HempCyberFarm South Dakota

Hemp Cultivation in South Dakota?

SD currently has a Hemp Initiative on the Ballot for fall 2002 elections!
The situation in South Dakota: For other articles see events page or answer 20.

From: Bob Newland newland@rapidcity.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 11:02 AM
Subject: USA-v-White Plume update

A Colorado attorney sent me the following analysis of why the US Attorney for So. Dak. decided to seek civil "relief" from Alex White Plume's annoying hemp fields.

I believe this is, indeed, the essence of the Govt's conspiracy to prevent the Lakota people of the Oglala SIoux Tribe from producing industrial hemp, the ONLY crop which has a chance of making a few more tribal members self-sufficient and economically productive.

Bob Newland http://www.sodakhemp.org/summons.htm
(If your REPLY bounces, try rjnewland@yahoo.com)

Civil Suit Against White Plume / No Jury Trial

Gov't is seeking injunctive relief because it's quick and efficient. The judge decides whether to issue the injunctions and is not likely to "nullify." Assume the injunctions will issue.

Once the injunctions are in place, any further hemp growing/ distribution activities by the White Plumes can be charged as violations of the injunctions, thus contempt of court.

Gov't can ask for contempt citation; a quick hearing can be convened; and the judge alone will decide punishment if punishment is less than six months in jail. Also see 18 USC sec 3691, where jury trials for contempt (where acts also constitute a statutory crime) are available under limited circumstances, but not if the charge is disobedience to a lawful court order when the US gov't is the plaintiff.

So civil injunction route will allow for criminal contempt punishments by judicial conviction.

Pretty neat, huh! No grand jury indictments, no jury trial, just proceedings before a judge. A slam dunk!

More ...

From: Bob Newland newland@rapidcity.com
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 5:54 PM
Subject: US Atty. throws White Plume a softball

In a strange move Saturday, the US Attorney for South Dakota served a civil Summons & Complaint on "ALEXANDER "Alex" WHITE PLUME, PERCY WHITE PLUME, their agents, servants, assigns, attorneys, and all others acting in concert with the named Defendant."

Posted by Bob Newland Candidate for Attorney General of South Dakota http://www.SoDakHEMP.org/ http://www.CommonSenseJustice.Us

In 2000 and 2001, Alex White Plume planted industrial hemp legally on his land within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. In August of each of those years, armed paramilitary groups financed by the United States invaded the Pine Ridge Reservation, destroyed White Plume's hemp crops, then fled back across the border to U.S. strongholds.

In 2002, White Plume planted hemp again. Two weeks ago, the White Plume tiospaye (extended family) harvested the hemp, which had been contracted to the Madison Hemp & Flax Co. of Lexington KY. Thus, White Plume became the first farmer within the borders of the U.S. to complete the cycle of planting, cultivation, harvest, sale,a nd delivery of industrial hemp since 1958.

Saturday, August 10, 2002 federal agents served a Summons & Complaint on White Plume at his home near Manderson SD. Strangely, the feds decided to use a civil route this year, rather than the brutal and frightening tactics they usually seem to prefer.

There are a number of ramifications to the civil court approach, many of which are probably not apparent yet.

The Summons and Complaint are posted at http://www.sodakhemp.org/summons.htm

You need to read these documents. Not only do they contain a unique perspective and documentation of events since the Oglala Sioux Tribe re-legalized hemp on the Pine Ridge Reservation (a sovereign nation) in 1998, but they provide a glimpse into the minds of U.S. Attorneys (perhaps a little tired of being required by politics to terrorize peaceful honest people?).

Read and see. Tell us what you think.

We think already that this is one of the most remarkable documents ever published by a US Attorney, in the middle of one of the most dramatic developments in our "war on the war on hemp".

Alex White Plume has invited you all to come to Kiza Park, three miles north of Manderson SD on Wednesday, August 14, for a ceremonial final harvest of the Lakota Hemp Project Industrial Hemp Fields. Music, Lakota ceremonies, friendship and fun are promised for all, even DEA agents.

With a hempy heart, I am

Bob Newland

Lawmaker From Strandburg Won't Give Up on Hemp Legalization would help save some family farms, says Weber.

From: GlobalHemp.com, May 24, 2000

Joe Kafka, Sioux Falls Argus Leader

PIERRE, SD (AP) – Despite the S.D. Legislature's rejection of two measures to allow growth and marketing of industrial hemp in South Dakota, a supporter of the effort says he's not giving up.

