House bill calls for legalizing industrial hemp

Posted by Joshua Holland at 6:38 AM on February 14, 2007.

I know there are some readers who will find this particularly interesting ...

An act to legitimize hemp farming has been introduced in Congress, according to a press release.

"For the second time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States," the release states, "a federal bill has been introduced that would remove restrictions on the cultivation of non-psychoactive industrial hemp."

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), a maverick 2008 presidential candidate, is the chief sponsor behind the bill, H.R. 1009. Nine co-sponsors, including fellow White House hopeful Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), are all Democrats.

The bill "would give states the right to regulate farming of the versatile hemp crop," the release says.

"It is indefensible that the United States government prevents American farmers from growing this crop," the release quotes Rep. Paul. "The prohibition subsidizes farmers in countries from Canada to Romania by eliminating American competition and encourages jobs in industries such as food, auto parts and clothing that utilize industrial hemp to be located overseas instead of in the United States."

Paul states that the passing of the act would "help American farmers and reduce the trade deficit -- all without spending a single taxpayer dollar."

I doubt this bill is going anywhere. But it should. According to the Congressional Rsearch Service, the U.S. "is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop." Here's a list of the plant's many uses.

Tagged as: hemp

Joshua Holland is a staff writer at Alternet and a regular contributor to The Gadflyer.