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Read Dr. Gordon’s letter of support here.
Our
primary goal for 2001 is legislation allowing neutral research into the
growth of industrial hemp as a renewable resource in Arizona and the
processing and
incorporation of its parts into the many
beneficial uses of the plant. Therefore, we seek passage of a
bill that:
· Defines "industrial hemp" as strains or varieties of
cannabis plants,
particularly cannabis sativa, containing
low percentages (generally less than 1%) by dry weight of the
psychotropic ingredient: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC").
·
Recognizes the many
beneficial attributes and uses of
industrial hemp (see below), and its ability to revitalize rural Arizona
by growth and processing on large and small farms.
· Permits the
state universities, as coordinated
by the Arizona State University-East,
School of Agribusiness to conduct publicly or privately funded research
on industrial hemp oriented at all issues pertinent to the evaluation of
its ultimate deregulation
sufficient for growth in Arizona
farmlands, and the processing and incorporation of its components into
the many beneficial uses of the plant:
· Tests to assist law enforcement in identification of
industrial hemp;
· Levels of THC needed for growth of industrial hemp in Arizona; and
· Maximizing production and processing techniques for Arizona agriculture.
Beneficial Attributes and Uses of Industrial Hemp:
· Its three primary components have a multitude of beneficial industrial uses (historical, current, and potential), including:
·
Fiber - durable natural fiber from the stalks for textiles,
clothing, canvas, rope, cordage, paper,
& replacing heavier toxic fibers in composites (e.g. fiberglass),
etc.
· Biomass - from hemp "hurds" (other component of the stalks) for archival grade
paper, chemicals & plastics, fuels (ethanol, methane, co-firing with coal), etc.
· Seeds - food for both humans and animals, and hempseed oil for nutrition, soaps, cosmetics, paints, varnishes, etc.,
etc.
· It can easily be grown
with sufficiently low quantities of THC to separate it from strains or
varieties that are known as medical marijuana or recreational
marijuana.
· It is a renewable
natural resource that can replace
petroleum and other non-renewable resources in industrial applications
such as fuel and the raw material for plastics.
· It is environmentally cleaner than other
natural resources in that:
· it is a cleaner source of fuel and plastics than petroleum;
· it can be grown organically with no pesticides and minimal herbicide; and
· it can be planted in rotation,
leaving fields weed free for other crops.
· It uses less water than cotton and is drought tolerant.
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