AG RULES HEMP BILL IS LEGAL

MONTPELIER - A constitutional dispute surrounding the so-called hemp
bill has finally been resolved, paving the way for Vermont to become
only the second state in the country to allow its farmers to grow the
crop.

Gov. James Douglas, a critic of the hemp bill, had said the measure
flies in the face of federal statutes and could ultimately complicate
marijuana eradication efforts in the state.

Despite his opposition, a Douglas spokesman said that the bill didn't
rise to the level of a gubernatorial veto. And though he wasn't
willing to sign the bill himself, Douglas forwarded the legislation in
early June to the secretary of state for her to enact the bill into
law without his signature.

But Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz said it was unclear whether
the Vermont Constitution requires a gubernatorial signature or not.
When the bill arrived at her office about two weeks ago, Markowitz
sought legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General to make a
ruling.

On Friday, William Griffin, chief assistant attorney general, said in
a letter to Markowitz that Douglas did indeed abide by constitutional
protocol and advised her to make the hemp bill law.

At issue was the so-called "pocket veto," a constitutional provision
that allows a governor to squelch a bill simply by not signing it.

Griffin said in his letter that the pocket veto does not apply in this
instance. The governor did not return the unsigned bill to the
Legislature, according to Griffin, but rather forwarded it to the
secretary of state, indicating his tacit approval for it to become
law.

"(The hemp bill) became law without the Governor's signature because
the governor did not return it with objections ..." Griffin wrote.
"Given the governor's message to the House, that is the result the
governor intended."

The bill legalizes hemp in Vermont, but that doesn't mean residents
will be able to grow it. Federal statute, which supercedes state law,
classifies hemp as a Schedule I narcotic and prohibits its
cultivation. Hemp, which is used to produce a wide variety of fibers
for clothing and other purposes, is the same species as marijuana but
is a variety that has virtually none of the ingredient that allows
users to get high. Numerous farm advocates say growing hemp could
provide a boost for Vermont's farm economy.

Amy Shollenberger, head of Rural Vermont, lobbied on behalf of her
farmers' organization to get the hemp bill passed. She applauded
Griffin's opinion Friday and said Rural Vermont will now put pressure
on the state's congressional delegation to get the federal ban on hemp
cultivation overturned.

"We're really excited the bill will be allowed to go through,"
Shollenberger said. "And we're looking forward to talking with (Sen.
Patrick) Leahy about getting the federal policy changed."