The letter below is from Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT At Large) to a Vote Hemp supporter in reply to a letter asking him to become an original co-sponsor for the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009.

Rep. Peter Welch
(D-VT At Large)

If you receive a reply from one of your elected representatives please email a copy of it to us at hempinfo@votehemp.com. It will help with our lobbying efforts to know the contents of these letters. We will not publish your name or address and hold them in confidence.

March 31, 2009

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the potential of industrial hemp production. I appreciate your feedback on this issue.

The Industrial Hemp Farming Act, introduced by Rep. Ron Paul, would exclude industrial hemp production from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act and grants the states, as opposed to the federal government, broad authority in regulating this industry.

I will keep your thoughts in mind when this bill comes before the full House of Representatives.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to stay in touch, and I look forward to seeing you in Vermont soon.

Sincerely,

PETER WELCH
Member of Congress