cannabisnews.com: Hemp-in-Food Ban Spurs High-Spirited Debate 





Hemp-in-Food Ban Spurs High-Spirited Debate 
Posted by FoM on January 10, 2002 at 08:00:25 PT
By Frank Green, Union-Tribune Staff Writer 
Source: Union-Tribune
The use of hemp in such foods as snack bars and salad dressings may be about to go up in smoke. Dozens of companies that mix the fibrous material into their products -- including San Diego County-based Govinda's Fitness Foods and Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap -- are fighting a recent ruling by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that would permanently ban hemp as a food ingredient. 
The Hemp Industry Association, a trade group representing the firms, filed a brief in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Monday seeking to overturn the DEA's decision, which could take effect as early as this summer. Hemp-related products "are about to take off, and we need a good, clean victory so that companies that are looking to use hemp won't have to worry about any interference in their shipments," said David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner's and chairman of the association's food and oils committee. Hemp contains trace elements of the psychoactive substance Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is found in marijuana. Banning hemp in food would bring the substance into line with the government's strict no-tolerance drug policies, the DEA says. "The critical element is whether a product intended for human consumption contains THC, which is illegal," said Rogene Waite, a DEA spokeswoman in Washington, D.C. Congress exempted nonviable hemp seed and oil from the Controlled Substances Act of 1971, while also exempting poppy seeds, which likewise contain trace levels of opiates. Hemp products account for about $40 million in annual sales in the food and body care sectors, and $100 million in sales in the fiber sector, according to the hemp association. Nature's Path, Nativa and Hempola are among other companies using hemp in foods such as granola, tortilla chips and pretzels. "We're worried that the DEA will target foods, then go after body care products," said Bronner, who estimated that the hemp association has invested about $30,000 to fight the DEA ruling. At Govinda's, the DEA ban would wipe out the fledgling company's popular line of carob, nut seed, fruit and ginger-chia hemp bars. Founded in 1996 by three Hare Krishna devotees, Govinda's last year sold about $200,000 worth of the bars -- which carry the tagline "The Higher Taste" -- to such chains as Whole Foods and Wild Oats. The company's primary line of nonhemp Govinda's energy bars accounted for $800,000 or so in revenue in 2001. Larry Gatpandan, a co-founder of the firm, expressed frustration yesterday that the government is targeting what he described as a nutritious product first cultivated 1,000 years ago by the Chinese for its healthful properties. The hemp seed contains essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6, as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium and Vitamin A, he said. "You'd have to eat 500 pounds of hemp to get even a slight buzz," Gatpandan said. Besides working with the hemp association on the DEA battle, Govinda's is consulting with reggae star Ziggy Marley about a possible pro-hemp publicity campaign. The singer has endorsed the company's hemp bars on his concert tours and in print ads since they were introduced in 2000. Marley gets 4 percent of the sales, which he donates to charity. "George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were hemp farmers," Gatpandan said. "The first two drafts of the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp parchment." Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)Author: Frank Green, Union-Tribune Staff Writer Published: January 9, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.Contact: letters uniontrib.com Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/Related Articles & Web Site:FTE's Hemp Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hls.htmHemp Industry vs. The DEA in U.S. Court http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11703.shtmlGet Your Fill of Hemp While It's Still Legalhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11547.shtmlBan on Trace Elements of Hemp in Foodhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11540.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #12 posted by CorvallisEric on January 11, 2002 at 05:30:35 PT
gotta weigh in on this gender thing
I'm too lazy to dig up sources and links (after blowing 2 attempts to help someone fix links in another article), but I seem to remember more surveys than not where a larger percentage of women than men wanted to imprison otherwise innocent, law-abiding persons. Of course age is far more determinative.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by Lehder on January 10, 2002 at 21:59:44 PT
Cancer
Smoking marijuana prevents cancer in both men and women.Men and women have a right to smoke marijuana.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by Dan B on January 10, 2002 at 20:50:48 PT:
Gender Issues
The way I see it, men and women are about the same. I mean, women are different from men--but not in a bad way. Or a good way. That is to say, I mean, men and women are equal. But they aren't treated equally, it's just that they have equal attributes. That's not quite right. Women are as good as men, and men are as bad as women. No! That's not what I meant to say. What I mean is that men and women are equal, or they should be, or something like that. How about this:Men and women are equally capable, although there are typically differences in the way each would handle the same situation, but not always because there are always exceptions. But nobody likes to be stereotyped, so let's not worry so much about differences and similarities and just focus on what we have to say as human beings.There, I said it.Dan B
