cannabisnews.com: U.S. Freezes Canadian Hemp Shipments U.S. Freezes Canadian Hemp Shipments Posted by FoM on January 13, 2000 at 13:07:08 PT Important News Update! Source: CBC News U.S. Customs has once again closed the border to hemp oil and hemp seeds from Canada, leaving some companies losing patience and money. The move comes less than a month after American officials agreed to allow the hemp into their country, provided it met certain guidelines. The latest flip-flop comes after a directive from Washington and the Office of the National Drug Control Policy. They want any hemp product that contains even trace elements of THC - the key active ingredient in marijuana - to be banned, even though that might violate international trade laws. The policy change is causing frustration among Canadian hemp producers and costing them money. For four months last fall, Jean LaPrise waited while American Customs held up a shipment of hemp seed his Ontario company, Kenex, was sending to the U.S. The seed was to be used by an American company to make bird feed. But officials said it contained a trace amount of THC. Ron Krystynak, deputy director of Canada-U.S. trade issues with Agriculture Canada, says this is an example of confusing drug policies with trade policies. He says Canada will back its hemp producers. TORONTO Web Posted Thu. Jan 13 10:26:40 2000 Maureen Brosnahan reports for CBC Radio:http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2000/01/13/hemp000113Related Articles & Web Sites:The Ohio Hemperyhttp://www.hempery.com/HIAhttp://thehia.orgHempembargohttp://www.hempembargo.comKenex LTD.http://www.kenex.com/ Photos of Industrial Hemp may be accessed at:http://www.hemppages.com/PhoGal.html Drug Czar Attacks Hemp Industry - 1/12/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4287.shtmlHemp Approved To Cross The Border - 11/11/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3636.shtmlGrower Fights For Hemp Industry - 10/26/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3431.shtml Hemp Grower's Seed Nabbed at U.S. Border - 10/28/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3430.shtml Birdseed Latest Casualty of U.S. War On Drugs - 10/09/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3218.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by Doc-Hawk on January 14, 2000 at 04:11:21 PT: Thanks...now the rest of you get busy! Hi FoM,Thanks for the forum!!!Now the rest of you get busy with the cards, letters, and most satisfying of all, personal contact with those who would make our laws.I see my Rep. today. He is well-meaning but blind. I am a 2 X 4. Today we meet again and he will have his perceptions increased. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 13, 2000 at 22:16:49 PT We Must End This Insanity! Hi Dr. Ganj. and kaptinimo and Everyone! I believe what we are seeing is the beginning of the end of the drug war because it has no direction and they have exhausted every argument there is.Thank you for your comments in Cannabis News. It inspires me to continue.Peace, FoM!There are angry people and justifiably so out there. Something must change!50 Great WTO Seattle Photos! They Keep Loading! http://pub3.ezboard.com/fdrugpolicytalkwtoseattleriots1999.showMessage?topicID=23.topicCHIMES OF FREEDOM Words and Music by Bob Dylan 1964 Warner Bros. Inc Far between sundown's finish an' midnight's broken toll We ducked inside the doorway, thunder crashing As majestic bells of bolts struck shadows in the sounds Seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight An' for each an' ev'ry underdog soldier in the night An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by kaptinemo on January 13, 2000 at 20:03:27 PT Dr. Ganj has hit the nail on the head Yes, they *are* getting *very* desperate. Usually when a government pronouncement is made (such as the earlier relenting of Customs in letting the seeds through) they don't like to back track on their words - makes them look *weak* and disorganized. What we are seeing here is some of that good old agency infighting. And at a time when the agencies can least afford it.Why? Because the goons presently in charge of the various agencies are POLITICAL APPOINTEES! That's right folks, when the elections are over, many of them will have to hand in their resignations to make way for the new round of political hacks whose only qualifications for the jobs they'll get were the size of the campaign support checks they wrote. The ones who really like the money (like McC who will kiss whatever *ss and say whatever lies he has to to keep his job) are now going to do their utmost to say that they were 'only thinking of the country' in 'doing their duty'. This is in hopes of staving off the political axe that the winners might be sharpening for them.This latest act in the circus is showing those cracks Dr. G mentioned. It's gonna get real interesting, real soon. The DrugWarriors are now in the spotlight of negative publicity. This latest shenanigan is not going to go over real good with the NAFTA/FreeTrade crowd. And these are the biggest campaign contributors. