At long last a hemp bill has been intoduced in Congress. The bill number is
H.R. 3037, the bill's Short Title As Introduced is
Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2005, and Official Title As Introduced is "To amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana, and for other purposes."
Please note that the information below comes from
THOMAS which is a service of the Library of Congress. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, a founding father, statesman, hemp farmer & breeder.
Here is the full text from the Congressional Record:
[Congressional Record: June 22, 2005 (House)]
[Page H4984]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr22jn05-86]
PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Under clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions were introduced and severally referred, as follows:
By Mr. PAUL (for himself, Mr. Farr, Mr. McDermott, Mr.
Stark, and Mr. Grijalva):
H.R. 3037. A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to
exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marihuana, and
for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce,
and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
____________________
[Congressional Record: June 22, 2005 (Extensions)]
[Page E1313-E1314]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr22jn05-19]
INTRODUCTION OF THE INDUSTRIAL HEMP FARMING ACT
______
HON. RON PAUL
of texas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act.
The Industrial Hemp Farming Act requires the Federal government to respect
State laws allowing the growing of industrial hemp.
Six states--Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, and West
Virginia allow the growing of industrial hemp in accord with State
laws. However, Federal law is standing in the way of farmers in these
States growing what may be a very profitable crop. Because of current
Federal law, all hemp included in products sold in the United States
must be imported instead of being grown by American farmers.
Since 1970, the Federal Controlled Substances Act's inclusion of
industrial hemp in the schedule one definition of marijuana has
prohibited American farmers from growing industrial hemp despite the
fact that industrial hemp has such a low content of THC (the
psychoactive chemical in the related marijuana plant) that nobody can
be psychologically affected by consuming hemp. Federal law concedes the
safety of industrial hemp by allowing it to be legally imported for
uses including as food.
The United States is the only industrialized Nation that prohibits
industrial hemp cultivation. The Congressional Research Service has
noted that hemp is grown as an established agricultural commodity in
over 30 nations in Europe, Asia, and North America. My Industrial Hemp Farming Act will relieve this unique
[[Page E1314]]
restriction on American farmers and allow them to grow industrial hemp in accord with State law.
Industrial hemp is a crop that was grown legally throughout the
United States for most of our Nation's history. In fact, during World
War II, the Federal government actively encouraged American farmers to
grow industrial hemp to help the war effort. The Department of
Agriculture even produced a film ``Hemp for Victory'' encouraging the
plant's cultivation.
In recent years, the hemp plant has been put to many popular uses in
foods and in industry. Grocery stores sell hemp seeds and oil as well
as food products containing oil and seeds from the hemp plant.
Industrial hemp is also included in consumer products such as paper,
cloths, cosmetics, and carpet. One of the more innovative recent uses
of industrial hemp is in the door frames of about 1.5 million cars.
Hemp has even been used in alternative automobile fuel.
It is unfortunate that the Federal government has stood in the way of
American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet,
competing in the global industrial hemp market. Indeed, the founders of
our Nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that Federal
restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own
land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited,
restrained Federal government. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to stand
up for American farmers and cosponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act.
____________________
