Opinion: California Governor Nixes Industrial Hemp While North Dakota Moves On
Well, California’s "Fearless Fosdick" Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger has again stifled any hope of bringing the industrial hemp industry to California and the United States. Unlike his more forward-thinking and courageous counterpart in North Dakota, Schwarzenegger bowed to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and useless fears that industrial hemp will get you high, and vetoed Assembly Bill 684 which would have allowed a four-county, five-year pilot program of industrial hemp production in California.
In his veto message to the Assembly, he again stated, as he did before, that "Under federal law, all cannabis plants, regardless of variety or THC content, are simply considered to be ‘marijuana,’ which is a federally regulated controlled substance." He said signing of the bill "would give legitimate growers a false sense of security and a belief that production of ‘industrial hemp’ is somehow a legal activity under federal law." To me, that’s an insult to the intelligence and integrity of the agricultural community in California. He also suggested that enacting such a law could strain law enforcement resources and cause "significant problems" with drug enforcement in the state.
In all fairness, he’s right: that’s the law as written, back in 1938. I’ll refer you to my story on hemp and marijuana of May 10th, "Green Myth Busting; Hemp is Marijuana."
So let’s move forward. Mr Schwarzenegger doesn’t have the backbone to stand up to the feds and force the issue, as has the state of North Dakota. That state’s government set a strict set of rules concerning the growth of industrial hemp, and licensed farmer Wayne Hauge to plant and harvest hemp seed. The DEA stonewalled the application long enough so that Mr. Hauge was unable to plant a crop this year. As a result, Mr Hauge and State Representative David Monson filed suit against the DEA, asking for a declaratory judgement separating industrial hemp from marijuana as long as the industrial variety contains less than .3% THC, the psychoactive agent in marijuana. The DEA has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, saying DEA policies can only be reviewed by a federal appeals court, and reiterated that federal law does not distinguish between industrial hemp and its cousin, marijuana. That action is still languishing in the courts.
Governor Schwarzenegger has loudly proclaimed his support of environmental issues over the years, but iced this one with a whimper. I’ve said it before: there’s a lot more to this hemp issue than just the fear of increasing marijuana production in the US. There must be some incredibly powerful lobbies intimidating Congress enough to not even touch the issue, when production of industrial hemp can bring so much to the American lifestyle. I refuse to believe it’s that simple, besides, there seems to be enough pot to go around right now, it’s coming across our borders by the ton and I suspect there’s still plenty of "home grown" cannabis to fill in for the few busts law enforcement makes during a year. But, let’s give the devil his due: the Governor has just signed into law several bills aimed at cleaning up the state’s environment.
That law needs to be changed, the North Dakota lawsuit against the DEA should go forward, and the federal government should listen to its citizens, something I fear has been lacking for several years now. Be sure to read the story at the Environmental News Network website, and roam the links to learn more about hemp.
As for Arnold, I’ve never liked his movies.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Terrific blog! Arnold and the Feds just don’t get it! I would like to know just who ARE the ones that have so much money/power to keep this charade going. Big Oil?…Cotton interests..Will we EVER know?
October 16th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I remember there being a whole section of the constitution guarantying individual states the right to make their own laws. So, how is it that the federal government can stomp all over that and arrest people even though the state they live in says that what they’re doing is legal?
October 16th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
The DEA and indeed the entire drug war are a welfare system. Nobody thinks it will be the end of the world if marijuana is legalized, but a lot of people who are ‘protecting us’ from the evil weed would lose their cushy jobs…and make no mistake, terrorizing marijuana smokers is not a brave, virtuous, or worthwhile act.
Drug war = welfare.
October 16th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
It’s funny that you mention the constitution. It’s written on hemp paper.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
theres this thing called the commerce clause. blah blah blah misinterpreted blah blah blah. heard it all before.
i think a lot of people don’t understand that the interpretation of the constitution will change to fit public policy, not the other way around. if this werent true all of our schools in the south would still be segregated.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Ron Paul will pardon nonviolent drug offenders and legalize hemp. Abolish the DEA, end the Drug War and the Iraq War!
Ron Paul for President 2008!
Ron Paul has been endorsed by Marc Emery, the Prince of Pot
October 16th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Now I just want to abolish
Arnold. What a sad, petty mind.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
What exactly are the industrial uses of hemp? I have heard of hemp rope, but not much else.
And BTW, mullingitover does not seem to like the idea of others “protecting us” from the evil weed. The environmental movement usually does not mind the idea of the government entities protecting us from ourselves in other venues. It’s why we have all those government acronyms such as EPA, FDA, DOE, NTSB, EEOC, OSHA, etc. They even want the politicians to protect us from global warming by forcing lifestyle restrictions upon each and every individual in the name of lowering carbon emissions. Is hemp really a big enough issue for such a divergence in the collective force?
October 16th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
virtually all of the rigging, anchor ropes, cargo nets, fishing nets, flags, shrouds, and oakum
Until the 1820s in America (and until the 20th Century in most of the rest of the world), 80% of all textiles and fabrics used for clothing, tents, bed sheets and linens,* rugs, drapes, quilts, towels, diapers, etc. - and even our flag, “Old Glory,” were principally made from fibers of cannabis
Until 1883, from 75-90% of all paper in the world was made with cannabis hemp fiber including that for books, Bibles, maps, paper money, stocks and bonds, newspapers, etc
From 70-90% of all rope, twine, and cordage was made from hemp until 1937
The paintings of Van Gogh, Gainsborough, Rembrandt, etc., were primarily painted on hemp canvas
For thousands of years, virtually all good paints and varnishes were made with hempseed oil and/or linseed oil.
Until about 1800, hempseed oil was the most consumed lighting oil in America and the world. From then until the 1870s, it was the second most consumed lighting oil, exceeded only by whale oil
Lots more here: http://www.jackherer.com/chapter02.html
October 16th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
virtually all of the rigging, anchor ropes, cargo nets, fishing nets, flags, shrouds, and oakum
Until the 1820s in America (and until the 20th Century in most of the rest of the world), 80% of all textiles and fabrics used for clothing, tents, bed sheets and linens,* rugs, drapes, quilts, towels, diapers, etc. - and even our flag, “Old Glory,” were principally made from fibers of cannabis
Until 1883, from 75-90% of all paper in the world was made with cannabis hemp fiber including that for books, Bibles, maps, paper money, stocks and bonds, newspapers, etc
From 70-90% of all rope, twine, and cordage was made from hemp until 1937
The paintings of Van Gogh, Gainsborough, Rembrandt, etc., were primarily painted on hemp canvas
For thousands of years, virtually all good paints and varnishes were made with hempseed oil and/or linseed oil.
Until about 1800, hempseed oil was the most consumed lighting oil in America and the world. From then until the 1870s, it was the second most consumed lighting oil, exceeded only by whale oil
Lots more here: http://www.jackherer.com/chapter02.html