[Greenbuilding] Bamboo...how about hemp

[Bill Kingsbury]

 http://www.hemperfi.com/2006/03/the_best_bets_for_us_hemp_legi.html

 HemperFi 

 The Best Bets for U.S. Hemp Legislative Efforts 

 If you didn't know, California and Vermont are currently
 spearheading industrial hemp legislative efforts. Before
 anyone gets too excited, pro-hemp state legislation is half
 the battle... getting the federal government (read DEA) to
 administer a licensing program is the real challenge. Why? The
 US Code does not distinguish between industrial, low-THC hemp
 and high-THC marijuana. In the US code (Title 21 USC Section
 812) "Marihuana" is defined as a "Schedule I" drug, making it
 bedfellows with Cocaine and Heroin (although Marijuana is in a
 slighlty less severe subsection which acknoledges potential
 medical purposes). 

 Here's the three-pronged approach states have taken to date: 

 1. Resolutions urging the President and the U.S. Congress to
 redefine marijuana vs. hemp. A great example is North Dakota's
 HCR 3033. 

 http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/57-2001/bill-text/BGGQ0300.pdf 

 2. State laws legalizating hemp cultivation for research
 purposes. A good example is Kentucky's House Bill, HB100. 

 http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/recarch/01rs/HB100.htm 

 3. State laws legalizing commercial hemp cultivation.
 California's recent Assembly Bill 1147 is the most recent
 example. Vermont's Industrial Hemp bill also attempts to
 establish a commercial hemp industry. 

 <http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1101-1150/ab_1147_bill_20060123_amended_asm.html>

 <http://www.leg.state.vt.us/database/status/summary.cfm?Bill=H.455&Session=2006>


 It's important to note that Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
 Montana and West Virginia already have pro-hemp laws on the
 books. However, only West Virginia and Montana laws allow
 full-scale commercial hemp farming. If California and
 Vermont's efforts succeed, there will be a total of four. 

 A great site with current status on the U.S. state-by-state
 legislative efforst is Vote Hemp. 

 http://www.votehemp.com/state.html 


 Posted by Manuel on March 18, 2006 12:23 AM 




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