Pubdate: Wed, 06 Sep 2000
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2000 Globe Newspaper Company.
Contact:  P.O. Box 2378, Boston, MA 02107-2378
Feedback: http://extranet.globe.com/LettersEditor/default.asp
Website: http://www.boston.com/globe/

NADER DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN HEMP, MARIJUANA

WASHINGTON - Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader joined 
people who want to grow and market industrial hemp yesterday in 
criticizing federal agencies for making it difficult for farmers to 
grow the crop. Nader, of Winsted, Conn., also spoke out against a 
recent raid on a South Dakota Indian reservation in which federal 
agents seized at least 2,000 plants described as industrial-grade hemp 
plants by the crop's owner. Hemp cannot be grown commercially in the 
United States because it belongs to the same family as marijuana, 
although Nader pointed out that the levels of hallucinogenic THC are 
far lower in hemp than in marijuana. "It is analogous to consuming 
poppy seed bagels or nonalcoholic beer," he said. Nader said the Drug 
Enforcement Administration is proposing new rules that would require a 
product containing any amount of THC to be classified a "Schedule I" 
controlled substance, the same category as heroin and LSD. Exceptions 
would be made for industrial hemp products not intended for human 
consumption, such as paper, clothing, or rope. While American farmers 
are barred from growing hemp, manufacturers are allowed to import it 
from other nations that produce hemp products.  
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MAP posted-by: John Chase