California's Hemp Legalization - We're Almost There!

New Bill That Would Create Pilot Program for Commercial Farming of Industrial Hemp Expected to Reach Governor's Desk This September

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Introduced by Senator Mark Leno earlier this year, SB 676, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act is moving quickly through the California Legislature. SB 676 would create an 8-year pilot program to allow industrial hemp farming in five California counties, Kern, Kings, Imperial, San Joaquin and Yolo. Passing through the Assembly Committee on Agriculture last week with a 6-0 vote, leading hemp advocacy organization, Vote Hemp, expects the bill to reach the Governor's desk this September.

The bill has the endorsement of the UFCW, the Imperial County Farm Bureau, California Certified Organic Growers and other leading farming organizations. Dan Rush, UFCW 5 Statewide Special Operations Director, stated, "UFCW enthusiastically supports SB 676 because we see it as a jobs and revenue generator at a time when they are sorely needed in California."

http://www.kpho.com/story/15041860/hemp-farming-in-california-even-closer-to-reality-as-sb-676-moves-through-california-legislature


:woohoo: It's only a pilot program but it's an open door for legal, domestic hemp -- finally!

have it

Because it's a pilot program it will only be in 6 counties. The hemp plants will be regularly tested to ensure a low THC count (I can't get to the website right now to give you the exact percentage) which renders the plant basically useless for getting high. Consequently, it will be virtually impossible to align industrial hemp with a Schedule I "drug."

They can control you, and toss you into jail for using the 'evil' weed. They're not going to give that up, otherwise they already would have. If the goal was efficiency, or whats best for society, the war on drugs would have ended decades ago, which means that that is not what it's about.

is that this administration, just as vehemently as any Republican administration, is trying to appeal to the "independents" and the right wing who are the advocates of killing off the demon weed. What they don't get, particularly about California, is that the Feds' jihad against cannabis is already extremely unpopular and there would be a tremendous push-back from legalization supporters, from hemp users (think of the retail market potential alone) and believe it or not, from the farming community. If hemp farming turns out to be profitable, as I've no doubt it will be, farmers from all counties will want to get in on the action. There's nothing out there that will piss off the farmers more than the "gummit" telling them what they can and can't grow on their own property, particularly when there are large profits to be made.

while they continue to make hemp with higher THC counts illegal to grow.

Hemp seed is not psychoactive and is the best source of EFAs for humans - a lot of doctors do not recommend fish oil EFAs because of the problem of toxicity in fish themselves b/c of pollution.

Hemp, along with certain other plants, can also be seeded where there are toxic sites to remove the toxins. I hope CA puts hemp to use in this way to demonstrate the value of phytoremediation to heal some of the cancers of industrial pollution.

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/botany/botany_map/articles/article_10.html

but I'm not exactly sure how this is supposed to help towards the legalization of regular pot. The PTB don't want you getting high, unless it's something they approve of..like alcohol or OCs..After all, according to the drug warriors and with support from both major parties, those two things are so much better for you than doing a bowl of bud. :eyes:

and both have to do with civil liberties -- something that, believe it or not, the left and the right can agree on. The movement towards pot legalization continues in several states as does the movement towards hemp legalization. It would be nice if this "Democratic" president wasn't trying to appeal to the right on this issue but he's made his choice. The fact is that the genie's out of the bottle and the legalization battle will continue with or without help from the major political parties.

the greatest distance needed to provide isolation from cross pollination for vegetables is 5 miles. -- this is a conservative estimate from a woman who works with heirloom plants and seeds (and has written a book on the subject.)

so, surely 50 miles would be sufficient. just keep hemp out of northern CA and everyone will be fine, seems to me.

:) I don't think Americans are going to give up this fight.

Where are the Republicans on this issue?

Are they going to come down against it?

I sure hope not.

Recommended.