DAVIS VETO OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP STUDY DRAWS CRITICISM

DAVIS VETO OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP STUDY DRAWS CRITICISM

Strom-Martin Says Rejection Of Bill Came As A Surprise

Industrial hemp supporters on Tuesday criticized Gov. Gray Davis' veto of a
bill to study the profitability of growing the fibrous crop for use in
textiles, food and fuel.

Assemblywoman Virginia Strom-Martin, the bill's author, said the veto came
as a surprise considering the governor's support for medical marijuana. She
said her legislation could have led to a major economic boost for agriculture.

In his message accompanying the Sept. 16 veto, Davis said because hemp has
been put in a class with marijuana by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency,
and is illegal, there is no reason to proceed with research.

"There are a number of significant concerns regarding the legality of
producing industrial hemp in the United States," Davis wrote. "For these
reasons, I am returning this bill without my signature."

The bill would have requested that the University of California conduct a
study of the economic benefits of the production of alternative fiber
crops, including industrial hemp, flax, and kenaf.

Hemp is grown in 33 countries. Worldwide sales of hemp-based products in
1999 were $250 million. Americans purchased about 60 percent of that
amount, Strom-Martin said.

"It is a crop with huge potential from farmers," said Strom-Martin,
D-Duncans Mills. "Here we are importing hemp from Canada and China. It just
doesn't make sense that we couldn't be growing it right here."

Advocates said hemp contains only trace amounts of THC, the active
ingredient in marijuana.

Hemp is valued only for use in clothing, paper and cosmetics. Hemp is a
fuel and hemp seeds are a nutritional supplement, supporters said.

"It shouldn't be on the DEA's list," said Strom-Martin, who has written
three failed hemp bills and leaves office because of term limits in
December. "I have absolutely no idea why it is. I guess it's one of the
mysteries of life."

Others agreed.

Lotus Bakery owner Jim Dow, who produced health bars containing hemp before
a DEA crackdown in 2001 slowed sales, said the veto was an unfortunate blow
to an industry with much potential.

"He missed a big opportunity to move agriculture forward," said Dow of
Santa Rosa. "People could have made money in an ecological kind of way.
It's certainly not very progressive of him."

Pubdate: Wed, 25 Sep 2002
Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)
Copyright: 2002 The Press Democrat
Contact: letters@pressdemo.com
Website: http://www.pressdemo.com/