"A representative for the
Campaign Against Marijuana Planting contended Friday
that for every argument made in favor of hemp legalization, there is one against."
Can They Really Count That High?
See
California Democratic
Assemblywoman Proposing Resolution To Legalize Hemp.
Says DEA Will Issue Permits, But Will They. August 14, 1999
From The Press Democrat
letters@pressdemo.com
http://www.pressdemo.com
http://www.pressdemo.com/opinion/talk
By Mike Geniella, Press Democrat Bureau
STROM-MARTIN SUPPORTS INDUSTRIAL HEMP
As the region's annual marijuana crackdown gets under way, a
North Coast lawmaker proposed Friday to allow legal cultivation of industrial hemp, a
non-intoxicating form of the cannabis plant.
Assembywoman Virginia Strom-Martin said prohibiting growers from cultivating the
potentially highly profitable hemp instead of the illegal variety "makes about as
much botanical sense as prohibiting gardeners from growing poppies because one variety is
the source of opium."
Industrial hemp is a nontoxic plant that was grown legally in the United States through
World War II, when it was used to produce maritime rope in a national "Hemp for
Victory" campaign. Hemp, which can be legally grown in 30 countries around the world,
including Canada, France, Germany, Australia and China, has been used to produce paper,
building materials, plastics and food protein.
Strom-Martin, D-Duncan Mills, said Friday she will introduce a resolution in the state
Legislature asking state authorities to consider legalizing hemp in California so it can
be grown as an agricultural and industrial crop.
"Industrial hemp could be of immense benefit to both the economy and the
environment of the North Coast, and rural California in general," Strom-Martin said.
Strom-Martin said it's time for the state to deal "rationally rather than
hysterically with a crop whose promise is great and whose time has come."
Attorney General William Lockyer could not be reached Friday for comment on
Strom-Martin's call to legalize hemp.
But a representative for the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting,
a state program targeting illegally grown marijuana, contended Friday that for every
argument made in favor of hemp legalization, there is one against.
The spokesman did not elaborate and declined to be quoted by name.
Hemp proponents say it is clear the North Coast would be ideal for growing the
non-intoxicating version of cannabis sativa, based on the volume of the potent but illegal
variety of cannabis cultivated now.
Meanwhile, early results from the state's annual anti-marijuana
campaign show that in the first 10 days, nearly 34,000 pot plants were ripped up in
Mendocino and Humboldt counties by special teams of dope raiders. That reflects about 75
percent of the statewide total seized so far by CAMP.
But authorities say there's so much marijuana growing in the region's rugged
backcountry that it will be nearly impossible for CAMP-led teams to raid all the known
growing sites, let alone afford agents time to trample through the woods in search of new
gardens.
"There's just an awful lot of marijuana growing out there," said
Mendocino Sheriff's Capt. Kevin Broin.
Broin said about 10 state agents are now working along with the county's two-person pot
team to hack down maturing marijuana gardens in Mendocino County.
Broin said about 13,400 plants scattered across 42 sites in areas
surrounding Boonville and Dos Rios were seized over a four-day period. Last week, almost
14,000 plants were pulled up in the Potter Valley, Willits and Irmulco areas, he said.
So far, no arrests have been made. Some weapons have been found at sites where armed
growers or their hired guards camp to protect the marijuana gardens.
"The growers hear the helicopters coming and head for the hills," said Broin.
"In one way, that's OK because it avoids the potential for confrontation. But we'd
still like to hold them accountable."
(Marijuananews note: Someone should be held accountable, especially
law enforcement officers who lie to the people.)
Marijuananews.com hemp pages Contributing Editor: John E. Dvorak,
Hempologist John researches and writes about the past, present and future uses of
cannabis hemp. He is the founder and proprietor of the Boston Hemp Co-op, Museum and
Library. John was the Managing Editor of Hemp Magazine and has had articles published in
Hempworld Magazine, the Journal of the International Hemp Association and Cannabis Canada
(now Cannabis Culture). He is a member of the Hemp Industries Association, the
International Hemp Association, and Mass Cann/NORML. He can be reached at boston.hemp@pobox.com and 781-662-4313.
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