July 22, 2009

Washington, DC — The new 111th Congress is now in session we need Congressman Peter Welch, who represents the state of Vermont, to become a co-sponsor for HR 1866, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009, which will allow farmers in Vermont and the rest of U.S. to once again have the opportunity to grow this valuable agricultural crop.

Last year the Vermont Legislature passed a hemp farming bill, which became Act 212 after the Governor allowed it to become law. Rural Vermont was instrumental in supporting H.267, the 2007/2008 Hemp for Vermont bill, and ensuring that it became law. Stay informed on agriculture policy and legislation in Vermont. Join Rural Vermont's Farm Policy Network and receive regular email updates.

In early May 2009 a resolution urging Congress to legalize industrial hemp, JRS 26, was adopted by the Vermont House and Senate.

If you have a couple of minutes please write to Rep. Welch using our custom letter. Please write now:

http://capwiz.com/votehemp/issues/alert/?alertid=13416046

If you have a few more minutes please call his office as this is very effective. We have a great call script that is very short and has a very helpful feedback form so we know how your call went. Please call now:

http://capwiz.com/votehemp/callalert/index.tt?alertid=13416706

If you receive a reply from Rep. Welch please email a copy of it to Tom Murphy, Vote Hemp's National Outreach Coordinator, at tom@votehemp.com. We have an intern in DC this summer and it will help him a lot with our lobbying efforts to know the contents of these letters. We will not publish your name or address and hold them in confidence. Please see our Representative Reply Letter page for examples of letters that we have received so far.

We need your help and that of your family, friends and colleagues in Vermont, so please forward this email to them. We encourage you to write and call today!

Vote Hemp is a national, single-issue, non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for low-THC industrial hemp, oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis, and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow the crop.

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