CHARLOTTE, NC — Representatives of the Hemp Industry will exhibit on January 9-12 at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual convention at the Charlotte Convention Center to educate farmers about the need to change federal laws that prevent them from growing industrial hemp. Vote Hemp (booth # 614), a non-profit advocacy organization, will give away hemp food and display a wide variety of hemp products, such as automobile parts and paper, sold in the U.S. but made with imported industrial hemp.

“The U.S. government treats hemp the same as marijuana even though dozens of countries including Canada, England and Germany understand the difference. American farmers know that hemp isn’t a drug. What we will show them is that there is a global market for industrial hemp that they are unfairly locked out of,” says Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp, who will attend the AFBF convention. “The American Farm Bureau Annual Convention is the perfect place for Vote Hemp to jump-start our legislative and education efforts by networking with farmers from across the country who want to grow industrial hemp.”

Vote Hemp’s (www.VoteHemp.com) ultimate goal is to free industrial hemp from restrictions meant for marijuana, so that U.S. farmers and business owners can once again profit from hemp’s commercial cultivation. Vote Hemp is working with legislators on the introduction of an Industrial Hemp Farming Act. In January, when the 109th Congress convenes, Vote Hemp will focus lobbying efforts on bills to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

“Farmers are asking, if it’s legal to sell hemp here in the U.S., why can’t we grow it commercially? Automobile parts, paper, clothing, food, personal care products, and more are all being made from hemp, yet the American farmer is left out of the expanding marketplace, now estimated at more than $200 million in annual North American retail sales,” says Steenstra.
In February 2004 the Hemp Industries Association won its three year legal battle against the Drug Enforcement Administration’s misguided attempt to ban safe and nutritious hemp foods. The market for hemp seed and oil products that the DEA tried to ban is now among the fastest growing natural health food markets in the natural products industry which itself is among the fastest growing sectors of the US economy.

“More and more health foods containing omega-3 rich hemp nut and oil are appearing on store shelves since the legal status is no longer an issue,” says Alexis Baden-Mayer, Director of Government Affairs for Vote Hemp. “Americans are looking for healthy alternative sources of omega-3 to supplement their diets due to concerns regarding trace mercury in fish and fish oil supplements. Right now the U.S. marketplace is supplied with hemp seed grown and processed in Canada and Europe. We are working to convince Congress it is time for the U.S. to again allow American farmers to grow industrial hemp so that they can participate in this lucrative growth market.”

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Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially. 

WASHINGTON, DC — The Bush Administration will not appeal the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals February 6, 2004 decision in HIA v. DEA protecting sale and consumption of hemp food products in the U.S. The allotted time to appeal to the Supreme Court expired today three years after the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a rule purporting to ban hemp food products. “The mandate of the Ninth Circuit is final and their decision will now be the law of the land,” said Joseph Sandler, lead attorney for the Hemp Industries Association (HIA).

“Removing the cloud the DEA put into the marketplace will spur a dramatic surge in the supply and consumption of healthy omega-3 rich hemp seed in America,” says David Bronner, Chair of the HIA’s Food and Oil Committee and President of Alpsnack/Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. “This is a huge victory for the hemp industry. The Bush Administration decision not to appeal the Ninth Circuit’s decision from earlier this year means the three-year-old legal battle over hemp seed products is finally over. The three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit unanimously ruled that the DEA ignored the specific Congressional exemption in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that excludes hemp fiber, seed and oil from control along with poppy seeds. The Court viewed as insignificant and irrelevant harmless trace amounts of THC in hemp seed, just like harmless trace amounts of opiates in poppy seeds.”

“More and more health foods containing omega-3 rich hemp nut and oil will be appearing on store shelves since the legal status is no longer an issue,” says Alexis Baden-Mayer, Director of Government Affairs for Vote Hemp. “Americans are looking for healthy alternative sources of omega-3 to supplement their diets due to concerns regarding trace mercury in fish and fish oil supplements. Right now the U.S. marketplace is supplied by hemp seed grown and processed in Canada and Europe. We will now work to convince Congress it is time for the U.S. to again allow American farmers to grow industrial hemp and participate in this lucrative growth market.”

