Pubdate: Tue, 17 Sep 2013
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Column: Inside the Beltway
Copyright: 2013 The Washington Times, LLC.
Contact:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Jennifer Harper

A GROWING INTEREST

Hemp enthusiasts will hoist an American flag made from hemp over the 
Vermont State House on Tuesday to mark Constitution Day. But wait. 
This particular flag is being delivered to Vermont by Mike Bowman of 
the Colorado Hemp Commission, who managed to have the very same flag 
flown over the U.S. Capitol on July Fourth with the help of Rep. 
Jared Polis, Colorado Democrat. The flag also flew over the Colorado 
State House.

"Vermont farmers are ready to lead the nation," says Robb Kidd, an 
organizer with Rural Vermont, a grass-roots group. "Considering the 
U.S. Justice Department's recent marijuana ruling, many legal experts 
believe that the states have been given the green light in allowing 
hemp cultivation as their laws allow." The organization plans to work 
with Vote Hemp, a national advocacy group, to "get confirmation about 
what the recent ruling means for hemp cultivation," which became 
legal in Vermont in July. Farmers simply file paperwork with the 
Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets and a pay a registration fee of $25.

"Given that hemp is now legal in Vermont - and given that they can 
now proceed (with caution) thanks to the Obama administration's 
recent announcement - the placing of a hemp flag at the state's 
Capitol Building will surely be a triumphant feeling for the 
advocates that made it happen," points out The Joint Blog, a site 
that follows "cannabis news and issues."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom