Iowa Caucus should include Hemp

The Hemp movement needs one thing right now: the strong activation of grassroots networks, Especially in the Prairies: places like North Dakota and Iowa.

Iowa would be a great place, not only because of all of the prior support, but also because the upcoming Iowa Caucus is so influential in politics. Iowa is also redistricting, a great opportunity to raise this issue in competitive races.

The Iowa prairies are fertile land for industrial hemp, but citizens will have to raise the issue before they can raise the crop. This is a call out to any and all in Iowa to bring this issue into the discourse that is already going on. People are talking about job creation, agriculture, frustration with Congress, reducing federal regulations....... hemp must be included in these discussions.

The Iowa Caucus, and more importantly, the upcoming Congressional races, are a great opportunity to put leaders on record on industrial hemp. If asked in public if they support hemp, it is not unlikely that they will in fact, support hemp farming. If Iowa can get behind hemp, then we will be much closer to our goals of growing hemp on a large scale.

So, if you know anyone in Iowa, pass the message along about Hemp. And if you're Iowan, you have a major opportunity to bring this issue to the table.

Hemp History Week

The history of hemp in America is long and sticky. Most Americans aren't aware that the founding fathers grew hemp or that the federal government actually promoted hemp cultivation as late as World War II. Hemp History Week aims to change that. A grassroots campaign started in 2010, Hemp History Week is an annual, nation-wide, week-long celebration of hemp and its history in the US.

Find out more at hemphistoryweek.com.

Emails from this week.

HAWAII

Between 1999 and 2002, several pieces Industrial Hemp legislation were passed, and six bi-partisan Honorable Statesmen wrote a Letter to the President asking for support to grow hemp. Along with the strong support of Cynthia Thielen, Hawaii conducted the most comprehensive study done on industrial hemp in over 30 years.

Hawaii still has all of the support, but needs action. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act,
HR 1866, needs cosponsors from States that strongly support this issue.

OREGON

On October 13th, I scheduled a meeting with Scott and Oregon business owners, including CEO of Living Harvest, a Portland based company. (Doesn't Portland overlap into the 1st District?)

Oregon is ideal for hemp cultivation, because of local hemp companies (Living Harvest, Pacific Natural, Naturally Advanced Technologies), as well as the acres of farmland. Passage of Hemp Farming Bill SB 676 reiterated as well as cemented this fact.

We would like Congressman Wu to become a become a cosponsor of HR 1866 The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009. The bill already has support from Oregon Reps Earl Blumenauer and Peter Defazio, and we are trying to get the rest of the Oregon delegation on board, one by one. We have also gained other cosponsors; this week alone, Reps Farr and Schakowsky have been listed on THOMAS.

The reasons to support the bill are very clear. Oregon businesses, residents, voters, AND State Delegation have already shown their support. The 1st district is also an ideal district, it has contains both Farmland and Urban areas.

From what I know about the support for Hemp in Oregon (working for Vote Hemp means that this is my forte), I can promise you that the Congressman's support for this bill will be well regarded and even respected by his constituents.

Eat Local

This video, produced in Canada, is a real piece of eye candy. It's message is easily brought here- Eat American Food. Unless we're talking about hemp, then eat Canadian UNTIL you can eat American.

BBC: New Developments in Hemp

Be Part of the Movement

Legalizing Hemp is as easy as clicking Here

Hemp in Ancient China