Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2002
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2002 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76
Author: Jim Wallace
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

HEMP BILL RAISES SOME QUESTIONS

Bill would allow state farmers to grow plant

A Senate committee wants more answers before it takes any action on a bill 
to legalize the growing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes.

The hemp is related to marijuana but the bill's sponsor, Sen. Karen 
Facemyer, said it contains only a miniscule amount of the ingredient that 
gives marijuana its intoxicating properties.

She told her fellow Agriculture Committee members Wednesday that she came 
up with the idea while attending a Council of State Governments meeting in 
Hawaii. Pineapple plantations there have suffered from competition from 
Asia, she said, so some farmers have switched to growing industrial hemp.

Facemyer, R-Jackson, said hemp can be used in the manufacture of many 
things, including rope, sacks, seat belts, oil, fuel and diapers. Her bill 
would require farmers who want to grow hemp to get licenses, which could be 
renewed annually, from the agriculture commissioner.

The bill would also require those farmers to notify the commissioner 
annually of any sales or other distribution of the hemp and who received 
it. Someone who violates provisions of the bill could face the same charges 
as anyone who violates the law dealing with controlled substances.

Allan Tweddle, a retired engineer from Charleston, told the committee that 
hemp "really has enormous business potential" and is being cultivated in 
his native country, Canada.

Bob Williams, executive secretary of the West Virginia Farm Bureau, said 
his organization would support the growing of hemp as long as it is legal 
and profitable.

Both Sen. Walt Helmick, D-Pocahontas, and Sen. Shirley Love, D- Fayette, 
said they had heard that hemp was grown in West Virginia many years ago. 
Helmick said several states have legalized the growing of hemp.

Lobbyist Chuck Wyrostock passed out information sheets from Concerned 
Citizens of Roane, Calhoun & Gilmer Counties that said worldwide retail 
sales of hemp products had grown from $5 million in 1993 to $150 million in 
2000, including $80 million to $90 million in the United States.

Because of hemp's relationship to marijuana, there were jokes among 
committee members about smoking it, but Sen. John Mitchell, D-Kanawha, said 
he hoped the committee would take a serious look at letting farmers grow hemp.
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