Colorado Industrial Hemp Production Act Legislative Update:
December 16, 1995
The Colorado Industrial Hemp Production Act will be
submitted to the state legislature in January 1996. The bill,
sponsored by Senator Lloyd Casey (D- Northglenn), would allow the
regulated cultivation of industrial (low-THC) hemp by Colorado
farmers. The bill permits planting no more than forty acres of
industrial hemp in Colorado in 1996 for agricultural, commercial,
and scientific research. The bill would allow hemp production to
increase in subsequent years.
The Colorado Hemp Initiative Project has been organizing
the campaign for the bill. We have been working hard for the
past year since a similar bill was killed last January.
Following is a list of our efforts and what remains to be done.
Agricultural Associations
The following groups have officially endorsed industrial
hemp production.
- Colorado Farm Bureau, the largest farmers' organization
in the state
- Colorado State Grange
- Kentucky Farm Bureau
- Wisconsin Agribusiness Council
State Government
The Colorado Department of Agriculture supports industrial
hemp and is looking at developing procedures for registering
farmers and testing the hemp for THC content.
State Universities
An agronomy research professor at Colorado State University has agreed to
oversee the research on a test plot of hemp this year if the bill
passes.
Farmers
We have the support of many farmers. However, the first
year we are concentrating on planting only one test crop. We
have a farmer who is willing to grow this crop and participate in
the research on hemp in coordination with CSU.
Law Enforcement
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is satisfied with the
Hemp Production Act and would like the Colorado Department of
Agriculture to regulate hemp production.
We are in the process of contacting the attorney general's
office and local law enforcement agencies for their feedback on
the bill.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is looking at revising
their regulations to allow for industrial hemp production. With
help from the Colorado Council for Industrial Hemp Development,
the DEA has begun to contact law enforcement in hemp-producing
countries to find out how they regulate hemp. In addition, the
DEA attended the Colorado Industrial Hemp Conference on December
9, organized by CO-HIP, to gain more information on industrial
hemp. We hope the DEA will have new procedures in place by the
Spring and will be able to grant a permit to grow the test crop.
Markets for Hemp
At the North American Industrial Hemp Forum in Minnesota,
International Paper, Masonite, and Inland Container Corporations
all expressed serious interest in industrial hemp as an
alternative fiber source. In addition, over 100 American
businesses are doing $50 million in sales each year on imported
hemp products (however, we have no official letters from these
businesses yet -- see below).
What do we need to do next?
It seems we have all of our ducks in a row, as best we can
at this point. We are still in need of two things:
- Letters from businesses who will be interested in
buying Colorado hemp. We will collect these letters and give
them to our state legislators in January. We requested some of
these letters at the convention of the Hemp Industries
Association this fall, but have received no response from any of
the members. We still need to prove a market for hemp.
- Money. We have come this far on less than $600. This
campaign is being run by a core group of only 3 volunteers with
peripheral help from perhaps 6 more people. The campaign for
this bill has had a great negative effect on our personal lives
and financial well-being. However, as environmentalists, we are
committed (or perhaps we should be).
Any financial support at this point would be greatly
appreciated and is crucial to the passage of this bill. We are
now faced with the daunting task of lobbying 100 senators and
representatives who perhaps know nothing about hemp. A little
cash goes a long way in our organization. So please, consider
sending us $5 or a book of postage stamps (or more if you can
afford it.)
We have made a lot of progress toward making Colorado the
first state to grow industrial hemp in the U.S. in almost 40
years. We would hate to have to stop in mid-stream because of
lack of funds.
Checks can be made payable to CO-HIP and sent to the
following address:
CO-HIP
P.O. Box 729
Nederland, CO 80466
HAVE A HEMPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
Peace,
Laura Kriho
Note: I will be going out of town for the holidays and will not
be back at my computer (thank God!) until January 2. If you need
to contact someone in Colorado about our campaign during this
time, you can address email to the:
Colorado Council for Industrial Hemp Development
Tom Ballanco ballanco@welcomehome.org
Dave Martin dmartin@welcomehome.org
Brought to you online by the Colorado Hemp Initiative Project
Email CO-HIP