Pubdate: Mon, 10 Apr 2006
Source: Minnesota Daily (U of MN,  Minneapolis, MN Edu)
Copyright: 2006 Minnesota Daily
Contact:  http://www.mndaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1280
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

HEMP TIED DOWN BY STUPID LAWS

Hemp is not the same as marijuana and should be legalized. Hemp was 
the plant of choice for the founding fathers of our nation. 
Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson often praised the 
plant in their writings and tried to persuade others to grow it as a 
cash crop. Nonetheless since the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act in 
1937, this has not been a possibility for citizens of the United 
States. A new University study, however, could pave the way to change that.

The study, conducted by University researchers George Weiblen and 
Shannon Datwyler, identified a new and more accurate way to 
differentiate cannabis drug plants from nondrug plants. The method, 
called amplified fragment length polymorphism, generates about 100 
more genetic markers per unit effort than other research techniques. 
This genetic "fingerprinting" of cannabis is an important first step 
to legalizing the growth of hemp in the United States because 
differentiating cannabis was not as clear in the past.

The reasons to legalize the crop are numerous. First, hemp has no 
drug properties. Hemp would give the United States another important 
natural resource. No other plant offers the versatility and potential 
that hemp does. Hemp fiber is stronger and softer than cotton. It is 
capable of producing significant quantities of paper, textiles, 
building materials, food, medicine, paint, detergent, varnish, oil, 
ink and fuel. In Minnesota specifically, a booming economy could be 
made around the crop because it is frost-resistant and requires little care.

Already in Canada and Europe growing hemp is perfecting legal, and 
this is where the United States gets most of its hemp products. There 
is no reason U.S. farmers should not be allowed to compete in this 
market. In fact, the United States had a thriving hemp economy: From 
1776 to 1937, hemp was a major American crop, and textiles made from 
hemp were common.

Kudos to Weiblen and Datwyler for adding to the University's rich 
history of research and discovery. Let's hope their findings can be 
put to good use soon.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman