The letter below is from Rep. Todd Akin to a Vote Hemp supporter in reply to a letter asking him to become a cosponsor of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011.

Rep. Todd Akin
(R-MO 2nd 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.

October 18, 2012

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me, regarding the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, H.R. 1831. It was good to hear from you. 

As you may know, Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) has introduced H.R. 1831, which if enacted would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of "marijuana." This measure is currently being considered in the House Energy and Commerce Committee as well as in the House Judiciary Committee by the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. 

I greatly appreciate your insight into the critical issues before the House of Representatives. Although I do not serve on either of these committees, I will keep you concerns in mind should I have the opportunity to address this legislation on the House floor. It is important, I think, to note the two countervailing interests here: the prospective utility which may be derived from "industrial hemp" and its possible use as a recreational drug. Indeed, because I am strictly against drug use, and supposing I did have a chance to vote on this legislation, I would have to consider the reasoning behind the bill and analyze the regulatory oversight each state would have over the process. Until then, I will keep your thoughts in mind.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact my office. It is a privilege to represent you and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me regarding any matter where I might be of assistance. Please visit my website, where you can find more information on current issues, share further thoughts with me via email and subscribe to my e-newsletter for updates on issues you care about.

Sincerely,

Todd Akin
Member of Congress