The letter below is from Sen. Claire McCaskill to a Vote Hemp supporter in reply to a letter asking her to become a cosponsor of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

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 17, 2012

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me regarding industrial hemp and hemp farming. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, Representative Ron Paul of Texas has introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011 (H.R. 1831).  This bill would differentiate the definition of "hemp" from "marijuana" and would permit industrial hemp production based on state law.  I understand the many potential uses of hemp and will consider its benefits should this legislation or any other bill to facilitate hemp farming come before the full Senate.

The Industrial Hemp Farming Act has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary where it is awaiting further consideration.  Should similar legislation be introduced in the Senate and come to the floor for a vote, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance to you on this or any other issue.

Sincerely,

Claire McCaskill
United States Senator

P.S. If you would like more information about resources that can help Missourians, or what I am doing in the Senate on your behalf, please sign up for my email newsletter at http://mccaskill.senate.gov