Marijuana.com

Zilos

George Washington grew it. And so did Thomas Jefferson.

It’s hemp, and now Watsonville organic strawberry farmer Vanessa Bogenholm would like to grow it as a profitable cover crop when her berries are not in season — and she took her case to Sacramento on Wednesday.

She tried to convince the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee that nothing but fear and a lack of education stand behind the legalization of this controversial, yet misunderstood plant.

"People get this myth in their minds that (hemp is) dangerous or it’s a drug, and that’s what they run with — even if it couldn’t be furthest from the truth," said the 39-year-old Bogenholm.

Unlike its genetic cousin marijuana, hemp, which is grown for its seeds and fibers, contains only minuscule amounts of Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, an ingredient that creates a sense of euphoria when smoked.

Yet hemp, while it is legally sold in the United States, cannot be grown here. Bogenholm’s contention is if hemp is already being imported to the United States by Canadian farmers and they’re making the money, why can’t she and other U.S. farmers grow it for economic benefit.

The demand is there, and it’s been there for decades. People make clothes and rope out of hemp. The oil, extracted from its seeds, has become very popular, and the sweet seeds themselves can be found in a few energy bars around town, Bogenholm said.

Bogenholm said Republicans in committee last week seemed accepting of her idea, with the exception of Nicole Parra, a Republican assemblywoman who represents the 30th District in Bakersfield — an agriculturally heavy area akin to the Pajaro Valley.

Mary Gutierrez, Parra’s spokeswoman, said in a telephone interview on Friday: "We just think that it would be sending the wrong message to children. Although we recognize that hemp is not marijuana, there are a lot of people who don’t make that connection, and we think it’s better to just leave this issue alone and move on to issues that are more important."

Don’t try telling Bogenholm and other Pajaro Valley farmers that it’s not an issue. Not only would growing hemp as cover crop help replenish the soil for berries, it could add money to their pockets.

And farmers are always looking for ways to make more money, given the nature of their business and the tight profit margins.

"If we can grow it as a cover crop and then turn around and sell it as an industrial use, then I don’t see why not," said Edward Ortega, a longtime Watsonville strawberry farmer.

Steve Bontadelli, a Brussels sprouts grower in Watsonville, noted that hemp is an easy crop to grow.

"It’s basically a weed," he said. "It grows on the sides of the road in the Midwest, but the problem is there’s this stigma with it, and it’s associated with marijuana."

The only person to voice objection in Sacramento, next to Parra, was a man who feared that if hemp was allowed in the fields, then the plant might cross-pollinate with his legally grown marijuana, reducing the strength of its THC, Bogenholm said.

"I think we might have a shot at this," said Bogenholm, who grew up in Santa Maria and has lived in Watsonville for almost two decades. "But we’ve got a while to wait."

The proposed legislation is to be taken up again for consideration in January, according to the office of Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco.

He introduced the matter this past session after a U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that the federal government did not have authority to regulate hemp under the 1970 Controlled Substance Act.

Nikos A. Leverenz of the Drug Policy Alliance Network, a nonprofit drug policy reform group in Sacramento, has entered the fray. And he’s all for the proposed law.

"The uphill battle against legalizing hemp is ... unfortunate and illogical," said Leverenz, the group’s executive director. "The use of hemp is legion, and farmers in Canada are making money off it, not in the United States. But it’s because of the political powers to be."

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buzzmobile

Any chance of increasing the size of the text for News Articles? Us optically challenged, AARP card wielding senior smokers may have a hard time reading the fine print.

buzzmobile

Mamabudz

Allow me to send a copy of this on down the line to our Customer Service Department in the Administrative area for you sir...

And may I get you a Geritol while you wait?

Buzzby

Check your browser's manual. Most of them allow you to increase type size with a Command-+.

I thought for a minute I'd finally found someone older than I on this board. Dammit! I've got three years on you.

__________________

Mamabudz

Buzzmobile...meet Buzzby...

I think you two will get along quite well

Hugz,

Mama Budz

 

frolic

Having lived in Bakersfield and supporting hemp in California I gave Parra a call at her Bakersfield office. One of her supporters said she did not oppose hemp in california so i read what Mary Gutierrez said in the sentinel. The woman on the other end of the line claimed I would receive a phone call back. So I am waiting.Having lived in Bakersfield and supporting hemp in California I gave Parra a call at her Bakersfield office. One of her supporters said she did not oppose hemp in california so i read what Mary Gutierrez said in the sentinel. The woman on the other end of the line claimed I would receive a phone call back. So I am waiting.

Mary Guiterrez for Ms. Parra.

I am wondering if Ms. Parra also opposes growing poppies in California as they are the only source of opium and if so what she plans to do with all the State flowers the California Poppy which doesn't have opium, even so children could get confused.

