permaculture

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>]

Governor Brown Signs California Industrial Hemp Farming Act Legalizing Hemp
Farming Under State Law - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/28/5777538/governor-brown-signs-california.html

Governor Brown Signs California Industrial Hemp Farming Act Legalizing Hemp
Farming Under State Law SB 566 Would Allow California Farmers to Grow
Industrial Hemp Upon Federal Approval
By Vote 
Hemp<http://www.sacbee.com/search_results/?sf_pubsys_story_byline=Vote%20Hemp&link_location=top>
 Published: Saturday, Sep. 28, 2013 - 7:04 pm

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept 28, 2013 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Vote Hemp
and the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), the nation's leading hemp
grassroots advocacy organization and industry trade group, respectively,
each working to revitalize industrial hemp production and processing in the
U.S., are excited to report that Governor Jerry Brown has signed SB 566,
the California Industrial Hemp Farming Act. After moving smoothly through
the California 
legislature<http://topics.sacbee.com/California+legislature/>with
strong bi-partisan support, this landmark legislation has now become
California law.

Introduced by Senator Mark Leno earlier this year, SB 566 ensures that
California is prepared to begin registering hemp farmers once the federal
government has given states the green light. The California Industrial Hemp
Farming Act will establish a framework for farming the oilseed and fiber
varieties of the plant, which are used in a myriad of everyday consumer
products, <http://topics.sacbee.com/consumer+products/> including food,
body care, clothing, paper, auto parts, composites, building materials, and
bio-fuels. Enforcement and oversight of hemp production would be conducted
in concert with the California Department of Food and
Agriculture<http://topics.sacbee.com/California+Department+of+Food+and+Agriculture/>(CDFA)
and county agricultural commissioners, as is done with other crops.

"SB 566 demonstrates the real momentum behind the national movement to
legalize industrial hemp," said Eric Steenstra, Executive Director of the
Hemp Industries Association. "With Congressional bills to legalize hemp
currently in both the House and Senate, California is on the cutting edge,
pushing forward with an industrial hemp law that would not only stimulate
much needed growth in local business and farming sectors, but ultimately
lead the nation toward a federal policy change that would open hemp
cultivation to hemp farmers around the country. This will lower our
dependence on Canada and China for hemp imports, and empower our agrarian
and manufacturing economies to finally tap into one of the fastest growing
natural products in the market."

"With the signing of this bill, California is poised to grow industrial
hemp when the federal government gives states the green light," said
Senator Leno, D-San Francisco. "In the past year, the conversation to
legalize the cultivation of hemp has gained momentum at the federal level,
and it is only a matter of time before a farmer's right to grow hemp is
restored. Hemp, which is already found in hundreds of consumer products
manufactured in our state, is a perfect crop for California. It has great
potential to revitalize family
farms,<http://topics.sacbee.com/family+farms/>create new jobs and
stimulate the economy."

Strong support for the bill has come from The California Sheriffs
Association, individual county sheriffs, family and organic farmers,
environmental organizations, labor
unions,<http://topics.sacbee.com/labor+unions/>and businesses
statewide. 2 Vote Hemp and HIA believe that hemp farming
registrations could be accepted as soon as 2014 based on the recent memo
from Deputy Attorney General James Cole of the Department of
Justice.<http://topics.sacbee.com/Department+of+Justice/>"Before
farmers can begin planting hemp under SB 566, the state will need
to seek clarification from federal officials that state regulations for
hemp farming meet the requirements outlined in the recent memo issued by
Deputy Attorney General James Cole," notes Vote Hemp Director Patrick
Goggin.

Today, more than 30 industrialized nations grow industrial hemp and export
it to the United States. Hemp is the only crop that is illegal to grow at
the federal level, yet is legal for Americans to import. Among the numerous
California-based companies who have supported the bill are Dr. Bronner's
Magic Soaps, makers of North America's top-selling natural soap, and
Nutiva, a rising star among innovative health food companies. Both of these
businesses currently must import hemp from other countries. The passage of
SB 566 sends a strong message to Washington that the time has come to
change federal policy regarding industrial hemp.

"Hemp grown right here in California would stimulate massive growth in the
food, body care, textiles, building and other crucial sectors that suffer
from having to import less efficient materials in lieu of this lucrative
industrial crop," says David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner's Magic
Soaps. "The nationwide movement to legalize industrial hemp and farm it
right here in the US to benefit American business is growing, and SB 566
opens a door to incredible opportunity for farmers who seek sustainable
agriculture, ecologically responsible businesses and products. Ultimately,
this bill will help end the prohibition on what is one of the most
versatile and environmentally revolutionary industrial crops on the planet."

"Nutiva looks forward to buying hemp from American farmers," says John
Roulac, President of Nutiva. "This will add American jobs and reduce our fuel
consumption. <http://topics.sacbee.com/fuel+consumption/>"

California businesses currently spend millions of dollars each year
importing hemp primarily from Canada, China, and Europe. Demand for hemp
products has been growing rapidly in recent years, and it is estimated that
the U.S. hemp market now exceeds $500 million in annual retail sales. From
natural soaps to healthy foods, there are a large variety of "Made in
California" hemp products whose manufacturers and buyers will greatly
benefit from an in-state source of hemp seed, fiber, and oil.

The environmental and agricultural benefits are not limited to the
versatility of uses. Industrial hemp is an excellent rotation crop because
its dense growth smothers weeds without herbicides and helps to break the
disease cycle. Hemp requires less water and agricultural inputs than other
crops, has deep tap roots that leave the soil in excellent condition for
the next crop, and is proven to increase yields. These benefits save
farmers money and reduce the amount of pesticides, herbicides and chemical
fertilizers <http://topics.sacbee.com/chemical+fertilizers/> that run into
our waterways.

*Vote Hemp is a national, single**‐**issue, non**‐**profit organization
dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for low**‐** THC
industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once
again grow this agricultural crop. More information about hemp legislation
and the crop's many uses may be found at
www.VoteHemp.com<http://www.votehemp.com/> or
www.TheHIA.org <http://www.thehia.org/>. Video footage of hemp farming in
other countries is available upon request by contacting Ryan Fletcher at
202-641-0277 or ryan@votehemp.com.*

SOURCE Vote Hemp

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Hemp<http://www.sacbee.com/search_results/?sf_pubsys_story_byline=Vote%20Hemp&link_location=bottom>

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