HempCyberFarm California

Hemp Cultivation in California?

Let's be truthful
about this Arnold!

Note from HCF: Hemp was cultivated in California as soon as the Spanish armada descended on Southern California from Mexico in the 18th century. This is when all the missions in California were founded. In those days Hemp was the lifeline of a sailing fleet; sails, ropes, shrouds and clothing etc. were all made from the Cannabis sativa L. plant. Each ship must have had a fair supply of hemp seeds on-board, serving as an emergency food stock in case of dire straits. In fact, Santa Barbara around 1810 was named "Hemp Capital of California" with approximately 2,500 acres of Hemp growing in the hills.

Santa Barbara Mission

Santa Barbara Mission was founded by the Spanish on December 4, 1786. Portions of five units of its extensive water works, built by Indian labor, are preserved in this park, a filter house, Spanish grist mill, sections of aqueducts, and two reservoirs. The larger reservoir, built in 1806 (was used for retting hemp), is used today as part of the city water system.

The situation in California today, nearly two hundred years later! Hemp re-approved? Hooray for progress!: For other articles see events page or answer 20.

Californication?

From: listserver@votehemp.com
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 3:12 PM
To: Matthew@HempWorld.com
Subject: CALIFORNIA HEMP STUDY BILL PASSES

Thursday, August 15, 2002

STROM-MARTIN INDUSTRIAL HEMP STUDY BILL SENT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

SACRAMENTO - Today a measure by Assemblymember Virginia Strom-Martin (D-Duncans Mills) that studies the potential market for the cultivation of industrial hemp was sent to the Governor's office after receiving approval from the State Assembly. AB 388 requests the University of California to conduct an economic feasibility study of alternative fibrous crops including industrial hemp, kenaf and flax.

"Industrial hemp could be of immense benefit to both the economy and the environment of the North Coast and rural California in general", Strom-Martin said. "This bill simply asks the UC Agricultural Extension Center to study the economic feasibility of the industrial hemp and other fibrous plant markets in California so that when the federal prohibition on growing hemp is lifted and I believe it will be, our farmers and businesses will have the option of entering and profiting from that market."

Vote Hemp, a national pro-hemp advocacy group, has been actively lobbying members of Congress and has been successful in securing support for this cause at the federal level. Senator Kent Conrad (D- North Dakota) has announced plans to introduce an amendment to Agricultural Appropriations Bill that would distinguish industrial hemp from marijuana and allow farmers to grow it under a system regulated by the US Dept of Agriculture.

The market for products made from alternative fiber crops has grown exponentially in the last few years. Demand for alternative crop products continues to rise faster than conventional products as people become more environmentally conscious. In 1999, worldwide sales of hemp and hemp-based products totaled $250 million dollars with the U.S. consumers purchasing more than 60% of that amount.

"This is a new opportunity to revitalize our agriculture industry by studying developing markets for industrial hemp. There are many California manufacturers that use hemp in their products, but they must import all the hemp that they use," said Strom-Martin. "That results in money leaving the state, and possibly the country, for a product that can and should be grown in California."

The production of industrial hemp is currently legal in more than 25 countries including Canada, France, Germany, and China and more than seventeen other states have passed or are in the process of passing legislation to legalize industrial hemp.

Industrial hemp is a versatile crop that has a number of uses and requires very little maintenance. Virtually all parts of the plant can be used to produce a number of products like paper, textiles, food, building materials, and a variety of other industrial and technical products including fuel. In addition to its uses, industrial hemp also boasts an agricultural benefit because it is a significant rotation crop with an ability to reduce pests and weed growth and to boost the yields of the primary crop. California's climate would allow for three harvestable crops a year.

The production of Industrial Hemp was outlawed in 1937 after a campaign of misinformation promulgated by the Hearst newspaper's chain. Industrial Hemp was, and still, is confused with marijuana, but in fact, hemp contains only trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. The small amount of THC in hemp is so minute that if one were to smoke industrial hemp, chances are that individual would die of lung failure before ever attaining any sort of high.

