By James MacPherson, Associated Press
Grand Forks Herald
June 16, 2006

BISMARCK, ND Ñ Stark County farmers George and Earlene Frank say they're willing to get fingerprinted and undergo criminal background checks to grow hemp, the biological cousin of marijuana.

The elderly couple, who grow small grains and raise cattle south of Dickinson, say industrial hemp would be a much-needed alternative cash crop for North Dakota farmers.

"There is a definite need for more crops that can grow in this area," Earlene Frank said. She called law enforcement fears about hemp "silly."

The couple were among about 20 people who attended a public hearing on Thursday on proposed state rules for the production of industrial hemp.

Drug War Chronicle
Issue #440
June 16, 2006

Moves are afoot in California and North Dakota to win approval of industrial hemp production at the state level, but the ultimate goal is removing the federal government as an obstacle to domestic cultivation of the valuable and versatile plant. Under current U.S. law, hemp products are legal and hemp may be imported to be used in products produced here, but the plant itself cannot legally be grown in the US.

Still, seven states Ñ Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia Ñ have changed their laws to give farmers an affirmative right to grow industrial hemp commercially or for research purposes. This week, North Dakota took another step toward adopting administrative rules and regulations to breathe some life into its law with a public hearing Thursday. And in California, a bill that would move the Golden State to the hemp camp has already passed the state Assembly and is moving in the Senate after a legislative hearing Tuesday.

Hemp is classified as the same species as marijuana, Cannabis sativa L., but is a different cultivar and possesses different characteristics. Most important, legally, hemp is distinguished from marijuana by its very low levels of THC, the primary psychoactive component in marijuana. Hemp plants typically contain THC levels under 1%. In the Dakotas, feral hemp, or "ditch weed," descended from the "victory hemp" of World War II grows everywhere, and, as local farm boy wisdom puts it: "You could smoke a joint the size of a telephone pole, and all you'd get is a sore throat and a headache."

Press Release
Office of Assemblyman Mark Leno
June 20, 2006

SACRAMENTO, CA Ñ Assembly Bill 1147, authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine) permitting California farmers to grow industrial hemp for the sale of seed, oil and fiber to manufacturers, passed the Senate Public Safety Committee today on a vote of 4 to 2.

"California farmers are missing out on a multimillion dollar market that already exists in California," said Assemblyman Mark Leno. "Hundreds of hemp products are made right here in California, but manufactures are forced to import hemp seed, oil and fiber from other countries. This measure will allow California to lead the way in tapping into a $270 million industry that's growing by $26 million each year."

Sponsored by Vote Hemp, AB 1147 would permit California farmers to grow industrial hemp, a variety of cannabis that grows up to 16 feet tall, resembles bamboo, and has no psychoactive properties. Under the bill, industrial hemp is defined as cannabis having 0.3% THC or less and its cultivation is only permitted as an agricultural field crop or in a research setting. Cultivation in groves, yards or other locations is prohibited.