The Hemp Report

     Even though it's an election year, progress continues to be made on hemp bills in a few states. As we reported in the last issue, things are going well for the hemp farming bill in Vermont. The latest information is that the bill is likely to be taken up in the Senate in mid-March. Things could be going better for the hemp study bill in Wisconsin, however. The bill has been recommended in committee, but is having a hard time getting a floor vote. Wisconsin residents, see our recent Action Alert for more information and to take action.

     On a more positive note, the hemp farming bill in Minnesota, which was carried over from last year, was amended and passed out of the House Agriculture Committee and referred to the Public Safety Committee, where it eked out a close vote, but there is some opposition.

     Over the weekend, I took the time to re-read the North Dakota farmers' appeal that was filed late last month. It seems long at 48 pages, but it's actually a pretty easy read. I found on page 23 that the District Court relied on material outside the pleadings, the USDA's Industrial Hemp in the United States: Status and Market Potential (2000), and quoted from the report in its decision. If you have the time, please download and read the appeal yourself.

     As many of you are aware, HIA Board Member Alex White Plume and his family lost their house in Manderson, South Dakota to a devastating electrical fire late in December. I have been very impressed with the generosity of people in the hemp industry! Since the fire, thousands of dollars have been donated to the White Plume family through The Hemp Report, Vote Hemp and the HIA — and Nutiva donated a late-model Apple PowerBook laptop.

     The photograph that illustrates the Indian Country Today story at the end of this newsletter was taken by Matt Rankin and was originally in the post at The Hemp Report entitled White Plumes Rebuild, where you can make donations. Please donate, and encourage others to help as well. Many thanks to those who have already done so!

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