cannabisnews.com: Bill's Authors Trying to Rope In Support for Hemp





Bill's Authors Trying to Rope In Support for Hemp
Posted by CN Staff on July 17, 2006 at 06:38:15 PT
By George Skelton, Capitol Journal
Source: Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles -- AB 1147 is not the biggest bill of this legislative session, but it is one of the most intriguing — and most fun. Start with its purpose: to legalize the growing of hemp, a cousin of marijuana — both members of the notorious cannabis family. Then proceed to the bill's joint authors, a pun that's unavoidable. One is a liberal San Francisco Democrat, Assemblyman Mark Leno; the other a conservative Irvine Republican, Chuck DeVore.
If nothing else, this bill shows it is possible for two legislators of diametrically opposite ideologies to acknowledge some common ground and work together to change public policy.Both agree that hemp — advocates call it industrial hemp — is taking off worldwide as a plant used for fiber (in car door panels, for example), food (energy bars, granola, smoothies) and body care (shampoos, soaps).And they think it's illogical that the federal government allows the importation of foreign hemp for American manufacturing into legally sold products, but bans the growing of hemp by American farmers. So they're trying to force the issue.Their bill would sanction the growing of hemp in California for sale within the state, but forbid interstate commerce of "viable" seeds — those that can germinate — in an effort to keep the feds from nosing around. No doubt federal courts ultimately would sort it all out.The bill also would define hemp, under California law, as a safe crop, not a drug.Hemp contains only a trace of the dope THC, three-tenths of 1%. Marijuana has from 3% to 15%."There's no more THC in hemp than the poppy seed on your bagel has opium," asserts Leno. "Beyond that, industrial hemp is marijuana's natural eradicator." Cross-pollination with hemp takes the kick out of pot, experts report."Not only will you not get a high" by smoking hemp, says Patrick Goggins of San Francisco, counsel for the Hemp Industries Assn., "you'll get a headache and need a Tylenol."But hemp is a nutritious food, its boosters claim: The seed oil replaces unhealthy fats with beneficial fatty acids that help fight high cholesterol and rheumatoid arthritis. Fish also contain fatty acids, advocates continue, but are becoming increasingly scarce and polluted with mercury.Hemp has a long and distinguished history, at least until it was unfairly maligned by drug warriors during the last century. Rope, sails and paper have been made from hemp all through civilization. The Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew it.In the 1800s, hemp was America's third-largest agricultural product. But it was labor-intensive and became less economical because of the cotton gin and the abolition of slavery. Still, hemp was grown in California until the Depression, when the feds cracked down on marijuana and mistakenly booked its innocent cousin in the bust.During World War II, Washington begged farmers to resume growing the crop, promoting a "Hemp for Victory" campaign. But in 1970, cultivation was banned under the Controlled Substances Act. Any hemp needed for making products had to be imported. Snipped:Complete Article: http://tinyurl.com/pc3ajNewshawk: WhigSource: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author:  George Skelton, Capitol JournalPublished: July 17, 2006Copyright: 2006 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/Related Articles:Hemp Bill Passes Senate Public Safety Committeehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21949.shtmlCalif. Assembly Passes Hemp-Farming Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21525.shtmlEffort Arises To Legalize Industrial Hemphttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21490.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on July 17, 2006 at 20:23:07 PT
ekim 
My father in law said one time what will happen to the ground when the oil is all taken out of it. I said I really don't know. It is something to think about.
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Comment #16 posted by ekim on July 17, 2006 at 20:03:11 PT
tonight the natl geo ch had on the effect of moon
seems that it pulls this ol ball around and slows it down. causes high tides and some think volcanos. after seeing the dic ch global warming show last night and being told that we must decrease the co2 in the atmosphere i can see also that all the black thick stuff we have been -pullen out of ol mother has made her weak and soft and easy to bend and with all that weight must be doing somethen to the rotation as well. so if we can see that this is happnun how in the world can we not try to use the cannabis plant to help with our fuel needs. when the ex cia dir james woolsey says we need hemp and we must use cellulose on a massive level to create ethanol why will those that have promised to serve and protect not do so. 
--how can a huge newspaper like the LA Times not have to tell the people about hemp being used for fuel ----why was that left out. why no interviews with top scientists in the enzymne field. how long will Jack Herer talk to the hand.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on July 17, 2006 at 19:43:01 PT
Celaya
Thank you. I bookmarked the show to watch as soon as I can pay 100 percent attention to it. It looks very good.
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Comment #14 posted by mayan on July 17, 2006 at 18:20:29 PT
Unrelated...
Wikipedia is considering erasing Kevin Barrett from history...Kevin Barrett:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_BarrettO'Reilly wants him erased from the face of the earth... Bill O'Reilly Death Threat Against Kevin Barrett:
http://www.911blogger.com/2006/07/bill-oreilly-death-threat-against.htmlMuslim-Jewish-Christian Alliance for 9/11 Truth: 
http://mujca.com
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Comment #13 posted by Celaya on July 17, 2006 at 17:51:54 PT
ACLU Freedom Files: Drug War
The ACLU's new series, "The Freedom Files" focused on the drug war this week. It is top-knotch - and can now be seen on-line Don't miss it!
