Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jan 2006
Source: Sacramento Union, The (CA)
Copyright: 2006 The Sacramento Union
Contact:  http://www.sacunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3697
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE OKS HEMP BILL

SACRAMENTO--Legislation that would allow California farmers to grow
industrial hemp, a distant cousin of marijuana that can be used in
making myriad products, has been approved by a state Assembly committee.

The measure by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, cleared the
Public Safety Committee on Tuesday night, 4-2, and was sent to the
Appropriations Committee, the last stop before the full Assembly.

Hemp is imported to the United States from Canada and other countries
and can be used to make clothing, cosmetics, food, paper, rope,
jewelry, luggage, sports equipment, toys and a variety of other products.

But hemp can't be legally grown in the United States without a federal
Drug Enforcement Administration permit that often is difficult to
obtain. Hemp contains a trace of tetrahydrocannabinols, or THC, the
drug in marijuana.

Leno's bill would allow California farmers to grow hemp to sell to
California manufacturers of hemp products, a limit the bill's
supporters hope will avoid legal challenges to the legislation under
the U.S. Constitution's interstate commerce clause.

Leno said the bill provides a "great opportunity to assist family
farmers."

"California can import the entire plant to manufacture thousands of
products, so manufacturers are benefiting from current law, the
environment benefits, retailers benefit, consumers benefit," he said.
"The only one losing out is the California farmer."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin