IGNORANCE IS HALTING LEGITIMATE HEMP USE

On Oct. 9, 2001, without public notice, the Drug Enforcement Administration
issued an interpretive rule making illegal hemp foods containing harmless
infinitesimal traces of naturally occurring tetrahydrocann-abinol (THC),
the active ingredient in marijuana, under the Controlled Substances Act.
Because trace THC poses no drug abuse potential, Congress had exempted
non-viable hemp seed and oil from control under the act like poppy seeds
containing harmless trace opiates.

Sterilized hemp seeds, available in the United States for decades, are an
exceptional source of protein, and two essential fatty acids. Independent
studies confirm that trace THC found in popular hemp foods cannot cause
psychoactivity or other health effects, or result in a confirmed positive
urine test for marijuana, even when unrealistically high amounts of hemp
seed and oil are consumed daily. Popular hemp foods include oil, hulled
seed, pretzels, tortilla chips, energy bars, waffles, bread, salad
dressing, cereal, ice cream and even non-dairy milk.

The DEA's ban of U.S. hemp food sales clearly conflicts with NAFTA. The DEA
provided no notice to U.S. trading partners or foreign companies to provide
input into its ruling; conducted no risk assessment; and has not similarly
regulated poppy seeds and their trace opiates.

This misguided reinterpretation of an already existing law proposed by the
DEA costs the cottage hemp industry billions of dollars, and now will cost
American taxpayers who knows how much? Why?

Visit www.votehemp.org.

Jen Rog, New Paltz