Eric Steenstra, Executive Director of Vote Hemp, along with Patrick Goggin, local counsel for the HIA, expressed anger at the colossal waste of industry and taxpayer resources consumed in the three-year legal battle over hemp waffles and other healthy hemp foods. “The industry should have been focused on marketplace promotion and consumer education rather than flushing over $200,000 down the drain battling pointless DEA hysteria,” says Steenstra.

Hemp Foods are Safe and Nutritious — DEA Rules Were Ridiculous!

Hemp seed is one of the most perfect nutritional resources in all of nature. In addition to its excellent flavor profile, the seed meat protein supplies all essential amino acids in an easily digestible form and with a high protein efficiency ratio. But most importantly, hemp seed and oil offer high concentrations of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) in a perfect ratio of the omega-3/omega-6 acids. EFA’s are the “good fats” that doctors recommend as part of a healthy, balanced diet. This superior nutritional profile makes hemp nut (shelled seed) and oil ideal for a wide range of functional food applications and as an effective fatty acid supplement. Not surprisingly, hemp nut and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as breads, frozen waffles, cereals, nutrition bars, meatless burgers and salad dressings.

Eating Hemp Food Does Not Interfere with Workplace Drug-Tests

U.S. hemp food companies voluntarily observe reasonable THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations and Canada. These limits protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from workplace drug-testing interference (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at http://www.testpledge.com). The DEA has hypocritically not targeted food manufacturers for using poppy seeds (in bagels and muffins, for example) even though they contain far higher levels of trace opiates. The recently revived global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Unfortunately, because of their paranoia DEA has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive varieties, and thus the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing of industrial hemp.

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Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially. 

WASHINGTON, DC — Fighting the DEA’s attempted ban has cost hemp companies over $200,000, but in a surprising twist, attacks on the hemp food industry have actually energized the hemp food marketplace. “Since the hemp food ban was announced in October of 2001, awareness about hemp food’s nutritional value and sales has increased,” says Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp. “With more hemp food products on the market than three years ago, a Bush Administration appeal will only further embarrass the DEA while helping drive sales. Appealing the decision would be a last-ditch effort to save face at the expense of taxpayers and limited law enforcement resources.”

Hemp Foods are Safe and Nutritious — DEA Rules Were Ridiculous! 

Hemp seed is one of the most perfect nutritional resources in all of nature. In addition to its excellent flavor profile, the seed meat protein supplies all essential amino acids in an easily digestible form and with a high protein efficiency ratio. But most importantly, hemp seed and oil offer high concentrations of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) in a perfect ratio of the omega-3/omega-6 acids. EFA’s are the “good fats” that doctors recommend as part of a healthy, balanced diet. This superior nutritional profile makes hemp nut (shelled seed) and oil ideal for a wide range of functional food applications and as an effective fatty acid supplement. Not surprisingly, hemp nut and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as breads, frozen waffles, cereals, nutrition bars, meatless burgers and salad dressings.

Eating Hemp Food Does Not Interfere with Workplace Drug-Tests 

U.S. hemp food companies voluntarily observe reasonable THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations and Canada. These limits protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from workplace drug-testing interference (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at http://www.testpledge.com). The DEA has hypocritically not targeted food manufacturers for using poppy seeds (in bagels and muffins, for example) even though they contain far higher levels of trace opiates. The recently revived global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Unfortunately, because of their paranoia DEA has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive varieties, and thus the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing of industrial hemp.

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Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially. 

WASHINGTON, DC — The Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) representing thousands of businesses and the Hemp Industries Association’s (HIA) 200 member companies received written clarification this week from the United States Air Force Surgeon General’s Office that hemp skin care products are “not prohibited” under a policy dating back to 2001 that bans ingestion of hemp foods by Air Force personnel. The North American trade groups sought clarification of the Air Force policy on hemp sun block and other personal care products that contain hemp seed oil after reports first published April 23rd in Mach Meter: The Online Publication of Cannon Air Force Base raised unfounded concerns that items could cause false positive drug tests. See the Air Force letter at: https://www.votehemp.com/PDF/AF_hemp_skincare_policy.pdf

The false story was picked up by the Associated Press and then reported on at least 27 local and cable TV stations in May of this year, damaging various American body care businesses. The reports mislead the general public to think they should not use hemp oil sun block and tanning lotions because they allegedly could cause positive drug tests for marijuana and trigger drug sniffing dogs at military check points. A list of TV stations that aired the false report is at the end of this release.

“We are grateful the Air Force clarified their policy on hemp personal care products, which include soap, shampoo, lip balm, lotions and sun block, among others” says Candi Penn, Executive Director of HIA. “Although the Air Force policy on hemp foods is similarly ill-founded, the Air Force clarification on skin care will certainly help dispel the myth that someone could fail a drug just from using hemp tanning lotion. We hope news media will report this clarification since earlier reports this year damaged legitimate business, especially hemp sun block manufacturers, just as the summer buying season began.”

Of all vegetable oils, hemp oil contains the highest proportion of the omega 3 & 6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) which nourish and replenish the skin in personal care products. U.S. hemp companies voluntarily observe reasonable trace THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations as well as Canada. These limits protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from workplace drug-testing interference even when eating unrealistic quantities of hemp oil and nut on a daily basis. (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at www.testpledge.com).

The following TV stations aired FALSE reports on the Air Force banning hemp personal care products in May 2004 and should issue corrections: CNBC (Cable); KAMR; KASA; KCIT; KDFW; KETV; KFDA; KGPE; KHOU; KMOV; KNSD; KSNW; KOB; KSPR; KTRK; KSAZ; KUAT; KUSE; WEWS; WGN; WINK; WJZ; WLBT; WLMT; WNYW; WPIX; WPMI;

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Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially. 

SAN FRANCISCO, California — The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) and manufacturers of hemp food products who won on Feb. 6 their 2 1/2-year old court battle to keep hemp foods legal in HIA vs. DEA are pleased the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) petition for an En Banc rehearing. The court’s June 28 decision gives the Bush Administration until Sept. 26, 2004 to appeal to the Supreme Court. Sales of hemp foods in the U.S. will be permanently protected if the Bush Administration does not appeal by the Sept. 26 deadline.

“Manufacturers of healthy foods containing omega-3 rich hemp nut and oil are confident that the Administration cannot win an appeal to the Supreme Court,” says David Bronner, chair of the HIA’s Food and Oil Committee and president of Alpsnack/Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. “The three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit unanimously ruled that the DEA ignored the specific Congressional exemption in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that excludes hemp fiber, seed and oil from control along with poppy seeds. The Court reasonably viewed as insignificant and irrelevant harmless trace amounts of THC in hemp seed, just like harmless trace amounts of opiates in poppy seeds,” says Bronner.

Fighting the DEA’s attempted ban has cost hemp companies over $200,000, but they are prepared to spend what it takes to fight any further appeal to the Supreme Court. “The public and the media should question the DEA’s waste of tax dollars in trying to crush the legitimate hemp food industry,” says Eric Steenstra, president of Vote Hemp. “A Bush administration appeal will fail and only further embarrass the DEA. Appealing the decision is a last-ditch effort to save face at the expense of taxpayers and limited law enforcement resources.”

Hemp Foods are Safe and Nutritious — DEA Rules Were Ridiculous!

Hemp seed is one of the most perfect nutritional resources in all of nature. In addition to its excellent flavor profile, the seed meat protein supplies all essential amino acids in an easily digestible form and with a high protein efficiency ratio. But most importantly, hemp seed and oil offer high concentrations of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) in a perfect ratio of the omega-3/omega-6 acids. EFA’s are the “good fats” that doctors recommend as part of a healthy, balanced diet. This superior nutritional profile makes hemp nut (shelled seed) and oil ideal for a wide range of functional food applications and as an effective fatty acid supplement. Not surprisingly, hemp nut and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as breads, frozen waffles, cereals, nutrition bars, meatless burgers and salad dressings.

