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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Ban on Hemp |
Current rating: 0 |
by me
(No verified email address) |
12 Oct 2001
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another "swift move ex-lax" by our "Joe cool" friends in DC
a BAN on HEMP, LAnd of the Greed |
New DEA Ban Targets Hemp Foods
Washington, DC: Regulations announced this week by the Drug
Enforcement Agency (DEA) criminalize the possession and manufacture
of any edible hemp seed or oil products - including snack bars,
veggie burgers and salad oils - that test positive for trace levels
of THC. Under the new law, which takes effect immediately, "No
person may manufacture or distribute any such product for human
consumption within the United States." Any person or proprietor
who possesses these products will have 120 days to dispose of them
or face criminal prosecution.
"The DEA's planned new rules will cause substantial harm to hemp
businesses and consumers alike and are not based on any real threat
or abuse potential," asserted Eric Steenstra, National Coordinator
of VoteHemp Inc., who said that the hemp industry will pursue legal
action contesting the ban. "Hemp seeds and oil have absolutely no
psychoactive effect and are about as likely to be abused as [are]
poppy seed bagels for their trace opiate content, or fruit juices
because of their trace alcohol content."
Hemp-based health and food products are sold commercially
throughout the world and have been touted for their high
concentrations of amino and fatty acids. Though some of these
products occasionally contain trace amounts of residual THC depending
on how thoroughly the manufacturer has cleaned the seed's outer hull,
they do not present a health or safety hazard to consumers. Several
nations,
including Canada, allow ingestible hemp products as long as
they test below ten micrograms per gram. In addition, many companies
and their suppliers already adhere to industry wide standards
guaranteeing their products will not test positive on a work-place
drug test, Steenstra said.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre,
Executive Director of The NORML Foundation, at (202) 483-8751
or visit the VoteHemp website at: http://www.votehemp.com |