US FARMERS TAKE LEGAL ACTION OVER HEMP STATUS

HEMP, a once thriving global commodity which has been outlawed worldwide
for the last 60 years as a result of its association with marijuana, could
be poised to make a comeback following a string of developments on both
sides of the Atlantic.

In the US, a group of farmers from Kentucky, in conjunction with a local
trade organization, have taken legal action to persuade the government to
make hemp legal again, while in the UK a leading retailer of beauty and
skincare products (The Body Shop), recently launched a 93hemp dry skin
care range.94

The Kentucky farmers argue that the illegal status of hemp, by definition
of the Controlled Substances Act of 1972, violates the 1937 Marijuana Tax
Act, which established regulations for marijuana while specifically
protecting and exempting the production of industrial hemp for commercial
purposes.

We've filed the suit asking the judge to clarify the original congressional
record saying that Congress never intended to eliminate the hemp
industry,94 said Andy Graves, president of the Kentucky Hemp Growers
Co-operative Association.

For many US farmers hemp is another crop to include in their annual
rotations along with grains and tobacco, and would provide a valuable hedge
as a disease resistant plant, especially when the future of tobacco is
uncertain.

The frustration of the would-be hemp farmers centers on the official lack
of distinction between hemp and its illicit relation because it contains
the same psychoactive chemical, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in
marijuana.

Their cause in not popular with government officials though, who fear that
legalizing the growing of hemp would provide a camouflage for the
production of marijuana.

Farmers argue that hemp only contains minimal traces of THC and that hemp
and marijuana do not cohabit well.

Grown for its fibrous stalks, hemp is densely planted while marijuana is
planted so that its leaves receive as much sunlight as possible.

Hemp (cannabis sativa) was thought to have first been cultivated in ancient
China and brought to Europe in the early 16th century.

It is an annual herb with distinctive long-stalked, serrated leaves and
bears the grayish-green fruit, hemp seed.

Native to central Asia and India, it is widely grown in many parts of the
world for its tough fibres and seed oil as well as its other materials.

The extracted oil, a particularly effective vegetable oil, is suitable for
many cosmetic products such as moisturizers, shampoos, massage oils and
shower gels. It also contains high levels of essential fatty acids, needed
by the human body for growth.

Cosmetic use

Dry skin is considered to be deficient in essential fatty oils and the
application of hemp seed oil is said to help condition skin and prevent
moisture loss.

The use of hemp in the cosmetics industry is only touching this commodity's
many applications though. Industrial grade hemp can be used for many
purposes including animal feed, energy, paper and bedding for horses.

However, despite a renewed interest in using natural fibres, hemp competes
with many synthetic fibres, particularly in textiles.

The `ideal' crop

As a crop, hemp is agriculturally ideal. It requires little maintenance,
needs little fertilizer, does not deplete the soil of its nutrients, has
few predators and can be grown in most climates.

Up until the end of the last century, hemp was the largest agricultural
crop in the world and, although currently enjoying a revival in Europe and
the US, legislation as it stands effectively prevents its re-introduction
into the commodities industry. (END)

*The US Lawsuit can be reviewed at: (www.hempgrowers.com)

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)