The New Hampshire Hemp Freedom Act, HB 153, passed the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee this week, 17-2. Next week it will go to the floor for a full house vote.
This bill would allow hemp production within the state of New Hampshire, by prohibiting the designation of industrial hemp as a controlled substance. The Controlled Substance Act listed hemp as a Schedule I drug in 1970. It is considered a crime to grow it without a government issued permit. Unfortunately, Hawaii is the only state ever to have been issued the permit, and that was back in 1999 (it has since expired). Obviously the DEA is not very forthcoming with them.
HB153 seeks to effectively nullify the federal government’s unconstitutional ban on the production of the agricultural product, hemp, by authorizing its production on the state level.
In reading the Constitution from the view of the founders, the federal government has no such authority and HB153 rests on solid ground.
HEMP OVERVIEW AND USE
Industrial hemp is used for a wide variety of purposes including the manufacture of cordage of varying tensile strength, durable clothing and nutritional products. During World War II, the United States military relied heavily on hemp products, which resulted in the famous campaign and government-produced film, “Hemp for Victory!”
Even though soil, climate and agricultural capabilities could make the United States a massive producer of industrial hemp, today no hemp is grown for public sale, use and consumption within the United States. China is the world’s greatest producer and the United States is the #1 importer of hemp and hemp products in the world.
Since the enactment of the unconstitutional federal controlled-substances act in 1970, the Drug Enforcement Agency has prevented the production of hemp within the United States. Many hemp supporters feel that the DEA has been used as an “attack dog” of sorts to prevent competition with major industries where American-grown hemp products would create serious market competition: Cotton, Paper/Lumber, Oil, and others.
Environmental and Economic Benefits of Hemp
ACTION ITEMS
If you live in New Hampshire, please call your representatives in support of this bill. Information for them can be found here.
LEGISLATION AND TRACKING
If you live anywhere outside of New Hampshire, please contact your own legislators and urge them to introduce the Hemp Freedom Act.
http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/legislation/hemp-freedom-act/
Track the status of the Hemp Freedom Act in states around the country HERE
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