AG HEMP BILL HEADED TO GOVERNOR

On Monday, the California Industrial Hemp Farming Act was approved by
the Assembly on a vote of 44-29. The bill is now taking steps toward
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for his signature.

"I believe that the bill was passed at about 5 p.m. last night and
all of us are very excited," said Adam Eidinger, communications
director at Vote Hemp.

"We've had a few meetings with the governor's staff and there wasn't
much opposition to this bill. But they are tight-lipped about which
side they are leaning to so we are unsure exactly if they are for or
against it. I believe that he has until Sept. 30 to sign the bill."

AB 1147 has gained momentum as more legislators learned that
California businesses spend millions of dollars each year to import
hemp from Canada, China and Europe.

"This bill would allow for the growth of the hemp industry here in
California," Eidinger said. "The bill is very straightforward and now
there isn't confusion between this bill and a bill legalizing marijuana."

The demand for hemp and its use in numerous products, such as food,
body care, clothing, paper and even auto parts, has been growing
rapidly in recent years.

The U.S. hemp market now exceeds an estimated $270 million in annual
retail sales, and the new law would give farmers the ability to
legally supply U.S. manufacturers with hemp seed, oil and fiber and
would not weaken anti-drug laws.

"There is tremendous potential for growing hemp here in California.
It would be an optimum place to grow industrial hemp because of its
yearlong growing season.

"Hemp also helps to make the soil better by controlling the amount of
nematodes that eat the roots of other crops. So you could grow a crop
of hemp in one season and then grow another different crop and not
have to spray for these very small worms," Eidinger said.

In February 2005, the California Industrial Hemp Farming Act was
introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno.

This year, the bill was amended and Republican Assemblyman Chuck
Devore joined as co-author. In the bipartisan spirit of the
legislation, the bill was managed on the floor of the Senate by
Republican Tom McClintock and received support from Sen. Able
Maldonado, a farmer and Republican member of the Senate Agriculture
Committee. Another influential Republican senator who supported the
bill was Sam Aanestad, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations
Committee. The support of Democratic Assemblywoman Barbara Matthews,
chairwoman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, was also helpful in
the passage of the bill, supporters said.

"The bill gained a lot of support last week from both Republicans and
Democrats," Eidinger said.

AB 1147 has been carefully crafted to comply with federal law and
minimize the impact to law enforcement. It includes tough regulations
without placing an undue burden on farmers. The bill permits
cultivation of only ultra-low-THC industrial hemp grown as an
agricultural field crop or in a research setting. Growing hemp in a
backyard setting or the horticultural cultivation of hemp is
prohibited, and any hidden or secret groves of cannabis will be
considered a controlled substance regardless of its THC content.

"While seven other states grow hemp, this law to grow industrial hemp
in California wouldn't require the DEA to give a license to the
people growing it," Eidinger said.

"And the state has guidelines and laws to keep people from abusing this bill."

Locally, some activists point out a possible drawback to the growing
of agricultural hemp in Mendocino County.

"I am trying to advise not to grow hemp here in Mendocino County
because of the chance of cross-pollination between the plants used
for medical marijuana," said Johanna Schultz, the public relations
director and board secretary at the Hemp Industries Association. "We
are trying to help hemp agriculture stay generally within the Central Valley."

The problem of cross-pollination would develop because if industrial
hemp was grown within a 10-mile radius of medical marijuana, the hemp
would start to have higher levels of THC and not conform the
regulations of industrial hemp. The same could also be said for the
medical marijuana being grown because the level of THC would go down
if plants were to be cross-pollinated. And while Schultz and the HIA
don't suggest that it would be a good idea to grow hemp in Mendocino
County, the passing of AB 1147 would be good for local businesses
that are involved with it.

"We have about 500 members and support activists, and the signing of
this bill would help a lot of our members here and all across the
country," Schultz said.