More on Hemp

Maria's husband fouled up again and vetoed Assemblyman Chuck DeVore's Industrial Hemp bill yesterday, apparently for the ridiculous notion that he'd appear soft on drugs -- which matters nothing to his future career since he hasn't got one.  Here's an interesting lead from U.S. Newswire:

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Waiting until the last possible day to decide, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 1147, The California Industrial Hemp Farming Act, late in the day on Saturday, Sept. 30. This landmark, bipartisan legislation, if enacted, would have established clear guidelines for farming of industrial hemp, which is used in a wide variety of everyday consumer products, including food, body care, clothing, paper and auto parts. Demand for hemp products has been growing rapidly in recent years with the U.S. hemp product market now exceeding $270 million in estimated annual sales. The new law would have given farmers the ability to legally supply numerous California manufacturers that currently import hemp seed, oil and fiber.

"Governor Schwarzenegger's veto is a let down for thousands of farmers, business people, and consumers that want to bring back industrial hemp to California to create jobs, new tax income and to benefit the environment," says Eric Steenstra founder and president of Vote Hemp, the nation's leading industrial hemp farming advocacy group. "The veto was not based on facts but instead an irrational fear he would look soft on drugs in an election year. His veto message shows he knew industrial hemp is an economic development and agriculture issue, but he instead allowed himself to be cowed by confused drug war lobbyists. AB 1147 would have reigned in the over reach by federal authorities that has prevented non-drug industrial hemp varieties of cannabis from be being grown on US soil for fiber and seed. It is disingenuous to cite federal restrictions when drug war lobbyists refuse to sit down with the large coalition of farmers, business people and environmentalists who crafted the industrial hemp legislation. Industrial hemp will continue to be the only crop that is legal to import, sell and consume, but illegal to grow, in California."

Read the entire story here.

Comments

[Alex Brant-Zawadzki]

This is the first post on this blog in weeks that hasn't made me want to move to Riverside.

Schwarzenegger cites concerns that industrial hemp would make psychoactive marijuana more difficult to police, but nothing could be further from the truth.

While working to clean both the soil and the air, industrial hemp would literally pollute stronger marijuana by weaking its strength and quality through CROSS-POLLINATION. Any illicit crops even a hundred miles from an industrial farm could be rendered useless.
So who is Schwarzenegger protecting? The taxpayers, or Cheech 'n' Chong?

[redperegrine]

"which matters nothing to his future career since he hasn't got one"

Dunno about that. Senator Schwarzenegger? If Orrin Hatch ever gets that amendment thingy going, who knows?

And nobody wants a president who isn't a 100% Drug Warrior.

[Bruce Matthias]

My sympathies lie with Assemblyman DeVore. He goes out on a limb to do the right thing and the Governor cuts off the limb. It just proves the old adage that no good deed goes unpunished. Keep up the great work, Chuck.

[Chuck DeVore]

Politics is part of the bargain in the nation in which we live. I am not discouraged and expect I'll try again in some fashion or another.

All the best,

Chuck DeVore
State Assemblyman, 70th District
www.ChuckDeVore.com

[Alex Brant-Zawadzki]

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
-Samuel Beckett

[calwatch]

Is it too late to override the veto?

[DanC]

It was a good bill Chuck. Keep trying.