FARMERS DESERVE CHANCE TO SHOW THEY CAN GROW INDUSTRIAL HEMP
RESPONSIBLY

North Dakota farmers interested in growing industrial hemp have
cleared one hurdle, but there remains a huge obstacle in front of
them: The Drug Enforcement Agency.

Farmers may apply for state licenses to grow industrial hemp under
rules that take effect next year. But applying for and receiving a
state license is no guarantee that a farmer can plant any hemp seed.
Federal drug agents must give their approval to the state's plan
before anything can happen.

Hemp, a biological cousin of marijuana, contains trace amounts of
tetahydrocannabinol, or THC, a banned substance. Because of that,
hemp and marijuana fall under the same federal regulations.

The state rules require a criminal background check on anyone who
wants to grow hemp, and the sale of hemp and the location of hemp
fields must be documented. The rules comply with state law, according
to Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. But that doesn't necessarily
carry any weight with the feds.

Industrial hemp is used to make food, clothing, cosmetics, paper,
rope and other products. It has been grown legally in Canada since
1998, following 60 years of prohibition.

There will no doubt be North Dakota farmers willing to pay the
licensing fees and go through the considerable paperwork to get a
hemp license. Then, they will have to seek final approval from
federal drug agents once the state license is approved.

But our guess is the DEA won't be interested in letting North Dakota
become the first state where hemp can be grown legally. That would be
too bad, because our farmers deserve the chance to prove they can
responsibly grow industrial hemp.