VOLESKY SEEKS TO LEGISLATE INDUSTRIAL HEMP

What is considered both a noxious and illegal weed in South Dakota,
could turnout to be an important cash crop to state farmers.

A bill that authorizes the production of industrial hemp in South Dakota
will be heard in the South Dakota Senate's State Affairs Committee on
Wednesday.

The bill's prime sponsor is Sen. Ron Volesky, D-Huron.

Under the bill, it would allow any one who has registered with the South
Dakota Department of Agriculture to plant, harvest, posses, process,
sell or buy industrial hemp that has a tetrahydrocannabiol (THC) content
of 0.3 percent or less.

The bill also states that any person who harvests, possesses or sells
industry hemp with a TCH content of more than 0.3 percent is guilty of a
Class 2 misdemeanor.

Volesky said a similar bill was narrowly defeated in the South Dakota
House Ag Committee last year.

He said the bill is similar to legislation approved in 1999 in North
Dakota that legalized the industrial hemp industry.

Minnesota also two years ago removed state barriers to hemp production.
Federal laws, however, still prevent farmers from actually cultivating
the crop. Eight other states have passed legislative resolutions asking
the federal government to change its policies to allow help production.

Hemp flourished as a cash crop through most of American history. George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp on their plantations. Even the
Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp-fiber paper as it was an
important product in the making of rope, sails, clothing and other
necessities.

In 1937, Congress enacted a ban on marijuana that came to encompass
hemp. During World War II, after imports of Manila hemp from the
Philippines were cut off, the government distributed seeds for farmers
to grow in a "Hemp For Victory" drive. Once the war ended, though, hemp
was again banned.

It is estimated that more than 25,000 products can be made from hemp.
Basically, anything that's made from wood or oil can be made from hemp.
Among the items that can be made from hemp are clothing, food, paper
products, cosmetics, construction materials and fuel and lubricant
products.

One acre of hemp in annual rotation will produce as much pulp for paper
as 4.1 acres of trees. Also, hemp produces three times as much fiber per
acre as cotton.

While it is illegal to grow hemp in the U.S., it is grown legally in 33
countries, including Canada and hemp products can be imported to the
U.S. legally.

"This could be an important value-added crop for our state farmers,"
Volesky said. "This would give us another cash crop for South Dakota."

It's estimated that a farmer could see profits ranging from $250 to $600
per acre from an industrial hemp crop.

He said his bill will allow state producers under strict state rules and
regulations to produce and sell industrial hemp in South Dakota.

"They are finding many, many uses for industrial hemp and demand is
growing," Volesky said.

Volesky, who is also sponsoring legislation that would legalize
marijuana for medicinal reasons, said he knows the bill will have a lot
of opponents.

"Opponents said allowing industrial hemp would open the door to growing
illegal substances, but I don't buy that argument," he said.

Hemp is densely planted and grown as tall as 15 feet to develop the
stalks and kill off leaves. By contrast, marijuana plants are short,
bushy and spaced three to four feet apart to encourage the leaves and
flowers that delivers the psychoactive ingredient THC.

While both industrial hemp and marijuana have THC, industrial hemp has
less than 1 percent THC by weight, rendering it ineffectual as a drug,
while marijuana contains 5 percent TCH or more by weight.

Canada and Europe both require cultivated hemp to have a THC content of
0.3 percent, as does Volesky's bill.

"Under my bill, growing industrial hemp will be tightly controlled by
the South Dakota Department of Agriculture," he said. "This gives
farmers another production option and would help our struggling ag
economy."