Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2001
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2001 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact:  http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Author: Mark R. Chellgren
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

HEMP RESEARCH EFFORT IS OFF TO A SLOW START

FRANKFORT -- The latest efforts to study the viability of industrial hemp 
are off to another slow start, stymied by bureaucratic delays and running 
headlong into a into a federal prohibition.

The Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission met yesterday, well after the July 
1 2001, deadline set by the legislation passed earlier this year that 
created it.

Although the University of Kentucky has applied to conduct research on the 
agronomy of growing hemp, the Department of Agriculture has not even 
created the regulations needed to grant a license for the research. Even 
then the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) must be asked for a permit 
to conduct the research, which it does not have to grant.

David Sparrow of the agriculture department of UK, said it might be overly 
optimistic to think the first test plots might be planted in the spring. 
"That's a hard question to answer," Sparrow said.

The delays are frustrating but can be overcome, said Andrew Graves, 
chairman of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association and a member 
of the commission.

Kentucky has a long history of growing hemp, including as recently as World 
War II, when cultivation was encouraged as a source of fiber. Supporters 
insist the plant is a renewable source of fuel, fiber and oil.

Skeptics argue there are other cheaper, available sources for the same 
products, and there is no demonstrated market except as novelty items. 
Critics also question whether production would mask the growing of marijuana.

The two plants are virtually identical, except industrial hemp is supposed 
to contain only a minuscule amount of the drug that gives marijuana its effect.

Kentucky State Police Col. John Lile said law enforcement concerns involve 
differentiating hemp from marijuana. Although supporters say the mature 
hemp plants can be recognized as different from a marijuana plant, the 
differences are subtle.

Drug enforcement officials have said their position is clear. Federal law 
outlaws all forms of the hemp plant. The DEA has thus far issued only one 
research permit, to a university in Hawaii. (END)
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