The letter below is from Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA 8th District) to a Vote Hemp supporter in reply to a letter asking him to become a sponsor for the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009.

Rep. Dave Reichert
(R-WA 8th District)

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.

July 28, 2009

Dear Friend,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding H.R. 1009, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Since 1970, the federal Controlled Substances Act's inclusion of industrial hemp in the definition of marijuana has prohibited American farmers from growing industrial hemp. Federal law concedes the safety of industrial hemp by allowing it to be legally imported for use as food.

As you know, on February 13, 2007, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas introduced H.R. 1009, which would repeal the federal ban on the cultivation of industrial hemp as a commercial crop. This bill would open the way for commercial cultivation of industrial hemp in the United States at the federal level for the first time, by amending the Controlled Substances Act to specify that the term "marijuana" does not include industrial hemp. Currently, this bill has been referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary. Should this legislation come before the full House of Representatives, I will be sure to give it thorough consideration.

Once again, I appreciate hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any other concerns or questions. To expedite your thoughts, I encourage you to contact me via my website at http://www.house.gov/reichert.

Sincerely,

David G. Reichert
Member of Congress