Pubdate: Mon, 25 Feb 2008
Source: Williston Herald (ND)
Copyright: 2008 Williston Herald
Contact:  http://www.willistonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3646
Author: LeAnn Eckroth

RAY FARMER FIGHTING TO GROW HEMP PRODUCT

Ray farmer Wayne Hauge knows a good cash crop when he  sees
one.

In industrial hemp, he finds almost boundless  potential. Its uses
span from fabrics, to food products  to biofuels.

Hemp's red light comes in the form federal regulations  which
mistakenly label it in the same category as  marijuana.

In January of 2007, Hauge said he originally received a  certificate
for growing industrial hemp from the North  Dakota Department of
Agriculture.

"In January of 2007, I had to apply for a federal  license for
cannabis because the federal DEA (Drug  Enforcement Agency) does not
recognize the word  'industrial hemp,'" he recalled.

He complied and filled out the application to grow the  product with
the DEA.

State Ag Commissioner Roger Johnson hand-delivered  Hauge's and
Osnabrock farmer David Monson's  applications to DEA headquarters.

"They were less than receptive," Hauge said. "Hemp is  identified
differently under North Dakota law than  cannabis because it is less
than .3 a percent THC  (Tetrahydrocannabinol)."

Basically, one cannot get a high from industrial hemp.

"It is a cousin to cannabis, but it contains no  psychoactive
components - THC," he explained.

"Because of a delay in processing the applications, the  decision was
made to take the matter to U.S. District  Court in Bismarck," Hauge
continued. "U.S. Judge Daniel  Hoveland just dismissed the case, and
we filed an  appeal in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals."

The motion of appeal was done earlier this month. The  date of when
arguments will be heard is still pending.

Financially backing the legal action is nation's  leading advocacy
group for the product, Vote Hemp.

"One of our goals is to get some fact-finding to  discuss in court the
definition of industrial hemp,"  Hauge said. "We have no interest in
growing cannabis."

Just a couple of hours north of us in Canada, Hauge  said industrial
hemp is grown for multiple products.

"They're growing it, and they're doing well with it.  They make soaps,
lotions, ropes and twine. When you  combine its fibers with flax,
cotton and silk, it makes  a very soft product. Hemp could make a nice
prom  dress," he said. "They've got hemp granola bars and  hemp milk
in three flavors."

He said the unopened hemp milk could set on a shelf  almost a year
unrefridgerated.

He recently received multiple samples of what hemp can  produce.

He said there should be no fear in some hemp farmer  trying to hide or
grow pot within a hemp section.

Hauge said any industrial hemp grown in North Dakota  would be
required to have GPS coordinates to identify  specifically where the
hemp is grown, and producers  would have to agree to an inspection at
any 24-hour  period.

"A producer would have go through a background check  and be
fingerprinted," he stated.

Hauge said industrial hemp would actually weaken the  strength of any
marijuana plants near the hemp.

"They are not going to put anything other than hemp in  the middle of
the field because it would  cross-pollinate," Hauge explained.
"Marijuana growers  stay away from the stuff (hemp). It would reduce
the  THC, making the marijuana worthless."

He said not only is hemp very durable, but with new  processing
methods is also soft.

"Stalks are dissected into six-inch segments, put into  a vat of
enzymes and dissolved into a goo. That goo can  be converted into
multiple materials such as body  armor, and uncover sports apparel,"
Hauge said.

He added it is proving popular for the outside of  jackets.

"You combine it with some materials, and it's stronger,  but lighter,"
he said.

He believes hemp is a good rotation crop, and likens it  to flax for
root depth.

According to Hauge, the hemp product also is more eco  friendly for
biofuel products than many other  vegetations.

"It is more 'green.' It requires less chemicals to  produce the
biofuels," he said.

Until the recent spike in wheat prices, acre per acre,  Hauge said the
hemp was among the most profitable for a  farmer.

In January, Ag Commissioner Johnson renewed the  farmers' grower
licenses.

In a recent new release, Johnson said he did not  encourage Monson or
Hauge to plant industrial hemp.

Monson and Hauge filed the lawsuit in federal court in  an effort to
end DEA's ban on commercial hemp farming  in the U.S. The lawsuit was
dismissed in November, and  the appeal was filed in the Eighth Circuit
Court of  Appeals two weeks later.
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MAP posted-by: Derek