H.R.525 & S.359 Contact Your Congress Critters And Get Them To Cosponsor!

Here was Ron Paul's statement when he introduced this bill in 2011 (Massie reintroduced the same bill word for word):

SPEECH OF
HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2011​

Mr. PAUL . Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act requires the Federal Government to respect State laws allowing the growing of industrial hemp.

Nine States--Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia--allow industrial hemp production or research in accord with State laws. However, Federal law is standing in the way of farmers in these States growing what may be a very profitable crop. Because of current Federal law, all hemp included in products sold in the United States must be imported instead of being grown by American farmers.

Since 1970, the federal Controlled Substances Act's inclusion of industrial hemp in the schedule one definition of marijuana has prohibited American farmers from growing industrial hemp despite the fact that industrial hemp has such a low content of THC (the psychoactive chemical in the related marijuana plant) that nobody can be psychologically affected by consuming hemp. Federal law concedes the safety of industrial hemp by allowing it to be legally imported for use as food.

The United States is the only industrialized nation that prohibits industrial hemp cultivation. The Congressional Research Service has noted that hemp is grown as an established agricultural commodity in approximately 30 nations in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act will relieve this unique restriction on American farmers and allow them to grow industrial hemp in accord with State law.

Industrial hemp is a crop that was grown legally throughout the United States for most of our Nation's history. In fact, during World War II, the Federal Government actively encouraged American farmers to grow industrial hemp to help the war effort. The Department of Agriculture even produced a film ``Hemp for Victory'' encouraging the plant's cultivation.

In recent years, the hemp plant has been put to many popular uses in foods and in industry. Grocery stores sell hemp seeds and oil as well as food products containing oil and seeds from the hemp plant. Industrial hemp is also included in consumer products such as paper, cloths, cosmetics, carpet, and door frames of cars. Hemp has even been used in alternative automobile fuel.

It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has stood in the way of American farmers competing in the global industrial hemp market. Indeed, the founders of our Nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained Federal Government. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to stand up for American farmers and cosponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act.
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Here was a statement he made a week earlier for Hemp History Week:

SPEECH OF
HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011​

Mr. PAUL . Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about Hemp History Week. To celebrate the American heritage of growing industrial hemp, the Hemp Industries Association, Vote Hemp, American manufacturers, and allied companies and organizations have declared May 2 to May 8, 2011 to be Hemp History Week. Throughout the week, people will recognize America's legacy of industrial hemp farming and call for reinstating respect for farmers' basic right to grow industrial hemp.

Industrial hemp was legally grown throughout our country for many years. In fact, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew industrial hemp and used it to make cloth. During World War II, the federal government encouraged American farmers to grow hemp to help the war effort.

Despite industrial hemp farming being an important part of American history, the federal government has banned cultivation of this crop. In every other industrialized country, industrial hemp, defined to contain less than 0.3 percent THC--the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana, may be legally grown. Nobody can be psychologically affected by consuming industrial hemp. Unfortunately, because of a federal policy that does not distinguish between growing industrial hemp and growing marijuana, all industrial hemp must be imported. The result is high prices, outsourced jobs, and lost opportunities for American manufacturing.

Reintroducing industrial hemp farming in the United States would bring jobs to communities struggling in today's economy, provide American farmers with another crop alternative, and encourage the development of hemp processing factories near American hemp farming.

Industrial hemp is used in many products. For example, industrial hemp is used in protein supplements, non-dairy milk, and frozen desserts. Hemp flour is in breads, crackers, chips, dips, and dressings. Hemp seeds may be eaten plain or added to prepared foods. Additionally, hemp oil is used in a number of cosmetic and body care products, and hemp fiber is used in cloths. Industrial hemp is also present in bio-composite materials used in buildings and automobiles.

I first introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act six years ago to end the federal government's ban on American farmers growing industrial hemp. Since then, the industrial hemp industry has grown much larger. Despite its American history, industrial hemp is the only crop that we can buy and sell but not farm in the United States. The federal government should change the law to allow American farmers to grow this profitable crop as American farmers have through most of our nation's history. I plan to reintroduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act next week. Please cosponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act and join me in celebrating Hemp History Week.
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Rep. Mike Honda [CA-17] and Sen. Tammy Baldwin [WI] cosponsored the bills in the 112th Congress but have yet to cosponsor in this Congress.
 
My personal two cents on this is that it is pretty f****** ridiculous that in 2013 the entirety of Congress is not behind something so simple. Are there any Congressmen actively speaking out against it?
 
I even contacted my state representatives today as well on these bills, the more the merrier. Cannot hurt to have support everywhere! Hopefully they will take heed to my advise and talk about these bills in my district to get more people to contact there representatives in the House and Senate.
 
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andrew1229649 said:
We should all encourage our friends and family to phone/email their representatives as well.
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I'm actually really glad I did. My Representative is a sponsor of HR525. I called another Representative from a county away and his staff was well informed. I will be very disappointed if he votes against it. The guy who answered the phone stated that he hasn't come out with an official position. He stated that the Congressman well understood that hemp had nothing to do with marijuana. He affirmed my statement that the bill would create jobs. Then he told me that I ought to contact my Senators because 'Senator Paul has a bill being put forward.' The guy was obviously a fan of Rand Paul and was well informed of the legislation. Hopefully the Congressman has the same sentiments.

Jeff Flake hasn't formed an opinion, so they say. The woman who answered the phone didn't seem to give a damn what I had to say. (last 20 times I have tried to call him I couldn't even get through so I guess there is some improvement) Those from Arizona, please call your Senator Jeff Flake. I am not sure he understands how important and simple a vote this truly is.
 
kcchiefs6465 said:
I'm actually really glad I did. My Representative is a sponsor of HR525. I called another Representative from a county away and his staff was well informed. I will be very disappointed if he votes against it. The guy who answered the phone stated that he hasn't come out with an official position. He stated that the Congressman well understood that hemp had nothing to do with marijuana. He affirmed my statement that the bill would create jobs. Then he told me that I ought to contact my Senators because 'Senator Paul has a bill being put forward.' The guy was obviously a fan of Rand Paul and was well informed of the legislation. Hopefully the Congressman has the same sentiments.

Jeff Flake hasn't formed an opinion, so they say. The woman who answered the phone didn't seem to give a damn what I had to say. (last 20 times I have tried to call him I couldn't even get through so I guess there is some improvement) Those from Arizona, please call your Senator Jeff Flake. I am not sure he understands how important and simple a vote this truly is.
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cool chief
 
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