BISMARCK, ND — Two North Dakota farmers who filed a lawsuit in June to end the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) ban on commercial hemp farming in the United States will have their day in court on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Oral arguments begin at 10:00 am CST in the William L. Guy Federal Building, located at 220 East Rosser Avenue in Bismarck, North Dakota, and will immediately be followed by a press conference on the courthouse steps.
The farmers, State Rep. David Monson of Osnabrock and Wayne Hauge of Ray, will appear in court to observe oral arguments made on their behalf by attorneys Tim Purdon and Joe Sandler. If successful, the landmark lawsuit will lead to the first state-regulated commercial cultivation of industrial hemp in fifty years.
WHO: Rep. David Monson, North Dakota House assistant majority leader and licensed hemp farmer
Wayne Hauge, Seed breeder, licensed hemp farmer
Tim Purdon, lawyer with Vogel Law Firm of Bismarck and co-counsel for the plaintiffs
Joe Sandler, co-counsel for the plaintiffs and legal counsel for Vote Hemp, Inc.
Eric Steenstra, President, Vote Hemp, Inc.
WHAT: Oral arguments, media availability and teleconference on new lawsuit to grow hemp in ND
WHERE: William Guy Federal Building, 220 East Rosser Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501
WHEN: Wednesday, November 14, 10:00 am CST for oral arguments (media availability afterwards)
The North Dakota Legislature recently removed the requirement that state-licensed industrial hemp farmers first obtain DEA permits before growing hemp. The question before the U.S. District Court will be whether or not federal authorities can prosecute state-licensed farmers who grow non-drug oilseed and fiber hemp pursuant to North Dakota state law.
Vote Hemp, the nation’s leading industrial hemp advocacy group, and its supporters are providing financial support for the lawsuit. If it is successful, states across the nation will be free to implement their own hemp farming laws without fear of federal interference. More on the case can be found online.
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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.