DEAland Attack On Canadian
Hemp Industry
Draws Sympathetic Coverage In Agricultural Press
(Marijuananews note: The more the DEA keeps
attacking the hemp industry, the more it alienates the farmers.)
See
Drop That Granola Bar
And Come Out With Your Hands Up!
DEA’s Ludicrous War on Hemp Reported By New York Times Article That Is Carried
Nationally.
USDA Report On Hemp Is "Classified!"
and
DEA Seizes "Birdseed" As
Schedule I Narcotic.
Declares War On Canadian Hemp Producers And DEAland Hemp Food Industry.
October 26, 1999
From The Western Producer
newsroom@producer.com
http://www.producer.com/
By Roberta Rampton, Winnipeg bureau
GROWER FIGHTS FOR HEMP INDUSTRY
Jean Laprise makes a reluctant poster boy for loosening industrial hemp regulations in
the United States. But for the past month, the no-nonsense Chatham, Ont., farmer and
businessperson has found himself in the spotlight.
"I am not an activist by any stretch of the imagination," said Laprise,
president of Kenex Ltd., a leading Canadian hemp processor.
See
Kenex
Gets Canadian Government Grant To Help Fund a Non-woven Hemp Fibre Matting Line
But now, he is rolling up his sleeves to do political battle with
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, which seized a shipment of Kenex hemp birdseed at the
border.
The DEA has also demanded Kenex recall 17 other shipments of hemp products, or face
$700,000 in fines and possible criminal charges.
Laprise is fighting for the survival of his business, since the bulk of his products
are sold in the U.S.
"It’s crippled our business," said Laprise, explaining skittish
customers have canceled sales.
But he said the outcome of his fight could have tremendous impact for other Canadian
hemp farmers.
"I guess from a grain and oilseed perspective, there certainly needs to be a
little caution until this is resolved," he said. Unless the DEA closes the border to
Canadian hemp products, Greg Herriot said he doesn’t foresee problems for his
company, Hempola, which exports oil and other products made from Manitoba-grown hemp seed.
But Herriot said the border skirmish does present a hurdle for the young Canadian hemp
industry.
"How do we deal with that problem? I don’t know."
The attention could help increase consumer awareness and demand for hemp products, he
said.
"It’s ludicrous what they (the DEA) are doing when you
look at all the benefits behind it."
Herriot said he thinks Kenex should not have attached lab results
showing the shipment’s tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content as 14 parts per million.
"They made a mistake."
He described the THC content in the birdseed as a quality or cleanliness issue.
Hempola oil contains less than four parts per million THC before it is blended with
other ingredients.
Laprise acknowledged he didn’t have to include the THC test results with the
shipment, but said his customer requested them.
"We want to do business in a very honest manner."
At 14 parts per million, or 0.0014 percent, the THC content is miniscule. Even seed
with one percent THC has less psychoactive properties than low-grade marijuana, said
Laprise.
(Marijuananews note: Seed would never have one percent THC.)
Canadian and European regulations allow hemp in the field to have a maximum of 3,000
parts per million THC.
In food products, Health Canada allows no more than 10 parts per million THC.
Copyright: 1999 The Western Producer
See Hemp
Industries Association Creates Web Site
Hempembargo.Com To Oppose DEA Seizure of "Birdseed"
and
http://hempembargo.com/
Supported