Eating Hemp Food Does Not Interfere with Workplace Drug-Tests

U.S. hemp food companies voluntarily observe reasonable THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations and Canada. These limits protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from workplace drug-testing interference (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at http://www.testpledge.com). The DEA has hypocritically not targeted food manufacturers for using poppy seeds (in bagels and muffins, for example) even though they contain far higher levels of trace opiates. The recently revived global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Unfortunately, because of their paranoia DEA has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive varieties, and thus the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing of industrial hemp.

###

Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially. 

WASHINGTON, DC — Manufacturers of hemp food products who won their 2 1/2-year old court battle on February 6 to keep hemp foods legal to consume are waiting for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to consider the possibility of giving the Drug Enforcement Administration an En Banc hearing. The decision late last week to consider a rehearing stops the clock on a July 5th deadline for the Bush Administration to appeal to the Supreme Court in HIA v. DEA. If the Ninth Circuit turns down the DEA’s request for a rehearing, the Bush Administration will then have another 90 days to appeal to the Supreme Court. The DEA’s petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court was due by May 6th, but the deadline was extended for a second time by the Supreme Court until July 5th last week per the request of Solicitor General Theodore Olson. See http://www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/03a878.htm. The July 5th deadline is now irrelevant because the case is still being considered in the lower court.

“Manufacturers of healthy foods containing omega-3 rich hemp nut and oil are confident that the DEA cannot win a rehearing in the Ninth Circuit,” says David Bronner, Chair of the Hemp Industries Association’s (HIA) Food and Oil Committee and President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. “The three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit unanimously ruled that the DEA ignored the specific Congressional exemption in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that excludes hemp fiber, seed and oil from control along with poppy seeds. The Court reasonably viewed as insignificant and irrelevant harmless trace amounts of THC in hemp seed, just like harmless trace amounts of opiates in poppy seeds,” says Bronner.

Fighting the DEA’s attempted ban has thus far cost leading hemp companies over $200,000. Nevertheless the industry is prepared to spend additional resources to fight all DEA appeals. “The public and media should question the DEA’s waste of tax dollars in trying to crush the legitimate hemp food industry,” says Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp.

Hemp Foods are Safe and Nutritious — DEA Rules Were Ridiculous!

Hemp seed is one of the most perfect nutritional resources in all of nature. In addition to its excellent flavor profile, the seed meat protein supplies all essential amino acids in an easily digestible form and with a high protein efficiency ratio. But most importantly, hemp seed and oil offer high concentrations of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) in a perfect ratio of the omega-3/omega-6 acids. EFA’s are the “good fats” that doctors recommend as part of a healthy, balanced diet. This superior nutritional profile makes hemp nut (shelled seed) and oil ideal for a wide range of functional food applications and as an effective fatty acid supplement. Not surprisingly, hemp nut and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as breads, frozen waffles, cereals, nutrition bars, meatless burgers and salad dressings.

Eating Hemp Food Does Not Interfere with Workplace Drug-Tests

U.S. hemp food companies voluntarily observe reasonable THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations as well as Canada and Australia. These limits protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from workplace drug-testing interference (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at http://www.testpledge.com). The DEA has hypocritically not targeted food manufacturers for using poppy seeds (in bagels and muffins, for example) even though they contain far higher levels of trace opiates. The recently revived global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Unfortunately, because of their paranoia DEA has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive varieties, and thus the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing of industrial hemp.

###

Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially. 

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO — A report first published April 23rd in Mach Meter: The Online Publication of Cannon Air Force Base has spread across the Internet through a poorly researched Associated Press story. It raises unfounded concerns that sun-screens, tanning lotions, and other personal care products made with hemp seed oil could cause false positive drug tests because they contain trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. These concerns are not based on scientific research and contradict earlier studies on this issue. There are no documented cases of a person failing a drug test after using hemp oil or hemp oil containing personal care products, such as soaps, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, tanning lotions, and sun-screens on the skin.

