cannabisnews.com: Oregon Considers Industrial Hemp Bill





Oregon Considers Industrial Hemp Bill
Posted by CN Staff on April 04, 2005 at 11:08:45 PT
For Immediate Release
Source: Bend Bugle
Salem, Oregon -- Business leaders, farmers and legislators in Oregon are backing Senate Bill 294, legislation that would bring back hemp farming for the first time in almost 50 years. The Oregon Senate Environment and Land Use Committee will hold a hearing on the bill, which permits production and possession of industrial hemp, trade in industrial hemp commodities and products, and creates a licensing, permitting and inspection program for growers and handlers of industrial hemp on Wednesday, April 6 at 3:00 pm in Hearing Room B. Five representatives from the hemp industry will testify before the committee.
WHO: Oregon Senate Environment and Land Use CommitteeThe following industrial hemp advocates will testify in support of Senate Bill 294:Carolyn Moran, founder of Living Tree Paper, a Eugene, OR company that uses industrial hemp in its productsMonte Matthews, from University Lip Balms, a Eugene, OR companyPatrick Goggin, attorney for Vote Hemp and the hemp industry in the landmark Hemp Industries Association v. Drug Enforcement AdministrationcaseSue Kastensen, Founder, Sun Dog body care, now partnered with Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps and Lotions, the top selling natural soap in NorthAmericaCandi Penn, Executive Director of the Hemp Industries AssociationWHAT: Hearing on hemp farming bill, Senate Bill 294, introduced by Senator Floyd ProzanskiWHERE: 900 Court Street NE, Hearing Room BWHEN: Wednesday, April 6 at 3:00pmLast year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit confirmed that industrial hemp is legal to import for any use in Hemp Industries Association v. Drug Enforcement Administration; however, their ruling had no impact on farmers that want to grow industrial hemp for profit.This year, Oregon is one of four states considering industrial hemp legislation that would allow farmers and researchers to grow industrial hemp. Since 1995, twenty-five states have considered legislation supporting industrial hemp and 14 states have passed hemp-related laws and resolutions.“Industrial hemp has become a lucrative crop for farmers in Europe, Canada and Asia, so farmers here are asking ‘Why are we being left out?’” says Patrick Goggin, legal counsel for Vote Hemp. For thousands of years different varieties of Cannabis have been cultivated for non-drug uses such as paper, canvas, body care products, food, building materials and recently high-tech bio-composites used in automobiles. Hemp and marijuana come from different varieties of the Cannabis plant.For more information on industrial hemp, please visit -- http://www.votehemp.com -- the website of Vote Hemp, a non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of industrial hemp.Note: Senate Committee to hold hemp bill hearing, April 6, 3pm.Source: Bend Bugle (OR)Published: Monday, April 4, 2005Copyright: 2005 Bend BugleContact: info bend.comWebsite: http://bend.com/news/CannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 05, 2005 at 16:12:18 PT
Oregon Senate Hearing on Industrial Hemp Tomorrow 
Take Action Now! http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=7354851&type=STWHAT: Oregon Hemp Bill To Receive A Hearing Tomorrow!WHERE: Oregon Senate Environment and Land Use Committee State Capitol 900 Court Street NE Salem, OR 97301WHEN: Wednesday, April 6, 2005, 3:00 PMNORML is pleased to announce that the Oregon Senate Environment and Land Use Committee will be holding a hearing tomorrow to debate Senate Bill 294, an act to legalize the licensed cultivation of industrial hemp. Now is the time to contact your state Senator and urge him or her to allow licensed farmers to cultivate this important agricultural commodity.The United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop, according to a 2005 Congressional Resource Service (CRS) report. Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa that contains only minute (less than 1%) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Farmers worldwide grow hemp commercially for fiber, seed, and oil for use in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including food.The aim of SB 294 is to allow Oregon to authorize a licensed, statewide hemp industry. A 1998 study on the economic feasibility of industrial hemp cultivationby Oregon State University at Corvallis concluded, "There is little doubt that hemp can be successfully cultivated in some areas of the Pacific Northwest." However, this bill will only receive serious consideration if Oregon's elected officials hear an unmistakable message of support from their constituents.Please take two minutes of your time to write your Senator and tell him or her how important it is that they support industrial hemp. Pre-written letters are available online from NORML at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=7354851&type=STIn addition, if your Senator serves on the Senate Environment and Land Use Committee, it is vital that you call him or her TODAY, and voice your support for medical marijuana. The following Senators serve on the Environment and Land Use Committee:Senator Charlie Ringo (D-OR 17th), Chair - (503) 986-1717 Senator Jason A. Atkinson (R-OR 2nd), Vice-Chair - (503) 986-1702 Senator Roger Beyer (R-OR 9th) - (503) 986-1709 Senator Ginny Burdick (D-OR 18th) - (503) 986-1718 Senator Frank Shields (D-OR 24th) - (503) 986-1724Thank you for your help on this important issue.Regards,Paul Armentano, Senior Policy Analyst NORML
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