Rep. Bob Weber Rep. Bob Weber, R-Strandburg, who is a farmer, says legalization of hemp could help ensure the survival of some family farms.

"It would be a chance for a smaller farm to still make a living," he says. "In Canada, they're making up to $600 an acre on hemp."

Canada legalized hemp in 1998. The crop may also be grown legally in 31 other countries. It once was grown in the United States but was made illegal in 1937 when the federal government outlawed marijuana, a close cousin.

A federal permit is required to grow hemp in test plots, but the Drug Enforcement Administration will not issue permits in states without hemp regulations.

A bill to let South Dakota farmers raise hemp was killed in February by the state House Agriculture Committee, followed by full House defeat of a resolution urging the federal government to remove barriers to the production of industrial hemp.

Weber was prime sponsor of both measures.

Some facts about product Facts about hemp: Hemp is a stalky plant that typically reaches heights of 8 to 12 feet.

The first use of hemp in North America is attributed to the Puritans in New England, who used it with flax to produce cloth.

Known for its strong fiber, hemp is used in a range of products: clothing, canvas, rope, fiberglass, insulation, vehicle clutch- and brake-liners, cement and paper.

Hemp seeds can be pressed for oil, which is used in skin lotions, shampoos, soap and cosmetics.

Hemp butter is considered superior to peanut butter in Russia.

Although he is barred by term limits from seeking re-election to the House, the 28-year legislator said other lawmakers are interested in reintroducing hemp legislation next year. And Weber said there is a chance he'll run for the state Senate as an independent, and if elected, reintroduce the bill himself.

"During World War II, my dad raised hemp," he said. "It was grown in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The government gave you the seed to plant because we were short on hemp from other countries."

Hemp can be turned into textiles, paper, construction materials and a variety of other products. Though it's illegal to grow hemp in the United States, hemp products may be imported.

Hemp critics say there is no market for the crop in the United States, but the people pushing hemp production say new uses and markets will develop once investors and companies realize there is a steady supply of the crop.

Weber's hemp measures ran into legislative opposition when law officers complained that legalization of hemp would complicate enforcement of anti-marijuana laws. Law enforcement officers fear hemp could be used to camouflage the marijuana trade.

Opponents also worry that people may smoke hemp to get high.

Marijuana typically contains 3 percent to 15 percent of the active ingredient that makes pot smokers euphoric. Hemp typically has less than 1 percent of the hallucinogen.

"It's so low that you could smoke it all day, and about all you'd do is get sick," Weber counters.

His bill, which was killed 10-2 in committee, said anyone registered with the Agriculture Department could grow, process and sell low-potency industrial hemp.

Hemp's possibilities as an alternative crop for some farmers were dashed a third time when the Legislature's Executive Board was deciding on interim studies last month. A suggestion that hemp be a study topic was ignored.

"It's kind of like Jerusalem artichokes," said Sen. Bob Duxbury, D-Wessington, who is a farmer. "There's no market for it."

The Jerusalem artichoke is a native North American sunflower that humans can eat as a gourmet vegetable. It may also be used to make beer, wine and sweeteners, and it may be fed to livestock.

Jerusalem artichokes were pitched years ago as a miracle crop, but quickly fell into disfavor.

Contact Rep. Bob Weber, R-Strandburg 16288 472nd Ave. Strandburg, SD 57265

Received: from earthlink.net [153.34.241.140] by mx03 via mtad (2.6)
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1999 16:12:23 0100
From: "GreenLeaf Marketing" ecodirectory@earthlink.net

HEMP TO BE SOWN IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Lakota Sioux recently won a tribal council vote allowing industrial hemp to be cultivated on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. It is believed that hemp cultivation could bring financial independence to the poverty stricken reservation. A recent project by the Community Land-Use Association has shown that hemp may be transformed into brick, stucco and flooring to create incredibly weather resistant housing. Hemp cultivation will not begin on the reservation until federal hearings are held this spring. The Navajo Nation was turned down for similar hemp propagation but advocates are hopeful for the Lakota Sioux.

From: Mary Walsh ecodirectory@earthlink.net
To: HempWorld Matthew@HempWorld.com
Subject: Re: Can you tell us more about the Lakota Sioux and their hemp project?
Date: Friday, February 12, 1999 9:08 AM

Friends at HempWorld:

That is the latest information that I have about the Lake Sioux's hemp project. If you would like future updates they are on the web at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jamarcus/ or http://www.tahtonka.com

Regards,

Mary @GreenLeaf Marketing
The ECO Directory
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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.