Source: Isthmus (A Madison, WI weekly)
Pubdate: 5 Dec 97
Contact: Email:  http://www.thedailypage.com

From the ON THE TOWN Column
By Bill Lueders

COPS ON POT: 

Further proof, if any were needed, that Madison has an enlightened police
force at least relative to other places comes from Brewtown's bumbling
boys in blue. On Nov.12, Milwaukee police confiscated a UPS shipment bound
for Hempen Goods, a store on Williamson Street.

The package from One Brown Mouse Heavenly Hemp Foods in Nederland, Colo.,
included a 50lb. bag of sterilized hemp (marijuana) seeds.

Sarah BloomRay, coproprietor of Hempen Goods, says the Milwaukee cops
told her the seeds would not be released because they tested positive for
THC, marijuana's active ingredient The problem with this picture is that
state law specifically excludes sterilized hemp seeds (which can't
reproduce) from Its definition of marijuana, and federal authorities say
such seeds are legal even though they contain trace amounts of THC.

They don't understand the law," says Kathleen Chippi of One Brown Mouse,
who vows to sue unless the seeds are returned. "You can't have police
officers walk in, disregard the law and steal a legal product."

Lt. Edward Llbrecht, a Milwaukee vicesquad official to whom Chippi spoke,
twice refused comment, deferring to department spokesperson Lt. Anna
Ruvinski, who ignored repeated phone inquiries.