The letter below is from Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL 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. Melissa Bean
(D-IL 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.

August 20, 2009

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about industrial hemp farming. I am honored to represent you, and I appreciate your active participation in our legislative process. Your involvement makes democracy work better by helping me more effectively represent you and Illinois ' Eighth District.

Currently, the production of industrial hemp is prohibited under The Federal Controlled Substances Act. However, the importing of hemp into the United States is legal as hemp is used in a variety of industrial and consumer products.

Introduced by Representative Ron Paul of Texas, H.R. 1866, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act would legalize hemp grown for commercial products. Currently, H.R. 1866 is pending before the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Should this bill, or any legislation regarding hemp, come to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.

Thank you again for contacting me about this important issue. I am proud to serve Illinois ' Eighth District, and I am committed to working hard for you. Please do not hesitate to write, call, or email if I can ever help you in any way.

Sincerely,

Melissa L. Bean
Member of Congress

P.S. To stay informed on this and other important topics, visit my website at www.house.gov/bean to subscribe to e-news updates.