ILLINOIS HOUSE VOTES TO STUDY HEMP FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The Illinois House voted Wednesday to study
turning hemp -- a close cousin of marijuana -- into a new source of cash for
farmers, but don't expect that to lead to legal joints any time soon.

Legalizing industrial hemp is a far cry from legalizing marijuana,
supporters said.

``The tragedy would be if we couldn't overcome that stereotype and the
Illinois economy would go into the tank,'' said Rep. Judy Erwin, D-Chicago.

House members voted 78-35 to form a task force to study planting and
harvesting of industrial hemp. North Dakota is the only state that allows it
now.

Rep. Ron Lawfer, R-Freeport, said Canadian farmers raising hemp can earn a
profit of about $283 per acre -- between four and five times what the
average Illinois farmer makes.

Erwin and Lawfer hope the task force will develop standards to ensure the
hemp contains little THC, the ingredient that gives marijuana its
mind-altering qualities.

Industrial hemp has over 25,000 known uses including clothing, medicines,
paints and paper.

Some lawmakers expressed concerns that the industrial hemp would be used to
make marijuana, but supporters say that's not the case.

E. J. Pagel, Rockford director for the National Organization for Reform of
Marijuana Laws, said marijuana and industrial hemp cannot be confused for
one another and hemp cannot be used as a drug.

The resolution is HR168.