“Whether you work for the Air Force, police or local transit authority, Americans who are subject to workplace drug-testing will never fail a test because they use a personal care product made with hemp oil,” says David Bronner, Chair of the Hemp Industries Association’s (HIA) Food and Oil Committee and President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. “Our soaps are made with hemp oil because it contains an extraordinary amount of omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids that restore and moisturize the skin, and is an effective natural alternative to chemical-based skin care ingredients,” says Bronner.

The April 2004 issue of the Medical Review Officer Update, a leading publication serving drug-testing professionals, addressed the question of whether hemp oil used on the skin can cause positive drug tests by referring to a scientific study conducted by Dr. Gero Leson. Dr. Leson determined that even in an unrealistic worst-case scenario, in which a person with highly compromised skin uses pure hemp oil as massage oil and leaves it on for 24 hours, the amount of THC potentially absorbed is insignificant compared to the amount required for producing a positive drug test. Consequently, the publication’s editor, Dr. Swotinsky advised that “commercial hemp oil skin products contain minuscule THC concentrations, and use of these products does not create the right conditions for THC-positive urine drug test results.”

In recent years a handful of people have alleged that they failed workplace drug tests as a result of using hemp oil products on the skin. Such allegations were routinely proven to be false, and there has yet to be a case in which someone was excused due to use of a hemp oil personal care product. U.S. hemp companies voluntarily observe THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations and Canada. These limits protect consumers, with a wide margin of safety, who use hemp-content personal care products and routinely and extensively consume hemp food products from the risk of a positive drug test. Please see the hemp industry’s voluntary standards regarding trace THC at www.testpledge.com.

“Concerns reported in the story that drug-sniffing dogs could target a person wearing hemp sun block are ridiculous,” says Bronner. He adds, “Thousands of gallons of hemp seed oil are legally imported into the U.S every year, yet drug sniffing dogs on the border have never confused these raw materials with marijuana. News organizations need to do a better job of reporting the facts about hemp before they do greater damage to legitimate businesses by airing unfounded allegations.”

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Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially. 

WASHINGTON, DC — Manufacturers and consumers of nutritious hemp food products are thrilled about the legal battle they won on February 6 when a three judge federal panel ruled unanimously that hemp foods are perfectly legal and safe to consume. The Hemp Industries Association (HIA), representing over 200 hemp companies in North America, won their 2 1⁄2-year old lawsuit HIA v. DEA, invalidating the Drug Enforcement Administration’s misguided attempt to rewrite the definition of marijuana to include nutritious and safe hemp seed.

“Health-conscious consumers of hemp waffles, bread, cereal, vegetarian burgers, protein powder, salad dressing and nutrition bars can finally relax that these foods are going to stay on store shelves,” David Bronner, Chair of the HIA Food and Oil Committee. “The decision in HIA v. DEA is a huge boost to the hemp food market, and we expect to see many more hemp food products on store shelves. The three judge panel agreed with our main argument that the DEA’s ‘Final Rule‘ ignores Congress’s specific exemption in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) under the definition of marihuana that excludes hemp seed and oil from control along with hemp fiber. Based on the decision, the court reasonably views trace insignificant amounts of THC in hemp seed in the same way as it sees trace amounts of opiates in poppy seeds,” says Bronner.

Fighting the DEA ban cost leading hemp companies roughly $200,000 (money that might be recoverable) and resulted in some retailers’ temporarily pulling hemp products from store shelves. “The public and media should question the motives of the DEA,” says Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp. “We have uncovered documents through the Freedom of Information Act that prove the DEA’s own attorneys at the Department of Justice as far back as March 2000 knew they lacked the authority to ban hemp food products.” See https://www.votehemp.com/PDF/roth_letter.pdf. “The DEA owes over 200 companies and every American an apology for wasting taxpayer money pursuing a ban on hemp foods.”

Hemp Food Was Victim of Drug War Hysteria

“The truth is that the DEA, at the direction of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the urging of the Family Research Council, attempted to kill the legitimate, burgeoning hemp foods industry not because hemp is harmful to the human body, but because they see it as a ‘stalking horse’ for the marijuana movement,” says Patrick Goggin, an attorney for the HIA. “The damages this egregious policy have caused are widespread to say the least. The industry is fully considering its options for recovering these damages and the cost of defending against this underhanded governmental action.” See ONDCP memo on Hemp foods, April 2000 https://www.votehemp.com/PDF/jurith_robles.pdf.

