If it was good enough for Washington and Jefferson, why isn't it good enough for American farmers today?

After receiving the first state licenses to grow hemp this year, Mr. Monson and Wayne Hauge, a farmer from Ray, on the opposite side of the state, filed applications with the D.E.A. in February.

Since then, the drug agency has not said yes or no. Given North Dakota’s growing season, it is too late to plant anything new this year. So in June, the two men— with financial help from Vote Hemp, the advocacy group — filed a lawsuit against the agency.

Mr. Robertson said in July that the agency was still reviewing the applications, but that he could not say much beyond that because of the litigation.

Like Mr. Monson, Mr. Hauge, who is 49 and farms barley, chickpeas and lentils on land his great-grandfather homesteaded in 1903, said his efforts were about economics, not politics — or drugs.

Hemp is a versatile, hearty, and useful crop -- and one which would be profitable for farmers. Products made of hemp, imported from outside the US, are legal. Why not let farmers grow this cash crop?

Posted by: Greg at 03:36 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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