MONTPELIER, Vermont — Vote Hemp, a
grassroots advocacy organization working to give farmers the right to
grow non-drug industrial hemp, is extremely pleased that Vermont
Governor Jim Douglas allowed H.267, the Hemp for Vermont Bill, to
become law without his signature yesterday afternoon. The bill
overwhelmingly passed both the House (126 to 9) and the Senate (25 to
1). The new law sets up a state-regulated program for farmers to grow
non-drug industrial hemp, which is used in a wide variety of products,
including nutritious foods, cosmetics, body care, clothing, tree-free
paper, auto parts, building materials and much more. Learn more about
industrial hemp at the Vote Hemp Web site.

Smart and effective grassroots organizing by Vote Hemp and the Vermont-based advocacy group Rural Vermont
mobilized farmers and local businesses, many of which pledged to buy
their hemp raw materials in-state if they have the opportunity. Rural
Vermont’s Director Amy Shollenberger says that “the Hemp for Vermont
bill is another step toward legalizing this important crop for farmers.
The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that
doesn’t allow this crop to be grown. Looking at the Canadian
experience, hemp provides a good return for the farmer. It’s a
high-yield crop and a great crop to mix in with corn.”

Vermont
grows an average of 90,000 acres of corn per year, a small amount
compared to Midwest states; however, the need for a good rotation crop
exists nationwide. From candle makers to dairymen to retailers, Vermont
voters strongly support hemp farming. Admittedly a niche market now,
hemp is becoming more common in stores and products across the country
every day. Over the past ten years, farmers in Canada have grown an
average of 16,500 acres of hemp per year, primarily for use in food
products. In Vermont, the interest in hemp includes for use in food
products, as well as in quality and affordable animal bedding for the
state’s estimated 140,000 cows.

“Vermont’s
federal delegation can now take this law to the U.S. Congress and call
for a fix to this problem of farmers missing out on a very useful and
profitable crop,” comments Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp.
“North Dakota farmers who want to grow hemp per state law are currently
appealing their lawsuit in the federal courts. The real question is
whether these hemp-friendly state congressional delegations feel
compelled to act,” adds Steenstra.

Rural
Vermont’s Shollenberger states that “the Vermont law is significant for
two reasons. First, no other state until now has followed North
Dakota’s lead by creating real-world regulations for farmers to grow
industrial hemp. Second, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is Chairman
of the Committee on the Judiciary, as well as a member of the Committee
on Agriculture – relevant committees that could consider legislation.
We also have a friend at the USDA in new Secretary Ed Schaffer who
signed North Dakota’s hemp bill as Governor. I plan to visit
Washington, DC and try to figure out what Congress and the
Administration intend to do.”

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Vote
Hemp is a national, single-issue, nonprofit organization dedicated to
the acceptance of and free market for low-THC industrial hemp and to
changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow this
agricultural crop. More information about hemp legislation and the
crop’s many uses may be found at www.VoteHemp.com or www.HempIndustries.org.
BETA SP or DVD Video News Releases featuring footage of hemp farming in
other countries are available upon request by contacting Adam Eidinger
at 202-744-2671.

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