Pubdate: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA) Copyright: 1999 Santa Barbara News-Press Contact: http://www.newspress.com/ Author: Barry Bortnick, News-Press Staff Writer A GRASS-ROOTS EFFORT TO LEGALIZE HEMP Al Espino sees a day when marijuana plants will cover the rolling hills of Santa Barbara County. But don't hit the panic button and call the police just yet, because Espino's daydream involves the plant people wear, not the stuff that goes up in smoke. Espino, owner of Hempwise, an Isla Vista clothing store that specializes in products made from the nontoxic form of cannabis sativa, is a man on a mission, spreading the word about hemp's good qualities and advocating its legalization for agriculture use. Though hemp is legally grown throughout the world, it can't be cultivated in the United States. The weed was outlawed in the late 1930s. Today, hemp is classified as a "schedule I controlled substance." The government of Canada allowed farmers to begin growing thousands of acres of hemp about a year ago. Canadian farmers ship the raw fiber to the United States where it is fashioned into a wide range of products. Espino's little shop on Trigo Road offers everything from shirts to skateboards, and tennis shoes to backpacks. Again, everything is made from hemp. "Anything we make from trees can be made with hemp," Espino said as he led visitors around his store. "But hemp is cheaper and better." Those interested in learning more about the weed's history and many uses can attend a hemp bash today in Anisq' Oyo' Park in the heart of Isla Vista. The party goes from 2 to 9 p.m. "It's going to be a nice day in the park," said Espino, who is a walking encyclopedia of hemp lore. "There's gonna be a pot luck meal. There will be speakers and bands." The local festival coincides with similar gatherings in other states as advocates begin a push to separate the image of hemp from its narcotic cousin, marijuana. Although some might confuse the two plants, Espino and those well-versed on the issue know that hemp can't get you high. The benign plant contains only a fraction of tetrahydrocannabinol -- the ingredient that gets people high, commonly called THC. "People come in and ask if they can smoke hats made of hemp," Espino said. "You'd have to smoke between five to 10 plants to get a headache." Hemp did not always have a bad reputation. In fact, it may be the oldest crop known to man, according to Espino, as well as various pro-hemp Web sites and several books on the subject. The Chinese invented fish nets with hemp in 4500 BC. Hemp was the top crop in Asia, Europe and the Americas from 1500 to 1800. Sails were made from hemp, so were books, maps and lamp oil. Cannabis was once the most popular plant in colonial America. Thomas Jefferson risked life and limb to smuggle hemp seeds out of China. George Washington cultivated the crop. A draft of the Declaration of Independence was written on paper made from hemp, according to various sources. Impressive stuff, yet there are those within the United States government who fear the product. According to a report in The New York Times, the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy has opposed legalizing hemp because it believes such a move would send the wrong message about drugs to American youth. Officials with the Drug Enforcement Agency have raised worries as well, saying farmers might take advantage of any change in the law and grow illegal marijuana amid their hemp fields. Hemp advocates scoff at such notions, pointing out that hemp does not look like marijuana and can be easily detected from the air by law enforcement surveillance planes or helicopters. Despite the DEA alert, hemp is gaining political might. Farmers in North Dakota have pushed for cultivation rights. Similar efforts have taken place in the state houses of Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, Vermont and Virginia. Just last month, the California Democratic Party endorsed the use of industrial hemp following a vote at its annual state convention in Sacramento. While that may sound impressive, a spokesman for the party said the hemp measure was one of many items nonchalantly approved at the convention's conclusion. "We passed several dozen resolutions and I am not even sure most delegates could remember all the resolutions," said Bob Mulholland, a campaign adviser to the Democratic Party of California. "The American Farm Bureau Federation feels strong about it (hemp), but I am not sure the delegates paid much attention." The Farm Bureau has 4.5 million members and is well aware that hemp sales have grown over the past several years. According to a report in the Washington Post, worldwide sales have gone from $5 million in 1993 to $75 million in 1995. The future of hemp seems green indeed, which is why advocates like Espino consider the crop a glorious plant wrongly punished. "People have talked about this issue for 10 years," Espino said. "It has taken a long time to get into the mainstream because people are afraid to talk about cannabis. People used to joke about it all the time, but finally we are getting serious about the plant." William Stern, a professor of botany with the University of Florida in Gainesville, confirmed hemp's helpful qualities. He said early American settlers made homespun cloth from the plant, which is much stronger than cotton. "Hemp has been cultivated for a long time," Stern said. While advocates do their part to put a happy face on hemp, it is hard to discuss the product without linking it to Cheech and Chong movies or Deadheads. People are afraid to mention smoking, but I have found that most people who want to legalize hemp are also open to the idea of pot smoking, Espino said. While the vast majority of products sold at Hempwise are garments, Espino's store does pay small homage to pot. There are humorous bumper stickers in the shop that show President Clinton toking a joint. There are also other far-out odds and ends one might expect to find in a store near the UCSB campus. For now, the hemp beat goes on. It is summarized perfectly in a clever bumper sticker that states: "God made grass. Man made booze. Who do you trust?" F.Y.I. What: Hemp Expo in the Park Where: Anisq' Oyo' Park in Isla Vista When: 2 to 9 p.m. Fun facts about hemp, according to the Hemp Industries Association of Occidental, Calif., Website at http.//thehia.org Hemp is among the oldest crops, dating back 10,000 years. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp. Hemp seeds are more nutritious than soybeans. Hemp grows well without the need for herbicides. Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber. China is the largest exporter of hemp paper and textiles. Romania is the largest commercial producer of hemp in Europe. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D