Pubdate: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 Source: Statesman Journal (Salem, OR) Copyright: 2014 Statesman Journal Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/QEzJupzz Website: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/427 Author: Ryan Basile LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WILL GIVE ECONOMY A BOOST Prohibition of marijuana in Oregon is having unintended consequences. Measure 91 ensures that Oregon's State Agricultural Department will issue industrial hemp production licenses and hemp seed production permits in accordance with the existing law passed in 2009 by Oregon legislators. Senate Bill 676 allows industrial hemp to be grown in Oregon. However, Oregon farmers cannot grow hemp because the federal government has not removed hemp from the nation's list of prohibited narcotics. When Oregon voters pass Measure 91, we can research what strains of hemp will grow best in our climate and we can get to work driving the Oregon economy, instead of feeding foreign economies. Canadians have a 20-year lead on us in hemp research. They make half a billion dollars a year, and most of the product from Canada (about 90 percent) is exported to the United States. Measure 91 will establish rules specifically for Oregon to legalize the industrial production of hemp in Oregon until the federal government lifts prohibition on hemp nationally. Hemp is not a drug. Hemp is a useful plant that can be turned into food, oil, wax, rope, cloth, paper and pulp. Vote yes on Measure 91. Ryan Basile Silverton - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom