DEA Seizes
"Birdseed" As Schedule I Narcotic.
Declares War On Canadian Hemp Producers And DEAland Hemp Food Industry.
(Marijuananews note: This is truly bizarre. I
heard about it last week, but so far there has not been any publicity. It will be
interesting to see if the Me-No-Marijuana hemp business types learn that marijuana reform
advocates are not their enemies and that the DEA doesn’t care about the truth.
See
And With Friends Like
These; Part 2.
Former Head of CIA, Now at the North American Industrial Hemp Council, Tells Post That
NORML is "welcome to join his side, though its presence on his team borders on
absurd:"
"Hemp is nature’s own marijuana eradication system."
In the meantime, this will inflict substantial losses on the hemp
food business.)
See
Founder of NORML Says
The North American Industrial Hemp Council
Is Expelling Members Who Favor Marijuana Reform
– While Seeking Support of Anti-Prohibitionists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 1999
DEA SEIZES "BIRDSEED" AS SCHEDULE I NARCOTIC
Contact Jean Laprise: (519) 351-9922 or (519) 436-8025
Detroit, Michigan -
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has declared war on Canada's
industrial hemp industries. On August 9, 1999 it seized a tractor trailer load of
sterilized Canadian hemp seed on its way to a large U.S. company that has been selling
hemp birdseed blends for years.
U.S. Customs and the DEA then demanded that Kenex, Canada’s leading producer and
processor of industrial hemp products, recall previous shipments of other hemp products
such as oil, granola bars, horse bedding and animal feed. These actions were taken even
though all of the products are clearly under the U.S. Controlled
Substances Act since 1937 and many have been sold in the U.S. for years.
The DEA, after repeated requests, refuses to provide any legal basis for the
confiscation or recall. Kenex’s president, Jean Laprise says, "Kenex, along with
many other U.S. companies are suffering irreparable damages due to the illegal actions
taken by the DEA and US Customs.
It seems like the DEA could be spending the taxpayer’s drug war money in better
ways than chasing around after bird seed and horse bedding."
See
"If an applicant
establishes adequate security controls
and satisfies the other requirements for registration,
DEA will issue a registration to cultivate 0.3 percent THC hemp for industrial uses."
-- DEA Letter
U.S. Customs is threatening $500,000 in fines against Kenex if their recall of granola
bars, oil, animal feed and other products are not redelivered to Detroit Customs in the
next few days. These fines are in addition to the fines and possible criminal charges that
may be laid in relation to the birdseed load itself. A 30 days extension request to
clarify the situation was denied by U.S. Customs.
U.S. Customs is now also issuing subpoenas to Kenex’s
customers in the U.S. to obtain all correspondence documents and any other records related
to all hemp product purchases from Kenex including fiber use to manufacture car parts.
Jean Laprise says, "All the proper documentation has been supplied to Customs in
the past in accordance with our custom broker’s instructions. Kenex has always acted
in good faith and has never violated any U.S. laws. Our legal counsel has advised us that
the DEA and U.S. Customs are acting in clear violation of U.S. laws as well as
NAFTA."
Supported