2005 Industrial Hemp Farming Act Introduced into Congress

For the latest status of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2005 (IHFA), Click Here.
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) has introduced the “Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2005”   (IHFA). The 3-page bill would amend the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to define “marihuana” as not including industrial hemp. In the bill, “industrial hemp” means:

the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tretrahydrocannabinol concentration that does not exceed 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.

IHFA further amends the CSA to let states determine whether a C. sativa plant meets the concentration limit.

Joining Rep. Paul in co-sponsoring the legislation are Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Fortney [“Pete”] Stark (D-CA) and Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ).

The North American Industrial Hemp Council supports the legislation and recommends its enactment. NAIHC urges its members and supporters to:

1.  Contact their Member of Congress and urge them to co-sponsor the legislation.
If you do not know who your Member of Congress is, please go to the U.S. House of Representatives web site and type in your zip code at the top left of the page. Your message whether by phone, email (through their web site) or in person should be brief and to the point:

• They should co-sponsor H.R. 3037, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act.
• Allowing industrial hemp cultivation in the United States is good for agriculture, industry and commerce.
• Over 30 industrial democracies allow, if not promote, the cultivation of industrial hemp.
• Six states (Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia) have removed barriers to its production or research. All would, if Congress would act.
• Industrial hemp is a close to marijuana as poppy seeds are to opium.

2.  Contact their United States Senators and urge them to introduce companion legislation in the Senate.
 If you do not know your United States Senators or how to contact them, you may find out by going to the U.S. Senate web site and choose your state. Your message whether by phone, email (through their web site) or in person should mirror the point above.
 For more information on the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, Click Here.

‘Hemp a Hit on the Hill’

Congress got a taste of gourmet hemp foods when Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced federal legislation, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, to make it legal once again to grow industrial hemp in the U.S.A. As part of the festivities, Ralph Nader, the former presidential candidate and veteran consumer advocate, was on hand to support the legislation. Under the headline “Hemp a Hit on the Hill,” Capitol Hill’s Roll Call newspaper reported that Nader “pointed out that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp.” Roll Call quoted Congressman Ron Paul as telling the crowd gathered for the bill launching that “the Industrial Hemp Farming Act would be a step toward freedom.”

Raleigh Newspaper Reports on Industrial Hemp

“In June, a Texas congressman introduced legislation to legalize the growing of hemp in the United States for the first time since 1937. Hemp products are legal in the United States, but growing hemp is not. . . To hear advocates tell it, hemp is a gold mine. It grows almost anywhere without fertilizers or pesticides. Its fibers can be used to make a variety of products, such as auto parts, bleach-free paper and high-quality fabric. Its seeds are a nutritious snack or a source of luxurious oil.”  The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina.