CONSUMERS HIGH ON HEMP DESPITE DEA RULE

Hemp may look like marijuana. It may even smell like marijuana.

But smoking marijuana's close cousin to get high would be as effective as
smoking lawn grass, according to hemp supporters, including two Arizona
politicians.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sees it differently and, since
October, has been trying to enforce a new rule that would make it illegal
to eat, drink or sell hemp products for consumption.

The products include burgers, chips, tortillas, candy, tofu, energy bars,
ice crem, pretzels, cereals, oils and dressings and countless other items
sold at a handful of Valley stores.

The DEA says most of them contain tetrahydrocannabinal, or THC, which is
the active ingredient in marijuana. Without it, there is no high, no
muchies and no bloodshot eyes.

Supporters argue that hemp contains only traces of THC, not enough to
provide a buzz. They also say it contains cannabidiol, an anti-high
compound that blocks the effect of THC in the nervous system, and provides
protein, Vitamin E and essential fatty acids.

The DEA effort to ban hemp products hit a snag in March when the 9th
Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion by the Hemp Industries
Association to stay the rule. On Monday, the case goes before the Circuit
Court in San Francisco.

"It's kind of silly if you think about it," said state Sen. Darden
Hamilton, R-Glendale, who along with Rep. Dean Cooley, R-Mesa, co-sponsored
a pro-hemp bill last year that was vetoed by Gov. Jane Hull. They believe
farmers should be allowed to grow hemp. Hemp is illegal to grow but not
illegal to possess in the United States.

"We're talking about a product that is perfectly legal today and has no
history of abuse and they want to make it illegal," Hamilton said.

But the DEA says it's only enforcing the Controlled Substances Act of 1970,
which makes it a crime to ingest products containing THC, regardless of how
minimal.

"It will be treated no different than those who distribute (or use)
marijuana," said James Molesa, a DEA spokesman in Phoenix. "They could
face the same type of penalties and prosecution."

Despite the warning, hemp vendors say they will continue selling their
products.

"We're not scared of the DEA," said Terry Hughes, a supplement buyer at
Gentle Strength Co-op in Tempe. "Let them come in and raid us. It would
be the best PR we can possibly get."

Scott Jennings, owner of two Cheba Hut sub shops in the East Valley, a
business that prides itself on its marijuana theme, promised to continue
selling hemp products, including a cream cheese he uses on a sandwich and
brownies.

"I'm going to keep doing this until someone comes kicking my door down," he
said. "I hope they will eventually come to their senses and not ban hemp."