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Supporters say hemp could help economy

By Greg Angel
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 3:15 p.m.

Read more: Local, Hemp, Montmorency County, Marijuana

ATLANTA -- Could industrial hemp be the next cash crop for northern Michigan farmers? A group in Montmorency County hopes so.

Everett Swift went before the Montmorency County Board of Commissioners Wednesday morning urging them to pass a resolution that would open up opportunities for farmers to cultivate industrial hemp.

"It's got over 25,000 different uses," Swift said. "Textiles, biofuels, they're making biodegradable plastics, concrete, building materials."

Currently it's legal to sell hemp products, however it's illegal to cultivate, or grow, hemp without a permit from the federal government. While hemp and marijuana both belong in the cannabis plant family, supporters of the pro-industrial hemp resolution say they are very different.

"The difference, it's like a male and female plant," said Jolene Fowler, a local hemp jewelry business owner. "Hemp doesn't flower, it doesn't have any narcotic effects."

During Wednesday's highly attended county commission meeting, supporters took turns expressing their views on the topic. In the end the Montmorency County Commission declined to take any action on the topic. It's not clear if or when they'll revisit the issue.

Currently, Fowler imports her hemp materials in from Canada. She says the measure is a move in the right direction for Michigan's economy and for job creation. Other supporters agree.

"I think it would help our economy with the situation the way it is, it'll give farmers another crop to grow," Swift said.

With the county commission declined to make a decision, supporters in attendance at the meeting say they'll continue to persist that the measure be approved.

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4 Comments on this Story
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I offered, They Refused

Posted by Everett Swift, Hillman - Wednesday, December 02, 2009 at 12:54 p.m.

I have tons of educational material on Industrial hemp including videos such "Hemp for Victory", a film put out by the USDA in WWII when the government wanted farmers to grow hemp for the war effort, and "The Uses for Hemp" from England which includes the car built by Lotus with hemp, a farmer talking about how he grows it, a brewery built with hempcrete showing how hempcrete is made and much more.

I also have a slide show that is very educational about the plant, and past and present uses.

After the meeting I offered to show them to the Board of Commissioners at their leisure, any time, any place. they flat out refused.
They don't want to learn anything about it.

I am not sure they understand the difference between an ordinance and a resolution.

A resolution has no legal binding and can be passed on a whim, it changes no law and simply voices an opinion, they pass resolutions all of the time.

All the resolution would do is send a message to the state that this is something the state should consider doing.

Grow Hemp

Posted by Les Stark, Pa. - Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 12:28 a.m.

It is not correct to say that hemp does not flower or that hemp is only the male plants. When growing hemp for seed you are growing the female plants and they have to flower or there is no seed. The "buds" from the industrial hemp plants wouldn't contain enough THC though to get a ladybug high.

It's time to grow hemp again in America. Like our ancestors did for thousands of years before this drastic and stupid experiment in prohibition of the most useful plant that God has put on the face of the earth.

Retired Horticulturist

Posted by Michael Kamradt, East Jordan, Michigan - Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 6:00 a.m.

Cannabis Sativa is refered to as both Hemp, and Marijuana and both have females. During WWII Hemp was grown everywhere when Manila was overtaken by the Japanese for its use as rope. I'm sure once this board looks it up in the text books, It'll get shot down. Nice try though.

Hempis a useful plant

Posted by Dorothy krueger, mackinaw - Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 9:34 p.m.

There is no reason for the Federal government to stop the growing of hemp. It is because people confuse it with Marajuana. It is not the same thing.
We need the monetary support that growing hemp would be for our farmers.

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