A recent national poll concluded that 43 percent of Americans believe unemployment and job creation is the most important issue facing our country. So it's no surprise that Republicans and Democrats in Washington claim to be big supporters of creating jobs.
But the truth is D.C. policy-makers on both sides of the aisle stifle jobs and opportunity with regulations and policies that hurt our work force. And often, it flies in the face of common sense. The perfect example of this is the debate over industrial hemp.
Prior to World War II, Kentucky led the nation in providing 94 percent of all industrialized hemp. However, it was outlawed under an umbrella law that made marijuana illegal. This was simply because they are in the same botanical family and look similar.
But there are major differences in the two plants. Marijuana is made up of 20 percent tetrohydrocannabinol (THC), the mind-altering chemical, while industrial hemp plants contain less than 0.3 percent.
Comparing hemp to marijuana is like comparing poppy seeds found on bagels to OxyContin. Poppy seeds are in the same family of opiate — the same family that contains codeine, morphine, OxyContin and even heroin.
Yet, you can buy and consume food containing poppy seeds, as thousands of Americans do each day, without experiencing the narcotic effects the rest of its plant is harvested for.
So, the issue with hemp isn't that the plant is harmful. It's that the plant might be mistaken for marijuana.
This presents some challenges for law enforcement. But we can address those challenges. And we can return to growing and producing hemp in Kentucky. And in the process, create jobs and opportunity here.
Let me share an example of the economic potential for industrial hemp.
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is based in California and sells products made from hemp plants. David Bronner, the company's CEO, says it grossed over $50 million in sales this past year. But since the production of industrial hemp is outlawed in America, the company must import 100 percent of the hemp used in their products from other countries.
The company sends hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars every year to other countries because American farmers are not allowed to grow this plant. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not allow the legal growth of hemp.
Today, hemp products are sold around the U.S. in forms of paper, cosmetics, lotions, auto parts, clothes, cattle feed and so much more. If we were to start using hemp plants again for paper, we could ultimately replace using trees as the main source for our paper supply.
One acre of industrial hemp plants can grow around 15,000 pounds of green hemp in about 110 days. For every ton of hemp converted into paper, we could save 12 trees. It is a renewable, sustainable, environmentally conscious crop.
Back in August, I stood alongside Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and a bipartisan group of legislators and promised Kentuckians that I would join the fight to allow the growth and production of industrial hemp. Comer stated that day that the soil and the climate in Kentucky are perfect for the growth of hemp, and that could ultimately allow the commonwealth to be the nation's top producer.
Recently, Comer revived the long-dormant Kentucky Hemp Commission by calling its first meeting in more than 10 years. This took real leadership and I applaud him for his action. To help get the ball rolling and show our commitment, Bronner wrote a $50,000 check to the commission and I have pledged to match that donation from my personal political action committee.
While Comer and the commission work to address this issue in Kentucky, I have co-sponsored legislation in the U.S. Senate that would require the federal government to honor state laws allowing production of industrial hemp and would exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana.
My vision for the farmers and manufacturers of Kentucky is to see us start growing hemp, creating jobs and leading the nation in this industry again. These jobs will be ripe for the taking, and I want the farmers in Kentucky to be the first in line.
I am a proud vet of Kentucky and I am a full supporter of not only industrial hemp but also medical marijuana. For too long we have shipped jobs over seas for corporations to make a fatter bottom line. It is time we took back our right to work, along side the right to plant a seed God gave to us.
ReplyDeleteI second Samuel's comment - hopefully others will too - and sign a petition to the White House now up at
ReplyDeletewww.minawear.com/about-us/
Mina makes hemp clothes in Texas and her brother is working on this issue in New York.
Hello Mr. Paul! Thank you for this informative blog! My company Minawear Luxury Hemp Loungewear must import 100% of its hemp as well. We are definitely pulling out all the stops this year to help get this curious and wonderful plant legalized again! Once people realize what hemp is and is NOT, they are on board. We just launched a petition to President Obama urging the legalization of hemp ASAP! It is a rewording of your father's bill HR 1831. www.minawear.com/about-us/ << the link to the petition is here on the Minawear Luxury Hemp Loungewear site! We would be honored if you would sign it. Thank you! Mina Hegaard Victoria Texas
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you Minabird - and good to see a site like this for Kentucky.
ReplyDeleteSaw you got lots of signers from Texas and NY - maybe those states could do a blog like
this too?
