Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2001
Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY)
Copyright: 2001 Messenger-Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.messenger-inquirer.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285
Author: Mark R Chellgren
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

LATEST HEMP RESEARCH EFFORTS OFF TO ANOTHER 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 federal prohibition.

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

While 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. And 
even then the Drug Enforcement Administration must be asked for a permit to 
conduct the research, which it does not have to grant.

David Sparrow of the agriculture department at 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 Hemp Growers Cooperative and a member of the commission. 
"No one is to blame. I'm glad we're together now," Graves said.

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

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

The last study of hemp, conducted during Gov. Brereton Jones' 
administration, had two meetings. One was an organizational gathering, the 
second was to approve a report, which concluded there was no economic 
reason to grow hemp, and to disband.

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

Kentucky State Police Col. John Lile said law enforcement concerns about 
growing hemp are the same as they have always been -- differentiating it 
from marijuana. While supporters say that mature hemp plants can be 
recognized as different from a marijuana plant, the differences are subtle.

Gatewood Galbraith, the Lexington lawyer who started his long and 
unsuccessful political career on the platform of legalizing marijuana, said 
any research will still have to overcome many obstacles. Galbraith said 
opposition to hemp comes from huge petrochemical conglomerates, 
pharmaceutical companies and the DEA.

"I think the DEA is going to thwart this at every turn," Galbraith said. 
Drug enforcement officials have said their position is clear. Federal law 
outlaws all forms of the hemp plant. It has thus far issued only one 
research permit, to a university in Hawaii.
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