Earlier this year, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued an interpretive rule banning the sale of hemp seed and oil food products. There are several lawsuits challenging that rule and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily stayed the order courts pending their review of the issue.

AB 388 now moves to the governor's office where Governor Davis has until September 30th to take action on the bill. For additional information about this or any other legislation or legislative process, please visit the Assembly's webpage at www.assembly.ca.gov.

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To make a donation to support Vote Hemp's ongoing efforts go to: http://www.votehemp.com/contribute.html

INDUSTRIAL HEMP BILL PLOWED UNDER Strom-Martin Pledges to Carry on the Cause

SACRAMENTO -- Assembly member Virginia Strom-Martin's (D-Duncans Mills) bill to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp failed yesterday to garner enough support to pass out of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture. AB 448 died in committee after a vote of 6 ayes to 4 noes with 4 members not voting; the bill was two votes shy of passage. None of the members opposing the bill gave a reason for voting the bill down.

"I'm very disappointed that some members of the Agriculture Committee failed to educate themselves about a plant that has so many uses and offers such a variety of benefits," Strom-Martin said. "They fell prey to the paranoia that prevents the legalization of industrial hemp, thereby perpetuating myths and misinformation. It is my hope that California, as a leader in agricultural innovation and food production, will also one day become a leader in the fight to legalize industrial hemp."

California's agriculture industry is considered the most diversified in the world, producing over 350 crops and commodities. California is also a major contributor to the United States' balance of trade. Approximately 20% of all the state's agricultural products are shipped overseas. Given those facts, California is in a prime position to capitalize on the exploding international hemp market. In 1999, worldwide sales of hemp and hemp-based products totaled $250 million and since then, the market has grown substantially with corporate entities entering the market.

Additionally, industrial hemp is a source of ethanol, an oxygenate that produces clean burning gasoline and is an alternative to MTBE, which will be phased out in 2002. California currently produces 9 million gallons of ethanol a year, a number that is far too low to support the state's annual consumption of 800 million gallons of gas. To compensate for the shortfall, the state would have to import more ethanol, which is produced primarily in the mid-west. After the MTBE phase-out, the state will be facing an ethanol shortage that will exacerbate an already tense natural gas market. The cultivation of hemp and the production of ethanol from hemp could prevent another energy crisis.

"As an elected official of the State, I regret seeing the unwillingness on the part of some members to take a stand on the issue, " Strom-Martin said. "While we have a responsibility to listen to the concerns of our constituents, we also have an obligation to keep open minds and pay attention to facts, not hysteria. If the members of the committee would have read all the information provided to them, they would clearly recognize that industrial hemp is not a drug issue, but rather an economic development issue. For that reason, I am committed to this effort and promise to bring it before the Legislature again before the end of my term."

Assembly Bill 448 died in committee. In order to further the cause of legalizing industrial hemp, another bill will have to be introduced next year.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 22, 2001 Contact: Missy Johnson (916) 319-2001 http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a01/

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATOR STROM-MARTIN TO PUSH

INDUSTRIAL HEMP AS LEGAL CASH CROP

SACRAMENTO - In an attempt to re-establish California as an agricultural leader, Assemblymember Virginia Strom-Martin (D-Duncans Mills) introduced Assembly Bill 448 on Tuesday that would legalize the production of industrial hemp. The production of industrial hemp is currently legal in more than 25 countries including Canada, France, Germany, and China and more than twelve states have passed or are in the process of passing legislation to legalize industrial hemp.

"Industrial hemp could be of immense benefit to both the economy and the environment of the North Coast and rural California in general", Strom-Martin said. "We simply have to deal rationally rather than hysterically with a crop whose promise is great and time has come."

"Today Industrial Hemp offers a very real and immediate solution to deforestation, the abuses of the petrochemical industry, and the destruction of our topsoil", Strom-Martin said. "Hemp is an untapped source of revenue for the state and it is absolutely ridiculous that the sole reason for its illegality is because of absurd claims made at the height of this nation's 'yellow journalism' era."

