1st Mont. Hemp License Issued

State Legislature Approved Commercial Growth in 2001 but Federal Law Prohibits It

(AP)  Montana this month issued its first license for an industrial hemp-growing operation to a woman who said she wants to develop a domestic market for the plant despite federal law barring its cultivation.

Laura Murphy, of Bozeman, was the first to apply for the two-year license since the state Legislature approved hemp's commercial cultivation in 2001.

Federal law prohibits such activity, but the license issued by the Montana Agriculture Department on Oct. 14 could challenge whether the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is willing to override the state.

Hemp is similar to illegal marijuana but without the mind-altering ingredient of the drug. It is grown in parts of Canada and Europe and has a range of uses, from fibers for clothing to a source of biofuels.

Murphy called the application process "pretty easy."

"I went in and had a criminal history check and fingerprints and said I had land to grow it on," she said. "They didn't have an official license for me; it's just a letter."

She said she intends to lease 160 acres of unused ranch land near Ennis and is trying to arrange contracts with buyers.

Murphy, 42, said she is a former dog groomer who works as the office manager for a Bozeman medical marijuana business. She said there would be a separation between that business, which is run by her fiance, and the planned hemp growing operation.

Special Report: Marijuana Nation

The Obama administration last week loosened guidelines on federal prosecution of medical marijuana operations, which grow potent forms of the plant used to treat Parkinson's disease, chronic pain, glaucoma and other ailments.

The Justice Department told federal prosecutors that targeting people who use or provide medical marijuana in compliance with state laws was not a good use of their time.

Montana applied to the DEA in 2002 for recognition of the state's hemp growing law. The request was denied, but Montana Agriculture Department attorney Cort Jensen said it could be reconsidered now that a license has gone out.

"Obviously hemp is a little different than ordinary marijuana, but they have declined in the past," he said. In the meantime, he added: "We will administer the state law."

In her license, Murphy was warned by Jensen that "growing hemp is still illegal."

"You still need to get permission from the Drug Enforcement Agency in order to grow it without facing the possibility of federal charges or property confiscation," he wrote.

DEA spokesman Mike Turner said federal drug agents will be watching to see if Murphy moves ahead without the federal permit — something she said she has no intention to seek.

"We try to concentrate our investigations on major criminal organizations that traffic drugs. That's our priority," Turner said. "We can't speculate about what's going to happen until somebody actually does something."

He said some hemp operations had received clearance to grow after installing fencing and security to prevent public access, but he could not say how many permits have been issued.

Jensen also said that if she wished to use pesticides, Murphy would have to make arrangements through the Agriculture Department since none is currently approved for hemp.

The advocacy group Vote Hemp lists Montana as one of nine states that have removed barriers to hemp production or research.

Angela Goodhope with the Montana Hemp Council said the license given to Murphy marks "a big deal as far as state's rights go."

"The wheels are turning to allow our farmers to have another good alternative rotational crop," Goodhope said.

[MatterofLiberty]

The article states she will need to get special permission to use pesticides for her crop by the DOA. But she could easily give it a go without, since Hemp grows like a weed!!(hense the slang).It will be interesting to see what the DEA does tho. They have denied the rights of Native Americans to grow Hemp repeatedly.

[kansas1946]

Hemp is similar to illegal marijuana but without the mind-altering ingredient of the drug. It is grown in parts of Canada and Europe and has a range of uses, from fibers for clothing to a source of biofuels.
**************************

So would somebody like to explain why it is illegal. Stupidity at it highest form, I suspect.

[MiddleClassWorker]

Can't wait to see the reports of teenagers with chronic headaches in the Bozeman area.

Get it? 'Chronic'? Ha, I kill myself!

[luvnrockets-2009]

People should be able to do to their bodies as they please - and that includes taking whatever drugs they want. NO GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE TO POWER TO TAKE THAT FREEDOM AWAY. And I'm tired of hearing all the right-wing, Christian fanatics who scream about the immorality of taking drugs while they're getting drunk after Sunday sermons and coveting the wife next store but telling gays on the internet they can't get married OR that prostitution is wrong - hypocrites. THE WAR ON DRUGS WILL NEVER BE WON, so why spend billions trying to fight it? If we legalized all drugs, there would be no drug cartels or funding for terrorism. But hey, with people having so much freedom what would right-wingers fight then? How about if we outlaw cellphone texting OR those evil video games and comic books??? GO HOME NAZIS.

