AHPA Throws Support Behind Hemp Cultivation Bill

[Jim Finnel]

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has endorsed proposed new legislation to legalize cultivation and processing of industrial hemp.

Introduced by Ron Paul (R-Texas), the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011 (H.R. 1831), aims to amend the Controlled Substances Act by removing industrial hemp from its definition of marijuana.

"I am aware of only one plant that Americans are forbidden to grow but whose products we are allowed to eat, wear or apply to our skin, and that plant is hemp," said Michael McGuffin, AHPA president.

"AHPA members who manufacture and market hemp products want to have the option of buying their ingredients from U.S. farmers, and Rep. Paul's bill will allow them to do so.

"Domestic cultivation would also provide an important economic stimulus and source of revenue for American farmers, including small family farms," added McGuffin.

Definitions

According to the bill, hemp would be defined as "the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis".

According to the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), annual sales of hemp products in the US are about $360 million, and this includes foods, soaps, and cosmetics: Hemp seed and seed oil is used in both foods and cosmetics.

The HIA adds that hemp seed contains "more essential fatty acids than any other source, is second only to soybeans in complete protein (but is more digestible by humans), is high in B-vitamins, and is a good source of dietary fiber. Hemp seed is not psychoactive and cannot be used as a drug".

Hemp is grown legally in Canada and China, and imported to the US. Some US states do have also legalized cultivation, but conflicts with federal law means there is no or only limited production on US soil. HR1831 would remove such conflicts.

"AHPA is hopeful that one or more senator will see that this legislation supports American farmers and hemp marketers at the same time that it does not alter federal marijuana laws in any other way," added McGuffin.

Hemp education

Hemp cannot legally be grown in some countries because some versions are psychoactive and classed as narcotics. But industrial hemp grown for nutritional purposes does not have psychoactive properties and is not considered to be a substitute for marijuana, which is a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act.



- Thanks to Rubivroom for submitting this article

NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: nutraingredients-usa.com
Author: Stephen Daniells
Copyright: 2011 William Reed Business Media
Contact: Feedback
Website: AHPA throws support behind hemp cultivation bill

 

[buckethead]

Ron paul for president!

 

[Brinna]

Everyone, take a moment to write to your Congressional representative asking him or her to co-sponsor, vote for and support this bill. I just did that. Here is the letter I wrote. You all can use it as a sample:

Please co-sponsor Ron Paul's Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011 (H.R. 1831), The hemp plant can supply seeds with a complete protein and rich with Omega 3 and other essential fatty acids. The oil can be used as bio-fuel.

The hurds from the hemp stalk can be mixed with concrete for extra-strong hempcrete building materials. The stalk can also be used to manufacture Oriented Strand Boards which are much stronger than the ones made from wood chips.

Fiber from the plant is used in many clothing products, and now we must import this fiber if we want to use it in manufacturing. Hemp can be grown virtually free from pesticides and fertilizer. It improves the soil that it is grown on. It is excellent for preventing erosion.

You can grow enough hemp to build a home (think hempcrete) in six months on less than an acre.

This is a crop that can be grown on marginal lands.

It is insanity that it is banned. Please do something about it.