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Dr. Ganj on January 13, 2000 at 19:47:34 PT Truly DesperateTactics I bet people from other countries read this, and think;"My God, what tyrants!"When will this madness stop? It's starting to affect the world. There's just so much money involved, so much corruption, it staggers the minds of the NORML minded.There is hope, though. They are getting really desperate, and that's a sign the end is near. Berlin Wall. Russian communism. Prohibition of alcohol. Each one of those seemed solid, permanent, but as history shows, change does occur.Our current war on some drugs is quite similar in many aspects. Although it seems inexorable, with no end in site, there are signs of tremendous cracks. These cracks are in the form of legal medical marijuana in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and now Maine. More progress is coming this year in Nevada, Colorado, DC, Michigan, and beautiful Mendocino, California. (See link below)More than 1/5 of the population of this country has voted FOR the use of medical marijuana. That is a huge statement.When the voters speak their minds this November, it will be the biggest wave of reform we have seen this century! This will be the year the Drug War was lost. Let the prisoners be freed. Let our freedom be restored. Dr. Ganj http://home.igc.org/~canorml/news/mendoinit.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Doc-Hawk on January 13, 2000 at 15:17:08 PT Sent to McCzar today: Subject: Drug Czar Intervenes To Stop Importation of Hemp Products With Any Trace of THC. Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 09:12:30 -0500 From: "Van E. Estes, III" To: ondcp ncjrs.orgKeep up the good work. Every day you look more desperate.Your mission is laudable...your tactics (lies, propaganda, inflammatoryrhetoric, violence, prisons, and destruction of our Constitution) aredespicable.I do not advocate the use of drugs (legal or illegal) for anyone, but tojail 2 million people is CRAZY. One need not be an illegal drug user toadvocate a saner policy toward these substances. By your own (inflated)count, 14,000 lives are lost each year due to the abuse of illegal drugs. MORE THAN THAT DIE EVERY YEAR FROM THE USE (not abuse) OF ASPIRIN. The$100,000,000,000 spent nationally every year in our insane efforts to stampout drugs (a Quixotic mission if there every was one) would be better spenton education and treatment.HEMP IS NOT A DRUG!The Nazi's would be proud of the degree you have incorporated theirpropaganda techniques. But, they would be appalled at the public's accessto the truth that our nations War on Drugs is destroying our Constitution,corrupting our law enforcement and politicians, and imprisoning the veryyouth it wishes to save. (I forgot....increasing civil war in Columbiainstead of working toward peace.)To this I proudly sign my name as a law-abiding, peace loving citizenconcerned for the welfare of my children and our country.Pass this on to Barry!! If you have the balls, you should have a televiseddebate with Gov. Johnson from New Mexico. What? Chicken?? Afraid thePUBLIC might realize what a farce you are endorsing??? That the Berlin Wallof Prohibition might finally crumble???? I have news for you: It's alreadydown but you are so deep in the foxhole, you can not see it.Van E. Estes, IIIRt. 1 Box 281 1/2Hendersonville, NC 28792http://www.marijuananews.com/drug_czar_intervenes_to_stop_imp.htmEnjoy! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by rainbow on January 13, 2000 at 14:12:41 PT What about I guess we will be closing the borders to Hawaii, California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, New Hampshire and soon Minnesota and Michigan as well.These guys are ridiculous. Not only are they loosing credibility but the US government is loosing credibility. That means we are loosing credibility. Stupid, Stupid stupid.Power corrupts.Rainbow [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Thomas on January 13, 2000 at 14:00:26 PT Motives What is the motive this time? Protect our children (what a joke)? Protect special interest (that's more like it)? The success and growth of the hemp industry is like a big chunk of stone and morter falling off the cracking and crumbling wall that is prohibition!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Doctor Dave on January 13, 2000 at 13:46:01 PT I am curious. No, I am furious. What gives the drug bizzare's office the authority to direct the actions of the U.S. Customs department? Especially when their directives are in DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE NAFTA trade agreement...Doctor Dave"A nation that makes war on hemp seed can never truly be free." [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by mike on January 13, 2000 at 13:27:51 PT: Office of the National Drug Control Policy They're losing credibility. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: