Farmers try to plant hemp at drug agency in Va.

WDAY NEWS ^ | 13 OCTOBER 2009 | AP

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Farmers from North Dakota and Vermont and four others trying to plant hemp seeds at the headquarters of the Drug Enforcement Administration have been arrested.

Arlington County police spokeswoman Detective Crystal Nosal says six people were charged with trespassing on Tuesday. They were among 21 people protesting the ban on farming of hemp, which is related to the illegal drug marijuana.

The Hemp Industries Association says the protesters turned to civil disobedience for the first time. The group is lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill. They want to grow hemp for non-drug products.

North Dakota farmer Wayne Hauge and Vermont farmer Will Allen were among those arrested. Police say they had shovels in hand but did not appear to have any drugs and caused only minor damage to the lawn.

[pray4liberty]

Seems like people are not free to make a living growing what they want...why does government have to make everything so hard for the working class?

[pnh102]

Glad to see the government is keeping us safe from these dangerous criminals. Of course the murderers, rapists, armed robbers, carjackers and street thugs all walk free.

[madison10]

Hemp can be made into beautiful fabric, almost like linen, organic, too. One would think the same people that want to save the planet would be for the production of a natural fiber even if it is from hemp.

Organic Hemp Fabric and other items

[the anti-liberal]

Not to mention all the rope, sails, clothing, etc. on the ships which Columbus and friends sailed to America on.

[calex59]

I am incorrect in thinking that hemp can’t make a person high the way MJ does? Wrong or right, do you know?

[cripplecreek]

Police say they had shovels in hand but did not appear to have any drugs and caused only minor damage to the lawn.

Kind of a foolish issue. Hemp isn't going to be getting anyone high but for some stupid reason its illegal. If they can make a living from it, let em.

[Ransomed]

The gubberment must insure that the plant remaines illegal because so many jobs are created due to its illegality.

Freegards

[An Old Man]

Oh, it can make you high alright! That's probably why the government fears Tar, Feathers and assorted things made from hemp.

Like this for example.

[cripplecreek]

The funny thing is that you can buy hemp products legally in America. You just can’t produce it here.

Its kinda like CFLs an incandescent lights. First ban the incandescent bulbs, then ban making CFLs here.

[Sacajaweau]

We import Hemp cording/rope/string. I saw it in Walmart. So the whole "no grow" thing is stupid.

Sometimes I think it's a North vs South thing.

[Conan the Librarian]

Hemp and the MJ are the same plant.

If you plant the individual stalks close together, you get MJ. If you space them further apart (I don’t know the exact distance, but, apparently George Washington did) you get hemp.

(Apparently, according to his diary, GW about smoking Marijuana)

[the anti-liberal]

My understanding is the hemp production industry is a potential billion dollar industry. Unfortunately, the war on some drugs is too profitable for LE, the IRS (seizures), and the prison industry, so the US economy is unable to benefit.

[rebelskid]

a very high quality paper can be made from it as well.

and it’s not even rolling paper...

[pointsal]

I agree.... Industrial hemp fibre is great stuff. We should be dumping cotton and going for hemp. It could be grown all over the USA and would be a good crop using waste water from sewer plants.

[rebelskid]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Hemp_Farming_Act_of_2009

sorry for the wiki reference

[the anti-liberal]

If only Barney’s name was attached to that bill.

[jdub]

You are correct. Hemp is illegal for the same reason libs want SKS, AR-15 and other semi-automatic guns banned...they LOOK like the real assault weapons. Hemp is illegal because its leaves look like MJ leaves. Hemp has a trace of THC, but you couldnt smoke it fast enough to catch a buzz.

Hemp seed is a great source of livestock feed and can be processed into fuels. Its really a wonder plant.

[decimon]

I am incorrect in thinking that hemp can’t make a person high the way MJ does? Wrong or right...

Right. You couldn't smoke enough of industrial hemp to get high.

[libertarian27]