[JGoffeney]

Hey "Luvnrockets-2009," I thought you'd appreciate this link. I'm an Elementary Ed. Teacher who has vowed to bring all Lessons back to the water rocket! :-) http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20263020,00.html
I also want to encourage you to look at Christ as a model of genuine purity. If you look at us hypocritical Christians, we will let you down every time. I must confess, I am a Jesus-follower, BUT, I know I'm also a human who screws up every day! I think sometimes we Christians drop the ball in loving others the way He commanded us to. Thanks for your candid thoughts. I hope you enjoy the home-made Rockets as much as I have!

[Ordflyer]

It already grows all over the Midwest from when it was used to free us from the Nazis in WW II.

You would get more of a buzz from smoking nylon!!!

[AttentionDeficit]

I agree with most of your post. However, we weren't freed from the Nazis as we weren't occupied by them

[iirishamerican]

in a nutshell 2 years of drinking has put much more of a strain on my life health wise, family, loved ones, work and co-workers, depression than more than 15 years years of smoking pot ever did or could. I know I am living it, so I laugh at all you people that condem pot and pot smokers and then go home and drink, you got it all backwards.

[iirishamerican]

never hear about someone smoking a joint and coming home and beating on the wife and kids in a stoned rage like you would with someone in a drunkin rage.

[iirishamerican]

If anything they need to swap pot for alcohol since alcohol is far more damaging and dangerous for the person taking it and people around them. I had smoked pot for more than 15 years almost everyday until I had to quit because it is illegal and I had to take drug tests for my job, so I quit, yeah I thought about how I would like to smoke but I never got crazy about it. never used to drink alcohol until I stopped smoking 2 years ago, started drinking a little then a lot and now I get so drunk I can't even stand up. have tried several times to stop and I can't it is much more difficult to stop drinking after just two years than it was to stop smoking after more than 15 years. its hard to wake-up in the morning can not concentrate, I have gained excessive weight, mood swings toward loved ones, more expensive,need to drink everyday, I could go on and on about sideffects from 2 years of drinking that a person will never feel from smoking pot for 15 years. I know not everyone can understand and it sounds funny but I wish pot was legal and alcohol was illegal so I could back on track and enjoy life and work like I used to because when you drink it is impossible. so it is really crazy that one is legal and the other is not, whoever made that law is obviously confused and has things very backwards.

[AttentionDeficit]

irishamerican: i sympathize with your situation. however, i do not want alcohol to be illegal. we tried that once and it did not turn out well. i want that pot and alcohol should be on the same legal footing, and let the individual decide what they want to do

[rwsmith29456]

Change the law on pot. Down with crack, meth, heroin and drugs that cause real damage to people's lives.

[AttentionDeficit]

Throw booze in there, too. I don't want booze to be illegal, but I do want the booze pushers to have to compete with legal pot. Crime would drop, driving accidents would drop (both my opinion, so please don't ask for stats)

[OregonJames]

Pollen from industrial hemp may wreak havok with the fine strains of marijuana that are now so readily available. It would be a shame to see good marijuana "dumbed down" genetically by hemp.

[AttentionDeficit]

OregonJames: An indoor grow room would take care of that

[MatterofLiberty]

It is true though, If DEA wanted to erradicated good Cannabis they would allow low THC production Hemp everywhere and then even drop pollen, crop-duster style, over Mexican or other Cannibus fields. Ruining the crop.

[jt92202]

AttentionDeficit

I agree!

[jt92202]

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=when+was+hemp+illegalised&page=1&qsrc=0&dm=all&ab=0&title=The+Real+Reason+Hemp+is+Illegal&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.venusproject.com%2Fethics_in_action%2FReal_Reason_Hemp_Illegal.html&sg=88HiK44S43%2F996l9l6atYXdonA%2Fb0TOSdpQjwsCVVY4%3D&tsp=1256764061965

DuPont and Hemp

[jt92202]

Hemp is not pot and should not be illegal! My understanding is in the 1920's and 30's when Dupont started selling nylon and other types of synthetic fibers they somehow got hemp put on the drug list so it was illegal to grow it so it wasn't used to make ropes and clothing. Tehy didn't want the competition. This is what I heard, I would be more than happy to hear if it is true or not.

[AttentionDeficit]

jt92202: pot should not be illegal, either

[jt92202]

AttentionDeficit

I Agree!