JOHNSON WANTS QUICK DECISION FROM DEA ON HEMP LICENSES

Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson is asking the federal Drug
Enforcement Administration to make a decision on industrial hemp
licenses for two North Dakota farmers by April 1. The DEA says it
won't be rushed.

"To issue any decision after this year's planting season is to decide
against the applicants, since these applications are for the calendar
year 2007," Johnson said in a letter this week to DEA Administrator
Karen Tandy.

Farmers Dave Monson and Wayne Hauge last month were issued the
nation's first licenses to grow industrial hemp, a cousin of
marijuana that falls under federal anti-drug rules even though it
does not produce a high. The state licenses are worthless without DEA
permission.

Johnson hand-delivered federal applications on Feb. 13 from Monson, a
state lawmaker who farms near Osnabrock, and Hauge, a farmer from
Ray, along with the farmers' nonrefundable $2,293 annual registration fees.

Johnson acknowledged that federal law does not require the DEA to
decide on applications within a given time period, but said in his
letter that a timely decision is needed to enable Monson and Hauge to
prepare for planting.

Hauge said the crop must be in the ground by mid-May, and he needs
time to acquire seed and prepare the land.

"If I couldn't obtain seeds by April 1, it's probably pretty much out
the window," he said.

DEA spokeswoman Rogene Waite said the agency does not keep track of
the average amount of time it takes for officials to decide on an
application to manufacture a controlled substance.

She said the focus is on adequately analyzing an application, not on
processing it in a certain amount of time.

The DEA already has rejected one request from Johnson. He asked late
last year that the federal registration requirement for industrial
hemp cultivation be waived.

Joseph Rannazzisi, a deputy assistant administrator with the DEA,
said last month that federal law does not allow the agency to
delegate its ability to regulate hemp to state officials. Although
the DEA may waive registration requirements, it has done so only for
law enforcement officers and other officials, he said.

Johnson, in his letter to Tandy, asked that the agency reconsider
that position.

"If DEA is not prepared to waive the registration requirement, it
should carefully consider the registration of applications that have
been submitted," he said.

Hemp can be used to make everything from paper to lotion. The North
Dakota Agriculture Department approved rules for commercial hemp
farming licenses late last year. Patrice Lahlum, an Agriculture
Department spokeswoman, said Tuesday that a third license is likely
to be issued this week, and a fourth license within the next couple
of weeks. Those farmers also will need DEA permission.

A bill signed by Gov. John Hoeven on Monday also gives the state
regulatory authority over hemp processors.