DEA Admitted Hemp Food Does Not Pose Any Harm, Leading Nutritionist Agrees

During final arguments, the DEA acknowledged that hemp foods have no abuse potential, stating “The concern of the Drug Enforcement Administration isn’t particularized to the particular products that these Petitioners make. The DEA has never said, has never focused on the particular products and said anyone can get high from them, or that they pose a harm to people.” According to Nutritionist and best selling author Dr. Andrew Weil, “There is absolutely no health concern about trace amounts of THC in Hemp foods. I think the federal court decision is great.”

Public Outrage Against DEA Hemp Food Ban

In regard to widespread outrage over the DEA’s “Final Rule” — 115,000 public comments, a letter from the Canadian government, and a letter from Congress co-signed by 22 Representatives submitted to DEA opposed to the hemp food ban – Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Mary Schroeder asked the DEA: “Did you take into account the objections of people who might say that this doesn’t make a lot of sense?” Dormont admitted the rule “wasn’t popular.” Protests were organized by Vote Hemp against the DEA’s attempts to ban hemp foods. In December 2001 and again in April 2003, at more than 50 DEA offices nationwide, activists gave away hemp foods, poppy seed bagels and orange juice that contain trace THC, opiates and alcohol respectively to highlight the absurdity of the DEA’s rules. These “Hemp Food Taste Tests” generated public outrage and forced former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson to debate Vote Hemp Director Eric Steenstra on National Public Radio.

Eating Hemp Food Does Not Cause Failed Drug Tests

U.S. hemp food companies voluntarily observe reasonable THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations as well as Canada and Australia. These limits protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from workplace drug-testing interference (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at www.testpledge.com). The DEA has hypocritically not targeted food manufacturers for using poppy seeds (in bagels and muffins, for example) even though they contain far higher levels of trace opiates. The recently revived global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Unfortunately, because the DEA’s Drug War paranoia has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive “marihuana” varieties, the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing of industrial hemp.

Hemp Companies React to Ninth Circuit Court Ruling

“We are very excited that our best-selling Organic Hemp Plus Granola Cereal® and our LifeStream Natural Hemp Plus Waffels® will continue to be available in thousands of stores nationwide,” says Arran Stephens, President and Founder of Nature’s Path Foods.

“DEA was foolish to try to ban hemp seed because it is a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, minerals, iron, vitamin E, and a near perfect composition of essential fatty acids – Omega 3 and 6,” says Lynn Gordon, President of French Meadow Bakery which sells Healthy Hemp Bread®. “We expect sales to increase enormously as result of the court ruling.”

“Nutiva’s organic hemp bars and protein powder can finally be sold without concern over its legality,” says John Roulac, President of Nutiva.

“Vegetarians everywhere should celebrate this court ruling,” says Ken Holmes, co-founder of Living Harvest. “People have a right to eat our nutritious Hemp Power Bar, Hemp Protein, Hemp Oil and Hemp Seed Nut.”

“The decision will boost demand for our bulk and private label oil and seed products, as well as retail brand hemp food and body care products ,” says Shaun Crew, President of Hemp Oil Canada.

“The court ruling will jumpstart sales of our new meatless Omega Burgers® made from organic hemp seed,” Ruth Shamai, President of Ruth’s Foods.

“This decision now allows consumers to vote with there dollars. Healthy hemp food products like Hemp Seed Oil and Hemp Seed Nut (shelled hemp seed) are available now at major retailers like Whole Foods Market,” says Michael Fata, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils.

Hemp Foods are Safe and Nutritious — DEA Rules Were Ridiculous!

Hemp seed is one of the most perfect sources for human nutrition in all of nature. In addition to its excellent flavor profile, the seed meat protein supplies all essential amino acids in an easily digestible form and with a high protein efficiency ratio. Hemp oil offers high concentrations of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) in a perfect ratio of the omega-3/omega-6 acids. EFA’s are the “good fats” that doctors recommend as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

This superior nutritional profile makes shelled hempseed and oil ideal for a wide range of functional food applications and as an effective fatty acid supplement. Not surprisingly, shelled hempseed and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as bread, nutrition bars, hummus, nondairy milks, meatless burgers and cereals.

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Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially. 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — U.S. COURT of APPEALS for the NINTH CIRCUIT — The Hemp Industries Association (HIA), representing over 200 hemp companies in North America won their 2 1/2-year old lawsuit today against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a decision that permanently blocks DEA regulations that attempted to ban nutritious hemp foods such as waffles, bread, cereal, vegetarian burgers, protein powder, salad dressing and nutrition bars.

“The decision in HIA v. DEA is a huge boost to the hemp food market, and we expect to see many more hemp food products on store shelves,” says David Bronner, maker of the AlpSnack® organic hemp nutrition bar and Chair of the HIA Food and Oil Committee. “The three judge panel agreed with our main argument that the DEA’s ‘Final Rule’ ignores Congress’s specific exemption in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) under the definition of marihuana that excludes hemp seed and oil from control along with hemp fiber. Based on today’s decision, the court reasonably views trace insignificant amounts of THC in hemp seed in the same way as it sees trace amounts of opiates in poppy seeds,” says Bronner.

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A Video News Release (VNR) will be broadcast via satellite for free and unrestricted use. The 15-minute VNR contains footage of popular hemp food products and the manufacturing process; statements from nutritionist Dr. Andrew Weil; and key background on the landmark decision.

Broadcast times: 3:45PM EASTERN TIME, 4:15 PM EST
Broadcast Date: Today! 2-6-2004 
Coordinates: SBS6 
Transponder: K8 
Downlink Freq: 11896
Vertical and Audio 6.1 and 6.8 

For tech assistance, call Julia at 800-354-6397

*****

Background on the Hemp Food Court Decision

Today’s Ninth Circuit decision permanently invalidates the DEA’s “Final Rule,” issued on March 21, 2003, that was virtually identical to an “Interpretive Rule” issued by the DEA on October 9, 2001 that was invalidated by a Ninth Circuit court order issued on June 30, 2003. Click here to view the Ninth Circuit ruling.

In today’s decision, Judge Betty Fletcher wrote, “[T]hey (DEA) cannot regulate naturally-occurring THC not contained within or derived from marijuana-i.e. non-psychoactive hemp is not included in Schedule I. The DEA has no authority to regulate drugs that are not scheduled, and it has not followed procedures required to schedule a substance. The DEA’s definition of “THC” contravenes the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress in the CSA and cannot be upheld.”

During the final oral arguments held in San Francisco on September 17, 2003, the HIA argued that the DEA’s “Final Rule” banning nutritious hemp foods misinterprets the CSA. The judges were completely unconvinced by DEA attorney Daniel Dormont’s arguments that Congress did not exempt hemp seed from the CSA even if the seed contains insignificant amounts of naturally-occurring THC, according to the hearing transcript available here.

Dormont was read back the section of the CSA dealing with the hemp seed exemption on three occasions by Judge Alex Kozinski. By the third reading, a frustrated Kozinski stated “SØ I tried to say it once before. What this tells me is Congress knew full well that stalks and seeds and fiber could be carriers of some level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). They were aware of that. Nevertheless, it said unless you do the extracting part they are not marihuana under the definition. That is what it says to me.” Near the end of the DEA’s arguments, Judge Kozinski asked Dormont, “Can you tell me how you are going to save the [poppy seed] bagel?” The question drew laughter from the packed courtroom, but is a serious issue considering that the irrational logic behind the DEA’s attempted hemp food ban could easily be applied to poppy seed bagels.

DEA Admitted Hemp Food Does Not Pose Any Harm, Leading Nutritionist Agrees

During final arguments, the DEA acknowledged that hemp foods have no abuse potential, stating “The concern of the Drug Enforcement Administration isn’t particularized to the particular products that these Petitioners make. The DEA has never said, has never focused on the particular products and said anyone can get high from them, or that they pose a harm to people.” According to Nutritionist and best selling author Dr. Andrew Weil, “There is absolutely no health concern about trace amounts of THC in Hemp foods. I think the federal court decision is great.”

Public Outrage Against DEA Attempted Ban

In regard to widespread outrage over the DEA’s “Final Rule” — 115,000 public comments, a letter from the Canadian government, and a letter from Congress co-signed by 22 Representatives submitted to DEA opposed to the hemp food ban — Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Mary Schroeder asked the DEA: “Did you take into account the objections of people who might say that this doesn’t make a lot of sense?” Dormont admitted the rule “wasn’t popular.” Protests were organized by Vote
Hemp against DEA’s attempts to ban hemp foods. In December 2001 and again in April 2003, at more than 50 DEA offices nationwide, activists gave away hemp foods, poppy seed bagels and orange juice that contain trace THC, opiates and alcohol respectively to highlight the absurdity of DEA’s rules. These “Hemp Food Taste Tests” generated public outrage and forced former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson to debate Vote Hemp Director Eric Steenstra on National Public Radio.

Eating Hemp Food Does Not Cause Failed Drug Tests

U.S. hemp food companies voluntarily observe reasonable THC limits similar to those adopted by European nations as well as Canada and Australia. These limits protect consumers with a wide margin of safety from workplace drug-testing interference (see hemp industry standards regarding trace THC at www.testpledge.com). The DEA has hypocritically not targeted food manufacturers for using poppy seeds (in bagels and muffins, for example) even though they contain far higher levels of trace opiates. The recently revived global hemp market is a thriving commercial success. Unfortunately, because the DEA’s Drug War paranoia has confused non-psychoactive industrial hemp varieties of cannabis with psychoactive “marihuana” varieties, the U.S. is the only major industrialized nation to prohibit the growing of industrial hemp.

Hemp Companies React to Ninth Circuit Court Ruling

“We are very excited that our best-selling Organic Hemp Plus Granola Cereal® and our LifeStream Natural Hemp Plus Waffels® will continue to be available in thousands of stores nationwide,” says Arran Stephens, President and Founder of Nature’s Path Foods.

“DEA was foolish to try to ban hemp seed because it is a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, minerals, iron, vitamin E, and a near perfect composition of essential fatty acids – Omega 3 and 6,” says Lynn Gordon, President of French Meadow Bakery which sells Healthy Hemp Bread®. “We expect sales to increase enormously as result of the court ruling.”

“Nutiva’s organic hemp bars and protein powder can finally be sold without concern over its legality,” says John Roulac, President of Nutiva.

“Vegetarians everywhere should celebrate this court ruling,” says Ken Holmes, co-founder of Living Harvest. “People have a right to eat our nutritious Hemp Power Bar, Hemp Protein, Hemp Oil and Hemp Seed Nut.”

“The decision will boost demand for our bulk and private label oil and seed products, as well as retail brand hemp food and body care products ,” says Shaun Crew, President of Hemp Oil Canada.

“The court ruling will jumpstart sales of our new meatless Omega Burgers® made from organic hemp seed,” Ruth Shamai, President of Ruth’s Foods.

“This decision now allows consumers to vote with there dollars. Healthy hemp food products like Hemp Seed Oil and Hemp Seed Nut (shelled hemp seed) are available now at major retailers like Whole Foods Market,” says Michael Fata, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils.

Hemp Foods are Safe and Nutritious — DEA Rules Were Ridiculous!

Hemp seed is one of the most perfect sources for human nutrition in all of nature. In addition to its excellent flavor profile, the seed meat protein supplies all essential amino acids in an easily digestible form and with a high protein efficiency ratio. Hemp oil offers high concentrations of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) in a perfect ratio of the omega-3/omega-6 acids. EFA’s are the “good fats” that doctors recommend as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

This superior nutritional profile makes shelled hempseed and oil ideal for a wide range of functional food applications and as an effective fatty acid supplement. Not surprisingly, shelled hempseed and oil are increasingly used in natural food products, such as bread, nutrition bars, hummus, nondairy milks, meatless burgers and cereals.

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Vote Hemp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow hemp commercially.