The letter below is from Rep. Susan Davis to a Vote Hemp supporter in reply to a letter asking her to become a cosponsor of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011.

Rep. Susan Davis
(D-CA 53rd 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.

June 15, 2012

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for writing with your thoughts about Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011. I appreciate hearing from you and apologize for the delay in my response. Each week, I receive over 2,000 pieces of mail, and it often takes me longer to respond than I would like.

As you know, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act requires the federal government to respect state laws allowing the growing of industrial hemp. Six states - Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia - allow the growing of industrial hemp. However, federal law stipulates hemp used in products sold in the United State must be imported instead of being grown by American farmers. The Industrial Hemp Act of 2011 will remove this restriction on American farmers and allow them to grow industrial hemp in accord with State law.

The Congressional Research Service has noted that hemp is grown as an established agricultural commodity in over 30 nations in Europe, Asia, and North America. It is time we gave American farmers the opportunity to compete with growers from these other areas and in the process create jobs for the American economy. I am hopeful that the Industrial Hemp Farming Act can be brought to the House floor in the 112th Congress; it's a bill worthy of serious consideration and debate. Rest assured, I will keep your support for this legislation in mind should it come before me for a vote.

Once again, thank you for contacting me. As your representative, I both need and value your perspective. Please sign up for my E-Newsletter at my website www.house.gov/susandavis, if you would like to receive regular updates about what is happening in Congress.

With warm regards,

SUSAN A. DAVIS
Member of Congress