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 10, 2002 at 14:11:47 PT
420toker 
I hope you know I was only kidding. I respect men and also women but I couldn't help but comment. It is true that woman act like men when they get in the government. That's one reason why I wouldn't be interested in being involved directly in politics.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Ethan Russo MD on January 10, 2002 at 14:10:46 PT:
Weighing In
Have to jump in here. I agree that many female politicians come to resemble their male counterparts. I do expect the average woman to show more compassion and common sense in things like whether people should have access to clinical cannabis vs. being locked up for their medicine. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by 420toker on January 10, 2002 at 13:42:37 PT
Women aren't any better
Testosterone has nothing to do with it. If women ran the country I would consider it my sole duty to inject the male perspective wherever and whenever I could. No group likes to feel under-represented. Wars like this one are created to cull power and money from the people while keeping the people in their place. (ALL OF US) Women in congress behave and the same as men. Many do what is best for their campaign to stay in power. I dare someone to say the names Kay Bailey Hutchison or Dianne Feinstein without spitting the appropriate curses. Women are just as power hungry and willing to do evil things as men are. If you don't see that then you dont give women the credit that they deserve. This is not men against women, this is a fight for freedom for every last one of us--male and female.  So stop wasting time on the what if's that can't happen and start finding solutions.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by QcStrt on January 10, 2002 at 12:27:47 PT
Gender
Well the way I see it is if a Woman was incharge when 9=11 hit she would have look at it and then again, and listen to the 
other people from around the world that told it was going to happen, got every thing right. and would have dun what was right 
for the people and the country. not looking to pad there own pockets with human lives like Bush has dun by not stoping it 
before it happened, or at least tried to stop it. he in the sewer and still there.
and all the other countries that bush is looking at to start a war with, might not be there. all bush is looking for is WORLD 
WAR 111 and he will get it. I don't thing he could pass the 3rd grade test that the Germans give there children with the Rabbit.Art!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 10, 2002 at 10:23:44 PT
Down with Testosterone!
I'm just kidding but some of the crazy things I've seen on line could lead me to believe that it is the culprit! 
Things like, Yeah my stuffs the best, no my stuffs the best, no my stuffs the best, and on and on and on.
I got a cold so be kind to me today! LOL!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Dark Star on January 10, 2002 at 10:15:34 PT
Sorry
Dark Star means no offense, and considers himself a fairly radical feminist. I love what you write here. In fact, testosterone is the problem in the War on Drugs, and virtually all other wars. If women were in charge, the world would have many fewer problems.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on January 10, 2002 at 10:04:43 PT
Why bring gender into this?
When I started in physics people always asked me why I had to be a feminist.I was like, what, um, hey, um, hmmm, did anyone mention gender here? Because I hadn't. It just magically mentioned itself around me I guess. Well try to get out of a ghetto that people build around you when you're just standing there minding your own damned business.I could blame the whole drug war on testosterone but I haven't.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Dark Star on January 10, 2002 at 09:27:52 PT
Feminine Compassion
Dark Star applauds E_Johnson's compassion with those guilty of drug war crimes. Such feelings will be worthwhile when the war is over, but unfortunately, it is not. The ridicule of indefensible positions must continue. The attack must be sustained. When the DEA is really down, proving that we are better than them will require our pity rather than our revenge. Until then---
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on January 10, 2002 at 08:38:11 PT
THE DEA must be really scared
To do something this extreme, that will expose them to public ridicule, that will puzzle and possibly alienate even the journalists who normally never question a thing they say...These guys must really be terririfed of losing their careers. Marijuana interdiction makes up the majority of their careers.I can sympathize. It's no fun to make your living on something that has a limited social shelf life. It's no fun to support a family on a nice salary and then see social justice coming around the corner ready to take that salary away.Even by the DEA's own admission, 60% of their work is marijuana interdiction. Their middle aged middle managers must be terrified that their career potential will never play out.Marijuana legalization would really hurt a lot of families. Well okay the DEA has hurt a LOT of families, they've got the Universe's karma police on their trails for sure, but no doubt two of the things keeping marijuana legalization from happening are:All of the DEA agents sons who are of college age and needing lots of money from DadAll of the DEA agents daughters who are of college age and needing lots of money from DadMarijuana prohibition has fed and clothed a lot of children, and people aren't going to give that up so easily. They're going to fight with everything they have to preserve that career path and retirement fund and economic security.But at some point, they're going to fight so hard that they start to lose their social and political credibility, and that's what they're doing now.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment