Pubdate: Wed, 05 Dec 2001
Source: Argus Leader (SD)
Copyright: 2001 Argus Leader
Contact:  http://www.argusleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/842
Author: Bob Newland
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm

INDUSTRIAL HEMP GETS BACKING

S.D. Farmers Union Offers Endorsement

A petition drive to legalize industrial hemp production has won the support 
of the South Dakota Farmers Union.

The farm group voted unanimously to support the petition during its annual 
convention last weekend in Sioux Falls. Backers need 13,010 valid 
signatures by May 2002 to get the initiated measure on the November general 
election ballot.

"I'm walking on air. I couldn't be happier," said Bob Newland, president of 
SoDak-NORML, an affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of 
Marijuana Laws. "I'm pleased not so much that they just endorsed our 
efforts, I knew they were generally in favor of it, but the wonderful thing 
about it is, there was not a single voice of dissent."

By supporting the petition, the Farmer's Union is encouraging its members 
to sign the document, according to Rep. Frank Kloucek, D-Scotland.

"We're not forcing them to do anything," he said.

Kloucek said he also was surprised by the unanimous vote, from the more 
than 70 delegates.

"I don't see any problem with industrial hemp," he said. "We're already 
importing it from all over the world. The twine we buy comes from Brazil."

Newland said hemp is brought to the United States from more than 30 nations.

"We truck Canadian hemp right past barely surviving South Dakota farms," he 
said. "The absurdity of the situation is glaringly obvious. Everyone knows 
hemp would be a great crop - especially in eastern South Dakota. The 
delegates saw this."

Newland began circulating petitions in May.

The ballot measure would allow the planting, harvesting, possession and 
sale of industrial hemp in South Dakota if it contained no more than 1 
percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the substance in marijuana that gets 
smokers high.

More than 20 other states are pushing similar measures. State and federal 
agriculture and law enforcement officials oppose legalization.

Some local lawmakers also say they oppose the legalization of industrial hemp.

"It's still illegal, under federal law," said Matt McCaulley, R-Sioux 
Falls. "And the reports that I've heard are it's questionable as to whether 
there's even a real market for it."

McCaulley said the hemp issue hasn't been pushed by the agriculture 
industry, but by celebrities interested in marijuana legalization.

Majority Leader Bill Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, said he knew there were 
efforts being taken to bring the industrial hemp issue to a public vote.

"I support putting it on the ballot, if there's enough public interest. But 
I don't intend to vote for it, unless I see more compelling evidence," 
Peterson said. "I'm open to changing my mind on it, but they are going to 
have to make a better case. They're pushing it as a panacea to solve all 
the ag problems, and I don't see that."

Senate Majority Leader Barbara Everist, R-Sioux Falls, supports the concept 
of growing a valuable crop, but she too has legal concerns.

"It's illegal under federal law, that's the main one, and federal law 
preempts state law," Everist said. "In past legislative sessions, we 
haven't been convinced that the crop can be readily distinguished from 
marijuana per se, or that it would even be valuable."

In the past legislative session, state lawmakers killed two bills that 
would have allowed medicinal use of marijuana and another that would have 
allowed hemp production.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart