Pubdate: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 Source: Macon Telegraph (GA) Copyright: 2001The Macon Telegraph Publishing Company Contact: http://www.macontelegraph.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/667 Author: Buster Jones Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?330 (Hemp - Outside U.S.) NO HEMP SUPPORT President George W. Bush does not favor lifting the Congressional embargo on domestic cultivation of industrial hemp for the purposes of fuel or fiber, according to comments from his spokesman Ari Fleisher at a July 16 White House press briefing. Fleisher responded to the question: "Does the president favor the legalization of industrial hemp?" by stating that Bush has not made "any statements. . . that would lend one to reach that conclusion." At present, some 30 nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, license farmers to grow hemp. Since 1996, twelve states have passed laws or resolutions endorsing hemp, which belongs to the genus Cannabis sative, but contains only negligible amounts of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Since the Bush family has major holdings in oil and pharmaceuticals I would expect no less. Buster Jones Albany - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe