The letter below is from Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ 8th District) to a Vote Hemp supporter in reply to a letter asking her to become a sponsor for the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
(D-AZ 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 29, 2009

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the Industrial Hemp Farming Act (H.R. 1866).

As you may know, H.R 1866 amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of "marijuana." The bill would instead define "industrial hemp" to mean the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant with a delta-nine tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration that does not exceed 0.3% on a dry weight basis.

Furthermore, H.R. 1866 would grant states the exclusive authority to regulate the growing and processing of industrial hemp and to determine whether any such plant meets that concentration limit.

H.R. 1866 was introduced by Congressman Ron Paul and has been since referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary. I will continue to monitor action on legislation pertaining to this issue in the 111th Congress.

I always appreciate hearing from constituents, like you, who are informed and interested about the important issues affecting Arizona and the nation. My job as your representative is to help you connect with federal agencies, access services and get your questions answered thoroughly. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if you require assistance.

To receive regular e-mail updates on my work as your U.S. Representative, visit www.giffords.house.gov to opt-in to my e-newsletter.  It allows me to keep Southern Arizonans, like you, informed about the most recent activities in the House of Representatives and upcoming public forums I am sponsoring in the district.

Sincerely,

Gabrielle Giffords
Member of Congress