ACLU Freedom Files: Drug War
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by afterburner on July 17, 2006 at 11:41:55 PT
Survey Should Cannabis Be Legal??
Survey: Should Cannabis Be Legal??
http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/ Yes, Its Only a Plant No, its the Source of EVIL incarnate Yes, for Adults ONLY Yes, for Medical ONLY Yes, for Industrial and Medical ONLY Yes No Results :: PollsVotes: 20 
Comments: 0 
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Comment #11 posted by ekim on July 17, 2006 at 11:24:54 PT
lets see if the LA times covers this event
Jul 27 06 Law Enforcement Indicts the Drug War! 06:00 PM Jack Cole Los Angeles California USA 
 LEAP Executive Director Jack Cole and Speaker Judge Jim Gray meet with civic leaders and the everyday citizen when they participate in a round table highlighting the absolute failure of the current drug prohibition policies and put forth new ideas and policies that have been proven to be successful. This is a DPA/CSDP sponsored program for the LEAP DVD. 
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #10 posted by mayan on July 17, 2006 at 10:56:01 PT
"The Dope" THC
Hemp contains only a trace of the dope THC, three-tenths of 1%. Marijuana has from 3% to 15%.Fortunatley, the L.A. Times is going the way of the dinosaur just like the rest of the mainstream print media, and fast.Here's another unrelated but hilarious link...General Zod 2008:
http://www.zod2008.com/
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Comment #9 posted by mayan on July 17, 2006 at 10:14:13 PT
A Growing Concern!
Pot plant in police station highlights growing storage concern:
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2006/July_06/07172006_04.aspPEWAUKEE - Storage needs aren’t a daily nuisance for Pewaukee Village Hall employees, unless, like in an instance that happened two weeks ago, there is nowhere for police officers to put a massive marijuana plant other than a table surrounded by paperwork and near officers and department employees...Hee-Hee!I just found a cool site over at http://911blogger.com/ CANADIAN ACTION PARTY:
http://www.canadianactionparty.ca/temp/index.aspGo CAP!
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 17, 2006 at 09:50:55 PT
afterburner
You got that right. By the way Red Rocks starts tonight and it will be for 3 nights and they are all sold out. They are filming all three nights and will release a DVD by Christmas of the concert. Cool!
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on July 17, 2006 at 09:45:28 PT
FoM: we don't need no more lies!
Lies? We don't need no stinkin' lies!
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 17, 2006 at 09:05:56 PT
afterburner
When we go to the concert in September I hope we all will go together to the different booths and tell them how we feel. It will be such a perfect opportunity for us to do something. You know we will be on the winning side that day and we don't need no more lies!http://www.pdamerica.org/
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on July 17, 2006 at 09:00:17 PT
ekim
I'm looking for write-in candidates for the November 2006 election. Persons active in hemp promotion or medical cannabis would send a clear message to Congress and/or States. Any suggestions?
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Comment #4 posted by Wayne on July 17, 2006 at 08:46:35 PT
Re: zandor
Unfortunately, no. Marijuana is still prohibited federally. It either has to be rescheduled or removed from the Controlled Substances Act in order to make any difference at all on a federal basis.However, that might give a basis for argument if it went to the Supreme Court again, because it does specifically limit sale and production within the state. If anything, it's a good thought...
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Comment #3 posted by zandor on July 17, 2006 at 08:17:59 PT
I wonder????
If we add a line like this, to prop 215 would that take the feds out of the picture or just put the blinders back on them?"Their bill would sanction the growing of hemp in California for sale within the state, but forbid interstate commerce of "viable" seeds — those that can germinate — in an effort to keep the feds from nosing around. No doubt federal courts ultimately would sort it all out"It's a thought anyway.
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Comment #2 posted by ekim on July 17, 2006 at 08:12:40 PT
important debat on food now on NPR
Diane Rehm Show 11am Nationl Public Radio
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Comment #1 posted by ekim on July 17, 2006 at 07:53:51 PT
Mr Skelton please ck out cellulostic ethanol
Genencor Meets First Technical Milestone in Biomass to Ethanol Project Genencor Labs, Palo Alto, California 
Genencor International, Inc. announced that it has achieved its first technical milestone in its three-year contract with the U.S. Department of Energy Biofuels Program. Genencor developed and validated processes for improved cellulase enzymes that meet the intended objective at one-half the cost of currently available technologies. "Advances in molecular biology and functional genomics enable us to push the frontiers of commercial development and we're pleased to be making progress toward developing new enzyme systems to accomplish the goal of this project," said Michael Arbige, Ph.D, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.
The goal of the program is to develop new enzyme systems for the economic conversion of plant matter into ethanol and other valuable materials. DOE has determined that the cost of converting biomass into useable form is a critical stumbling block to producing biofuels and chemicals from renewable raw materials.Specifically, Genencor and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are working to deliver enzyme systems enabling a 10-fold improvement in the economics of breaking down cellulosic material (plant matter) and other complex carbohydrates into fermentable sugars. "The United States is the world's leader in agriculture and biotechnology and the Department's biomass research and development efforts take advantage of that position," said David Garman, the U.S. Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "The President's Energy Policy promotes the development of renewable energy sources and we look to biomass for significant contributions to reducing America's dependence on foreign oil."
 
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