Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 Source: Reuters Copyright: 1999 Reuters Limited MINNESOTA'S VENTURA SIGNS BILL BACKING HEMP FARMS ST. PAUL, Minn. (Reuters) - Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura signed an omnibus spending bill Thursday that included a mandate seeking federal permission to cultivate hemp, the industrial version of the marijuana plant that is illegal in the United States. The mandate, included as an amendment to House File 878, the House Omnibus State Government Finance Bill, requires state officials to submit an application by September 30, 1999 for federal permits to begin research on growing industrial hemp and establishes a state registry for farmers seeking to grow the crop. "Our farmers need to be able to diversify, and adding hemp into their crop rotation is just one option," State Rep. Phyllis Kahn said in a statement. Ventura, a member of the Reform Party and former professional wrestler, has previously expressed his support for industrial hemp, which can be used in home building, cosmetics, paper and pulp and other industries - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake