Pubdate: Sat, 16 May 1998 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Contact: Website: http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/ Author: Janet Patton, Business Writer THOSE FILING HEMP SUIT SAY ISSUE IS MONEY With the filing of a federal lawsuit yesterday demanding the right to grow hemp, a group of Kentucky farmers and hemp activists made it clear that they are setting their sights high, but only on money. "Hemp was never meant to be interdicted by the government. The DEA took that authority on its own," said Michael Kennedy, a New York attorney brought in to give some muscle to the suit against the Drug Enforcement Administration and Janet Reno. Among Kennedy's other clients: Ivana Trump, Susan McDougal and John Gotti. The hemp fight certainly seems to be getting a higher national profile. CBS plans to air a two-minute piece on hemp, featuring farmer Andy Graves, that is pegged to the suit. “Kentucky Hemp Growers are doing this on behalf of an old industry that's going to be recreated," said Graves, who is president of the hemp growers' co-op, as well as Kentucky Farm Bureau. "Tobacco may or may not be here 10 years from now. We're going to make hemp a part of the economy in this state again." Graves would use hemp to supplement the tobacco, corn, soybeans and cattle he raises on his 50-acre farm outside Avon. He'd like to be able to grow his first crop -- "I'd start out with a moderate amount, 20 to 50 acres" -- in two to five years, but realizes that the suit could drag out for much longer while the plaintiffs fight the marijuana stigma. In addition to the court fight, the North American Industrial Hemp Council is lobbying to change DEA policy -- so that hemp with less than 1 percent THC (the drug in marijuana) would be an agriculture crop. This could become law immediately with an executive order signed by President Clinton. To counter questions about how law enforcement officials could tell hemp from marijuana, Graves said hemp is cultivated differently. "The Canadians have been doing it for five years. Canadian DEA says it's two separate crops and that it's detectable," Graves said. "We're smart enough to do this." Canada, which started with test plots, will have its first full-scale legal hemp harvest this year for sale on the world market along with hemp from France, England, Germany and Eastern Europe. "This will not replace tobacco," Graves said. "But it might be one of three or four crops put together that might equal tobacco. Hemp and tobacco can be companion crops." John Howell of the Hemp Company of American, which has hemp-product stores and a magazine, Hemp Times, joined Graves, Kennedy and Burl McCoy, the plaintiffs' Ashland attorney, in Lexington to publicize the message that there is a market. "I'm the answer to a farmer's dream. You grow it and I will buy it," Howell said. "Manufacturers identify hemp as quality goods. They'll pay more, but we don't want them to pay too much more. We want to get the government out of the way between us and money." Graves and Craig Lee, executive director of Kentucky Industrial Hemp Association, said that Kentucky Hemp Growers last month signed a contingency contract with Mike Hart of Lexington Brewing Co., the company that makes Kentucky Hemp Beer. Hart said he could save at least 30 percent by buying domestic instead of from Hungary and Romania. “If we ever get to grow it, they'll buy it," Graves said. "That's a contract. That's a market." But how much of one, and is it one Kentucky farmers can tap into? A study due to be released next week by the University of Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research will try to answer that question. "That's the big issue in all this -- can hemp be widely and commercially successful instead of just a niche product?" said Steve Allen, an associate researcher who traveled to, among other places, England, where he found horse bedding made of hemp. The $25,000 study, which may be more positive in its assessment than previous UK research, looked at whether Kentucky farmers who replace other crops with hemp can come out ahead. "If Kentucky were to start growing hemp, could farmers make a profit and how much could they expect to grow?" said Mark Berger, the center's director. To assess this, they looked at the market for seeds, paper and hemp "plastic." If Kentucky farmers ever do produce hemp, they might not have to travel far to market it. Graves knows of one Canadian hemp grower and marketer who has made auto interior demo parts -- for his Kentucky-made Corvettes. Information * For information on how Kentucky farmers can join the lawsuit, check out (http://www.hempgrowers.com) and for more on industrial hemp contact (http//www.hemptimes.com) All Contents © Copyright 1998 Lexington Herald-Leader. All Rights Reserved - --- Checked-by: Melodi Cornett