industrial hemp.

Please consider making a donation today to support our ongoing work at:
http://www.votehemp.com/contribute.php

To view a video of the protest and see pictures, go to:
http://www.votehemp.com/DEAhempplanting.html

To read the press release, go to:
http://www.votehemp.com/PR/10-13-09_vh_DEA_hempplanting.html

Vote Hemp is a national, single-issue, non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for low-THC industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow the crop.

Support Vote Hemp

There are many things you can do to help Vote Hemp change the laws to once again allow U.S. farmers to grow hemp. Click on the "What Can I Do?" link below to learn more.