MINNESOTA'S VENTURA SIGNS BILL BACKING HEMP FARMS

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Reuters) - Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura signed an omnibus
spending bill Thursday that included a mandate seeking federal permission
to cultivate hemp, the industrial version of the marijuana plant that is
illegal in the United States.

The mandate, included as an amendment to House File 878, the House Omnibus
State Government Finance Bill, requires state officials to submit an
application by September 30, 1999 for federal permits to begin research on
growing industrial hemp and establishes a state registry for farmers
seeking to grow the crop.

"Our farmers need to be able to diversify, and adding hemp into their crop
rotation is just one option," State Rep. Phyllis Kahn said in a statement.

Ventura, a member of the Reform Party and former professional wrestler, has
previously expressed his support for industrial hemp, which can be used in
home building, cosmetics, paper and pulp and other industries