The letter below is from Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA 1st 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. Mike Thompson
(D-CA 1st 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.

August 17, 2009

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me regarding your support for legalizing cultivation of industrial hemp.  I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.

On April 2, 2009, Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009 (H.R. 1866). This legislation removes industrial hemp (Cannabis Sativa L) from the definition of marijuana provided that it has a concentration of delta-nine tetrahydrocannabinol below .3%.  The legislation further gives states sole authority to determine whether plants meet this criterion.  H.R. 1866 was referred to the Judiciary Committee, where it awaits further consideration.

Current federal law allows the sale, but not the cultivation of industrial hemp.  The United States is the only industrialized nation that prohibits industrial hemp cultivation. This is a situation that should be changed.  Please know that I will vote for this bill should it come to the House floor in its present form.

Again, thank you for contacting me.  Please continue to contact me on matters of concern to you and to our district.

Sincerely,

Mike Thompson
Member of Congress
http://www.mikethompson.house.gov