Hemp has the opportunity to revitalize the San Joaquin valley and Northern California lumber industry. These people want to protect children from dangers that are not even manifest. The CalCot industry is opposing this legislation along with I assume the idiot Let us move on to more important than things than saving the San Joaquin valley.

So now I have called the Sacremento office voicing these concerns. Next call the Hanford office for Ms. Parra. Where is Hanford?

Hemp has the opportunity to revitalize the San Joaquin valley and Northern California lumber industry. These people want to protect children from dangers that are not even manifest. The CalCot industry is opposing this legislation along with I assume the idiot Let us move on to more important than things than saving the San Joaquin valley.

So now I have called the Sacremento office voicing these concerns. Next call the Hanford office for Ms. Parra. Where is Hanford? between visalia and bakersfield. Does Ms. Parra oppose the large number of children, latino farm worker children, coming down with leukemia and other diseases attributable to pesticides and other chemicals they have used to treat the land throughout the San Joaquin valley. The Latino children in coalingua, besides being bothered by killer bees, are 40% more likely to develop leukemia and other blood, bone, nerve, disorders than children in other locales.

I am still awaiting calls. I will come back when I get them.

frolic -
all references to other drugs, opium, are done to illustrate not to endorse.
frolic

seeking truth

God love ya Zilos! I thank you and your voice for having the courage to keep the fire burning under someone's ass!

frolic

Surprise surprise, no call back.
So I call them again, what is that long distance, never mind.
Sacremento -
How can I help you sir.
How does Ms. Parra take to upcoming legislation concerning Hemp in California?
Ms. Parra has not taken a stand on Hemp sir.
Yet she is able through Ms. Guiterrez to make comments concerning hemp in california as it may confuse children?
Those comments were taken out of context sir.
So she has no position and any comments about the legislation or her position on hemp are out of context?
Yes sir.
Oh! thank you

Hanford
Hello how can I help you sir.

Me - Did I talk to you in Sacremento as a woman?

What is your name Sir?

Me - (name), I am trying to find out how Ms. Parra stands on hemp legislation that is coming before the state?

I see you called this morning, sorry I had not returned your call.

Me - Hmmm?

I sat at the state capitol as Mark Leno (the legislative sponsor) discussed hemp and there was not a word against it. The presentation was given by a german individual who explained the growth in France and Canada. In France it is very easy to see that hemp is different from Marijuana. In Canada there were videos of hemp growing along the highway and it was more difficult to determine that it was not marijuana.

Me - They have the same leaf signature. Presently there is hemp in Kansas that has the same signature as marijuana. This comes from growing it legally up til the 40's.

The problem was this may present a danger to people passing by who are not familiar with hemp.

Me - would these people be familiar with pot and not hemp and confuse that they had pot planted. Do you realize that we have poppies growing in California. Children and others can find out from the news that opium comes from poppies and that the California State flower is a poppy. Are there any concerns that this confusion may distract children and we may want to change the state flower due to this possibility.

I can follow your strained logic and I may follow that up I grew up on farms I have a farm and I am for the assistance that this crop could give California farmers.

Me - The governor is trying to find industry for the state that has the largest commercial growing area of any state and many small countries (I speak broadly). We have a timber industry that is suffering and sending wood to foreign countries. Presently we import all our hemp products food, cloth, and paper from foreign countries when we could be growing it and exporting it to other countries and states.

Ms. Parra is looking to speak to concerned individuals and others on this topic. I am writing down what you have said can I have her contact you?

Me - Yes - I would like to hear from her (I grew up on my grandmas potato farm in Kern county working with itinerent farm workers). Here is my phone, address, email.

The legislation is coming up again I will be attending and will speak to her about your phone call. Thank you.

Me - thank you.

Someone who knew something. One out of three is not bad.

Bakersfield

Hello


Me - I am calling to find out how Ms. Parra stands on hemp legislation?

what legislation

Me - h-e-m-p legislaton

there is no hemp legislation before the assembly


Me - You are not familiar with Hemp legislation? Are you familiar with a Ms. Guiterrez?

She works for Ms. Parra

Me - So if she said in the santa Clara sentinel that "We just think that it would be sending the wrong message to children. Although we recognize that hemp is not marijuana, there are a lot of people who don’t make that connection, and we think it’s better to just leave this issue alone and move on to issues that are more important." you have no idea what she was meaning or where Ms. Parra stands concerning the issue?

I am going to have to talk to Ms. Guiterrez.

Me - Would you call me back (where i will wait with baited breath).

Yes I will get back to you.
thank you

Me - thank you.

Aside from the assurances that Ms. Parra's comments were taken out of context - should I talk to the reporter - I would like to talk to the second person again and maybe I will. He did seem informed. I hope they all talk to each other and maybe my name will come up with three different takes all out of context.