The production of Industrial Hemp was outlawed in 1937 after a campaign of misinformation promulgated by the Hearst newspaper's chain. Industrial Hemp was and still is confused with marijuana, but in fact, hemp contains only trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. The small amount of THC in hemp is so minute that one would die of lung failure before ever attaining any sort of high. The Drug Enforcement Agency is currently reviewing its position and policies on Industrial Hemp because it is so widely imported in to the United States

In 1998, Assembly member Strom-Martin successfully authored House Resolution 32, which urged the Legislature to reconsider its position on the status of Industrial Hemp.

More information is available on Industrial Hemp at http://www.CAIR.net

More information on AB 448 is available as follows:

BILL NUMBER: AB 448 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0401-0450/ab_448_bill_20010220_introduced.html

CURRENT BILL STATUS http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0401-0450/ab_448_bill_20010220_status.html

COMPLETE BILL HISTORY http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0401-0450/ab_448_bill_20010220_history.html

Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999
From: Sam H. Clauder II <cair.sam@att.net>
Subject: CA State Assembly Approves Strom-Martin's Hemp Resolution.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 10, 1999.
Virginia Strom-Martin, Member California State Assembly, 1st Assembly District Representing the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma, Contact: Stacey Sullivan (916) 319-3798

STATE ASSEMBLY APPROVES STROM-MARTIN'S HEMP RESOLUTION

SACRAMENTO - Assembly House Resolution 32 by Assembly member Virginia Strom-Martin (D-Duncans Mills), which calls on the state to consider changing the legal status of industrial hemp to allow for its cultivation as an agricultural and industrial crop, was approved today (Sept 15th 1999). The resolution also directs the Legislature to request the University of California and the California State University to do research on the cultivation, processing, and marketing of industrial hemp.

"I'm proud that the California State Assembly has stepped into the forefront of the growing movement to restore common sense to the discussion of this potentially valuable agricultural resource," said Strom-Martin. "My resolution doesn't ask for anything more than a serious consideration of industrial hemp on its merits by the Legislature and our public universities."

According to studies cited by the resolution's proponents, industrial hemp contains less than 1% of the psychoactive chemical Delta-9 TetraHydroCannabinol (THC). Marijuana, on the other hand, contains THC concentrations of 5% to 20%. Industrial hemp can also be distinguished from marijuana by appearance and cultivation methods.

Industrial hemp can be used to produce paper, building materials, textile fiber, oil and paint, diesel fuel, plastics, and food protein that proponents claim are as good or better than that from current sources of these products. Industrial hemp also can be grown in otherwise marginal cropland, requires less water once established and little or no herbicide or pesticide application, and matures in three to four months, thereby allowing several harvests per year.

A wide range of products, from clothing and cosmetics to beer and cheese, that are made wholly or partially from industrial hemp are currently available in California. While these products may be manufactured in California, the raw material must be imported. Industrial hemp cultivation was recently made legal in North Dakota, and both Hawaii and Minnesota have approved the growing of test crops. 16 other states are considering industrial hemp legislation. The federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which currently permits the cultivation of industrial hemp under very strict rules and regulations, is reviewing those standards with an eye to easing the restrictions on cultivation.

"Any future development of industrial hemp as an agricultural and industrial crop will depend on the DEA's approval," said Strom-Martin, "which is as it should be. I'm confident that when all the facts are in, industrial hemp will take its place as a legal and profitable crop for California farmers. I want to make sure we're ready to take advantage of that opportunity when it arrives."

We at the HempCyberFarm wonder, what does the DEA have to do with Hemp? Hemp is not a drug! For example: Hemp has been cultivated in France for centuries without any problems. Canada has cultivated Hemp very successfully for three years now. Why then, does the DEA maintain that there is a problem?

Any news California?

Do you know more about this? e-mail us at Matthew@HempWorld.com

*Industrial-Hemp has no psychoactive properties following definition of the European Economic Community (EEC); THC content is less than 0.3%. In general, low THC-seed varieties without psychoactive properties are those that have a THC content of less than 1%. (See also No-THC Hemp-seed.) THC= Delta-9 TetraHydroCannabinol.