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The Battle for American Hemp

Decriminalizing the perfect plant
 

Since the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 effectively banned the production and use of agricultural hemp, American farmers and activists have been working to repeal prohibition laws. There are many chapters to this sordid tale and most do not know the real efforts behind bringing industrial hemp products to U.S. to end user markets in spite of the federa

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Decriminalizing the perfect plant

 

Since the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 effectively banned the production and use of agricultural hemp, American farmers and activists have been working to repeal prohibition laws. There are many chapters to this sordid tale and most do not know the real efforts behind bringing industrial hemp products to U.S. to end user markets in spite of the federal ban to grow agricultural hemp here in the United States.

The general public is beginning to understand the difference between cannabis and hemp; however, most do not know the true benefits of hemp. Nutrition and the many benefits of body care products are perfect examples of these misperceptions. Hemp seed and hemp oil is the best source of protein known to man. Both offer a full daily supply all essential and non-essential amino acids, omega 3s and 6s in the exact ratio for optimal human digestion, macronutrients, micronutrients, potassium, magnesium and more in just three tablespoons. As a topical, hemp seed oil soaks right into the skin or hair follicles for immediate results combating dry skin, balancing pH levels and protects the skin and hair against sun damage.

October of 2001, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), without allowing for public notice and required public comment, issued an interpretive ruling banning hemp seed and oil food products containing any trace amounts of tetra-hydro cannabinol or (THC), the psychotropic components found predominately in the cannabis plant. The minimal amounts of THC in hemp foods have absolutely no psychoactive effect, no more than trace amounts of opium found in poppy seeds consumed on many bread items or alcohol found in fruit juices consumed by millions of children in the United States daily.

When the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) received word of the DEA’s ruling, they pulled many hemp food and body care companies together to fight the ruling in court. Almost immediately a judge approved the HIA and Organic Consumers Association’s motion to stay the ruling allowing hemp foods and body products to remain on the shelves in thousands of retail establishments nationwide while the case was litigated. It took several years before the DEA would issue their final ruling, which would attempt to permanently ban hemp seed and hemp oil from being imported into the United States. The language in the final interim rule exempted hemp body care and fiber products from DEA control, however, the language allowing for importation of these products effectively destroying the manufacturer’s ability to obtain hemp oil for their products.

Once again, The HIA and several other hemp companies in conjunction with the Organic Consumers Organization and Dr Bronner’s Soaps moved to appeal the decision. February 2006 brought resolution when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued the unanimous decision in favor of the HIA. Judge Betty Fletcher wrote, “[T]hey (DEA) cannot regulate naturally-occurring THC not contained within or derived from marijuana-i.e. non-psychoactive hemp is not included in “Schedule I.” The DEA has no authority to regulate drugs that are not scheduled, and it has not followed procedures required to schedule a substance. The DEA’s definition of “THC” contravenes the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and cannot be upheld.”

Food for Thought

Today, hemp foods and hemp body care products can be found in most grocers across the U.S. thanks to the efforts of HIA’s team of experts, however, the battle is far from over. American Farmers are still fighting to restore agricultural hemp to American farmlands and they need everyone’s help! The HIA and VoteHemp both have sections of their websites listing all of the things ordinary citizens can do to bring a to change the draconian laws disallowing hemp written to appease major corporations who viewed the plant as direct competition to their industries. Once farmers are allowed to grow hemp, the cost of body care products and foods will diminish drastically as companies no longer have to import the raw hemp for their products.

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