Hemp legalization added to Senate farm bill

In a last minute addition to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) has submitted an amendment that would legalize the production of industrial hemp, a potential new bumper crop for U.S. farmers.

“Industrial hemp is used in many healthy and sustainable consumer products. However, the federal prohibition on growing industrial hemp has forced companies to needlessly import raw materials from other countries,” Wyden said in prepared text. “My amendment to the Farm Bill will change federal policy to allow U.S. farmers to produce hemp for these safe and legitimate products right here, helping both producers and suppliers to grow and improve Oregon’s economy in the process.”

Allowing American farmers to produce industrial hemp, which is different from its more notorious cousin marijuana, would yield significant and immediate profits the first year, according to an analysis conducted in 1998 (PDF) by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Kentucky.

Researchers found that farmers in the state of Kentucky alone could see between $220 to $605 in net profits per acre of hemp. Adjusted for inflation using the consumer price index, those 1998 dollars would actually be worth $310 and $854 today, although the study’s authors note that variables in supply and demand for hemp could change that valuation.

The average price farmers are getting on an acre of corn, which has been falling thanks to relatively strong supply this year, clocked in at roughly $921 according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) figures out last week, but their overall take drops significantly due to the costs of production, leaving them in the $200 range on net profits. While a legalized hemp industry would likely never become as essential to Americans as corn, the potential for a high value crop and hundreds of millions, if not billions, in new economic activity is clear.

“This is the first time since the 1950s that language supporting hemp has come to the floor of the House or Senate for a vote. The last time such language was presented was the Miller’s Amendment to the Marihuana Tax Act,” Eric Steenstra, president of the advocacy group Vote Hemp, said in an advisory. “The time is past due for the Senate as well as President Obama and the Attorney General to prioritize the crop’s benefits to farmers and to take action… With the U.S. hemp industry valued at over $400 million in annual retail sales and growing, a change in federal policy to allow hemp farming would mean instant job creation, among many other economic and environmental benefits.”

Full article: www.rawstory.com...

Potentially, this can be some amazing news. The legal history in regards to the cultivation of hemp is very extensive, and dates back to the mid 1800's.

The craziest defense in the world, for the criminalization of growing hemp.. is that it may be confused with marijuana. Any idiot can tell the difference just by looking at it, the flowering of the two plants aren't even similar.

Enough with the destruction of markets and economies by the hands of government. It's about damn time that we start truly addressing many of these issues.

reply to post by FractalChaos13242017


I AGREE!

And I think we should send Sen. Ron Wyden some love and appreciation for taking a stand on it.

I know nothing else about this gentleman, but here's his website.

www.democratichub.com...

Senator Ron Wyden (Business Fax) Senator Ron Wyden@+1 (202) 228-2717

Well, there's a big difference between the two plants and this is only relating to industrial hemp which has a ton of uses and will grow damn near anywhere you plant it. From what I understand its also extremely good for enriching the soil.

Originally posted by frazzle
reply to post by FractalChaos13242017

 

I AGREE!

And I think we should send Sen. Ron Wyden some love and appreciation for taking a stand on it.

Yeah, no kidding!

I'm not all that knowledgeable about the man, but from what I've recently read... he is right on track(from what I've read) with what the country needs.

Here are just a couple things, from the wiki page about him that I find to be of importance.

In late 2011 and early 2012, Wyden attracted attention for working with GOP House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan to develop a Medicare reform plan that would result in the semi-privatization of the system, provoking a negative response from Wyden's Democratic allies, including President Obama

Wyden was one of 23 Senators to vote against the authorization of the military force in Iraq in 2002. In 2003, Wyden voted to bar excessive overseas deployments of members of the National Guard and Reserves.

His support for the no-fly zone in Libya is questionable, but he does/did strongly oppose using ground troops.

I choose to agree to disagree with some of his choices that he has made, although strong cases can be made for his decisions that I would agree with. All in all, he's for the people... seemingly understands the role of the constitution and the limiting of the government. He also has a history of bi-partisanship, which is always a plus.

I'm going to read more before doing so, but I think I shall be sending this man an email.

reply to post by FractalChaos13242017


Good stuff! Thanks for checking him out. I'll be doing more of the same and I'm sure I'll be sending him a note of support on this bill ~ or maybe I'll just call and find out if he has any support in the Senate.

reply to post by Lasr1oftheJedi


More good stuff. Thanks.

Jeez we really need to get behind this bill. Toss out the soy and corn and pesticides and insecticides.

If anyone is interested in why Hemp is illegal in the first place, look up the relationship between DuPont, Hearst, Nylon and Lumber.

Henry Ford invented plastics derived from hemp. He built cars that were made almost entirely from hemp plastic with only the frame made of metal. He also fueled these cars with fuel made from the seeds of hemp.

Imagine how different our world would be if we used biodegradable plastics and bio fuel for the last 100 years. Shame in us for being so naive and letting the quacks have their way with us in regards to hemp. When people call hemp a "miracle plant", they really isn't much exaggeration there.

reply to post by METACOMET


Yup, the "anti-competitionites", they never get tired of smacking down good workable plans and products so they can profit more.

Email:

[email protected]

This thread is now closed for a staff review pertaining to the T&C.

ETA:
Just to clarify...