I just put a positive comment about this site on my own hemp site - www.hempforvictory.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteNY could use a hemp coalition - I envy Kentucky for being way ahead of NY that way and for having Senator Rand Paul. The NY senators are not informed, and this is bad since most of the state is a farming state. Like many northern states, its farmers watch the Canadians make lots of money growing hemp. Hopefully there will be more activism in NY and the senators and Congressmen (although one of them, Jerrold Nadler in the 8th District which is lower Manhattan/B'klyn is a co-sponsor of the House Bill along with Ron Paul). Gotta send the rest to Kentucky to learn how to support American farmers.
Jerrold Nadler was one of the 30 or so Congressmen who bothered to support this bill. He then did nothing. Like the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteThen the hemp movement did nothing as he did nothing, the rest did nothing, and nothing + nothing =?
That petition is something, and now about 400 people have signed it, it's only been up a week or so. If it gets enough signatures it goes to POTUS.
So that is a start, what we need to do along with it is contact Congressmen, surely there is at least one hempster in each Congressional district in the US who could do this?
The district in which this petition started is an interestingon, it was the 14th in Texas for years, Ron Paul was the Congressman - until they redistricted it, taknig Victoria out of it - and he is also retiring this month.
So hopefully Mina will contact the new Congressman and not let him just do nothing while you do all the work here?
And I wanted to add, I also hope that the hempsters in the US will not just let Mina work alone on this - she has been at it over for decades, has contributed to "Hemp for Victory: History and Qualities of the World's Most Useful Plant", and has written articles on hemp.
ReplyDeletenever misunderestimate the power of the legislators to let rome burn while they fiddle...it really is up to the people to force their legislators, or those who fail to act - to do the right thing. Else the US is history. No jobs, no money, this is not going to last unless remedy is made to happen.
ReplyDeleteMina has had my support for years but often only lip service not only from legislators, but from lots of folks in the hemp movement. People like here, and Woody Harrelson, Cynthia McKinney, Ron and Rand Paul are few and far between.
As my moniker suggests, I am not a fan of the GOP but Senator Paul is an exception, and his dad. And Dave Monson of North Dakota who is House Majority leader for the state senate and a hemp advocate. And the GOP senator from NC whose name I forget. But the rest are not supporting hemp - why not?
ReplyDeleteI will be watching to see what happens in Kentucky and also if the new Congressman for Victoria Texas, who is GOP, will support hemp. This is how to really support the hemp movement - become aware of the politicians who are supposed to be working for you, who you are paying, and also, of course, support hemp businesses.
And oh, sign the petition at www.minawear.com/about-us/
I just read a great interview with Greta Gaines - she wrote her Senator, who, unlike Kentucky's Paul Rand, did not know about the issue and gave her a dumb reply.
ReplyDeleteWe all need to write these pols. I did just sign the petition, well done to Mina and Greta
for taking the initiative.
I'm excited to see all the positive comments on here! And just want to let it be known that thanks to the comments on this site, the Kentucky Hemp Coalition is now working hand in hand with Mina to organize some exciting hemp events in the near future! Thanks for your support, and please check out Minawear.com and hempforvictory.blogspot.com for more information about Mina and her brother Kenyon, who have been Hempsters a lot longer than we have!~
ReplyDeleteKatie Moyer
Chair
Katie - that sounds like there is a wider coalition happening, which is the only way this is going to work. Of course, Kentuckians led the Union in hemp cultivation back in the day, and are leading this movement today.
ReplyDeleteI did just read that Virginia is coming along, so you will have company. This year looks set to rock for hemp!
Yes, lots of states are coming along, and it is time for a national movement, maybe the Kentucky people and Mina and her bro who have so much experience could set something up like that, linked to the petition of course, and with help from Cynthia McKinney of Georgia - an obvious hemp growing state?
ReplyDeleteSince Dr Ron Paul, the father of Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky as if everyone did not already know - has retired, and his replacement, Randy Weber, needs to be lobbied as he steps into office in DC. Lots of his constituents have signed that petition so he cannot just sidestep the issue, but lest he try, let's get all of us, from whatever state to write to him as well - if we all focus on one guy who has some significance district wise and is also a new rep, we can achieve something.
Kentucky is starting something that is going to its neighbours - now Virginia is supporting hemp.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens in Kentucky to make it so succesful with this is that the hemp movement works with the politicians - and does not act like a bunch of spoiled drug users.
Now if the Texans can get on Ron Paul's replacement that would speak well for them. Ultimately, let's get people in all 50 states lobbying their reps.
I saw lots of great comments on the petition, and also noted most signers were from the Texas/Kentucky area.