Kentucky Takes DEA to Court Over 'Illegal' Hemp Seed Seizure State officials accuse DEA of violating federal law. By Steven Nelson May 16
Kentucky officials say the Drug Enforcement Administration is breaking the law in an attempt to illegally ruin the state’s industrial hemp pilot program.
The Bluegrass State legalized industrial hemp in 2013 and the federal farm bill signed by President Barack Obama in February allows states to grow it for research.
Industrial hemp superficially resembles marijuana, but has much lower concentrations of psychoactive THC. It’s been used for centuries for making rope, clothes and other items, but growing it was illegal for decades in the U.S.
Earlier this month, the DEA seized 250 pounds of hemp seeds en route to the University of Kentucky from Italy. The package was first flagged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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A federal law enforcement official says the Department of Justice – DEA’s parent agency – recognizes the law now allows hemp cultivation. But, the law enforcement official said, existing procedures for importing items covered by the Controlled Substances Act must still be followed.
The federal official says Kentucky is to blame for the impasse – which goes to federal court Friday afternoon – for not seeking a controlled substance import permit.
State officials disagree.
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“They have changed their position several times, it’s almost been like buying a house,” says Holly Harris VonLuehrte, chief of staff for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. "For some odd reason, the DEA is trying to place unnecessary and, quite frankly, illegal restrictions on Kentucky."
The DEA first demanded that all six Kentucky colleges with intended pilot programs acquire controlled substance permits, according to VonLuehrte, and then insisted that hemp could not be grown on private land, contrary to the farm bill’s language allowing state-approved sites.
“It’s very clear the DEA was not negotiating in good faith, and we don’t feel that we should have to negotiate: the law is the law, and that’s why we asked a federal judge to intervene. And we sure hope they’ll honor a federal judge’s order,” says VonLuehrte.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. But then what can one expect from any entity called "government"?
Industrial hemp is not an intoxicant (as if that really matters) and has a myriad of uses ranging from some of the finest rope available to paper to an excellent protein source and on and on. But it has a connection with marijuana, a related, but different hemp, so it must be banned just to be safe (or something).
We were asked for ID to get into a national park but it is racist to ask for voter ID?~~Comment on FB
"The Bluegrass State legalized industrial hemp in 2013 and the federal farm bill signed by President Barack Obama in February allows states to grow it for research."
The State Of Kentucky does not know FedThink.
FedThink goes like this...
Yes the law states that industrial hemp is legal for research.
Kentucky: OK then we'd like to do some research and will buy some seeds to grow the plants.
I'm sorry, you will need a controlled substance import permit.
Kentucky: OK then we'd like to apply for this permit.
I'm sorry, we are not distributing applications for this permit right now.
Kentucky: But the law says we can buy and grow these seeds for research.
Yes that is correct.
Kentucky: When can I pick up one of these permits?
Check back with us next week.
FedThink gets you to NOWHERE MAN!!!
******************* "The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly." Abraham Lincoln
"Either the Republican party will reform itself or its going the way of the wind." Pat Caddell at CPAC