cannabisnews.com: Hemp Industry vs. The DEA in U.S. Court 





Hemp Industry vs. The DEA in U.S. Court 
Posted by FoM on January 07, 2002 at 14:09:24 PT
Press Release
Source: U.S. Newswire
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit -- The Hemp Industry Association (HIA) and several major hemp food companies in the U.S. and Canada filed their opening brief today urging the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA's) "interpretive" rule, which attempts to ban the sale of nutritious hemp foods containing harmless trace amounts of naturally-occurring THC. 
On October 9, 2001, without public notice or opportunity for comment, the DEA issued an interpretive rule purporting to make hemp foods containing any trace of naturally-occurring tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient found in marijuana, immediately illegal under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1971. Because trace THC does not pose any potential for abuse as a drug, the U.S. Congress had exempted non-viable hemp seed and oil from control under the CSA. Similarly, Congress exempted poppy seeds from the CSA, although they contain trace opiates otherwise subject to control. Sterilized hemp seeds have been available in the U.S. for decades and are recognized as an exceptional source of protein, omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) and Vitamin E. Independent studies and reviews conducted by foreign governments have confirmed that trace THC found in the increasingly popular hemp foods cannot cause psychoactivity or other health effects, or result in a confirmed positive urine test for marijuana, even when unrealistically high amounts of hemp seed and oil are consumed daily. Hemp seeds and oil are as likely to be abused as poppy seed bagels for their trace opiate content, or fruit juices because of their trace alcohol content. Yet, the DEA has not tried to ban poppy seed bagels despite their trace opiates that have interfered with workplace drug testing, which hemp foods do not. The hemp industry is reassuring retailers and consumers that hemp food products should remain on the shelves, as victory in court is virtually certain. David Bronner, Chairman of the HIA's Food and Oil Committee, says, "Based on the law and common sense, we expect that the Court will find that DEA's rules are obviously unfounded and arbitrary." A positive court ruling will allow the hemp foods industry segment to continue its phenomenal expansion. Popular hemp foods include pretzels, tortilla chips, energy bars, waffles, bread, salad dressing, candy, cereal, cooking oil, ice cream and even non-dairy milk. Unlike the U.S., other Western countries (Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Australia) have adopted rational THC limits for foods, similar to those voluntarily observed by North American hemp food companies (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at: http://www.testpledge.com -- and no other Western nation has attempted to ban the consumption of hemp foods. The U.S. is also the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing and processing of hemp. The hemp industry's opening brief can be read online at: http://www.votehemp.com/PDF/hemp_group_9th_cir_opening.pdf Visit: http://www.VoteHemp.com -- to read court documents and numerous scientific studies re: hemp foods. For more information or to arrange interviews with representatives of the hemp industry, please call Adam Eidinger at 202-986-6186 or 202-744-2671 (cell). Source: U.S. Newswire Published: January 7, 2002Copyright: 2002 U.S. Newswire Website: http://www.usnewswire.com Related Articles & Web Site:FTE's Hemp Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hls.htmCannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.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
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on January 08, 2002 at 08:58:02 PT
Show Support!
Good idea GCW. I went to the Body Shop a few months back & they had a petition to save hemp products but I had to ask for it(it was in the back room for who knows how long). I suggested that they keep it on the sales counter or next to their hemp products. We have to keep these folks on their toes!
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on January 08, 2002 at 04:14:21 PT
Extension +
Notify your local health / hemp food store. During the Dec. protest at the store front, I learned that all those in the store had no idea of the potential ban. Communicate locally / vocally to keep these products on the shelf.
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