Here is what one email looked like. I generally send about a dozen a day, customized to varying extents.
I would like to talk with you a bit about industrial hemp, a highly sustainable and profitable commercial crop for farmers.
Missouri is a state that has introduced hemp legislation five times, all before 2000. Since then, Missouri has not introduced legislation for fear that it will be shot down due to the conflict with federal law.
In 2002, Rep. Lacy co-signed a Dear Colleague letter (also attached), which helped us win the lawsuit of HIA (Hemp Industries Association) v DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) in 2004. Since then, many states have introduced and passed pro-hemp legislation.
Generally, I would like to reinstate rep. Lacy's support for industrial hemp. Specifically, we are currently looking for additional support for HR 1009, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007. The bill puts commercial hemp farming in the jurisdiction of state law; for example, 15 states have already passed laws that allow them to grow hemp. If the bill were to be passed, then states that have been ambivalent to pass a law because of federal conflict, would most like pass laws with overwhelming support, such as that found in Vermont (126-9 vote) or New Mexico (59-2 vote).
An April 2003 Zogby poll that showed that 79% of American voters support allowing US farmers to grow hemp to supply US companies.
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer is an industrial hemp supporter who, as governor, signed North Dakota's hemp laws.
Sen. Obama voted for industrial hemp legislation while a state senator.
Rich Products Corporation, Cargill's biggest customer, sells hemp foods.
Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey supports legalizing industrial hemp.
It would be great if we could find a time to meet this week. If not,
I appreciate your time and consideration. Feel free to contact me via email or phone at 202-232-8997.
Thank You,
-Ben
Ben Droz
Votehemp.org
202-232-8997
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Progress
Progress
I wanted to check in. This is my last week. I'm sad this is coming to a close.
My last meeting(s) are being scheduled for this Thursday.
Last week, I had a total of 5 meetings, which all were pretty simple and straightforward.
The staffer does know much about hemp. We tell them the benefits of industrial hemp over other commercial crops, and try to break any connotation with marijuana besides the supportive farmers that also happen to be anti-drug, in states like Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, Kentucky, etc. Wondering why we're the only "rich" country to continue a blind cannabis ban, they all wait for the catch.
The catch, of course, is that we asked them to cosign a bill sponsored by Ron Paul. Other supporters are Dennis Kucinich, Sam Farr (whose office I met with),
and other representatives that are cool, man. In other words, these people are not cool in politics. Essentially they would tell us the same thing. "We can't sign Ron Paul's Bill. It seems like it makes sense and I would do it if I wasn't climbing out on such a limb. Maybe if it was sponsored by someone else..." It's just politics; I doubt we acquired any cosigners.
I wanted to check in. This is my last week. I'm sad this is coming to a close.
My last meeting(s) are being scheduled for this Thursday.
Last week, I had a total of 5 meetings, which all were pretty simple and straightforward.
The staffer does know much about hemp. We tell them the benefits of industrial hemp over other commercial crops, and try to break any connotation with marijuana besides the supportive farmers that also happen to be anti-drug, in states like Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, Kentucky, etc. Wondering why we're the only "rich" country to continue a blind cannabis ban, they all wait for the catch.
The catch, of course, is that we asked them to cosign a bill sponsored by Ron Paul. Other supporters are Dennis Kucinich, Sam Farr (whose office I met with),
and other representatives that are cool, man. In other words, these people are not cool in politics. Essentially they would tell us the same thing. "We can't sign Ron Paul's Bill. It seems like it makes sense and I would do it if I wasn't climbing out on such a limb. Maybe if it was sponsored by someone else..." It's just politics; I doubt we acquired any cosigners.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Vermont Passes Hemp Law... Finally
It was just over a month ago that we announced Vermont Bill becomes law. This was later called 'premature' when the Anti-hemp lobby tried to take it off the books. But, with over 94% of State Congressional support, the secretary of state and attorney general couldn't deny that the law had support and made sense.
Now it's official!(new press release). Vermont is now neck and neck with North Dakota in the race of the century! Will California be able to keep up?
Do you want to be in the race? You can use Vote Hemp's easily accessible Congressional Database to mail, email, or call your congress person (or any congress person) to tell them that you support hemp and they should too.
Vermont passed the law with our help, and we couldn't have done it without your help. Please make a Contribution; we appreciate anything you can give.
Thank you for you ongoing support. You are the people that can make a difference for Hemp in America and Hemp in the World. Keep it up!
-Ben, the Vote Hemp Intern
Now it's official!(new press release). Vermont is now neck and neck with North Dakota in the race of the century! Will California be able to keep up?
Do you want to be in the race? You can use Vote Hemp's easily accessible Congressional Database to mail, email, or call your congress person (or any congress person) to tell them that you support hemp and they should too.
Vermont passed the law with our help, and we couldn't have done it without your help. Please make a Contribution; we appreciate anything you can give.
Thank you for you ongoing support. You are the people that can make a difference for Hemp in America and Hemp in the World. Keep it up!
-Ben, the Vote Hemp Intern
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Ditchweed
Believe it or not, there are already hundreds of millions of Hemp plants growing in the United States. For example, in 2005, in Indiana alone, there were over 200 million hemp plants! That represents thousands and thousands of acres! The United States is already growing hemp, it seems.
Turns out, this Feral Hemp, or Ditchweed, is actually just wild Hemp that continues to grow year after year, left over from a long legacy of hemp farming. The hemp could probably be used for simple products like Animal Bedding or Biomass for Agrofuel, but this is not the case.
The DEA began its Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program in 1979 and has been expanding since. While I'm sure they would like to find growhouses with high potency marijuana, these are not very easy to find, if you've ever looked yourself. However, it is easy to find a desolate field covered with grass; this is a general description of the Great Plains. So,
Over 98% or Cannabis Seized by the DEA in their "Cannabis Eradication" program is actually wild Hemp; containing generally less than 1% THC. When I first heard this I did not actually believe it. But low and behold, it has been going on for years, according to NORML.
Apparently, the DEA spends taxpayer dollars to harvest and burn an agricultural commodity. According to The Data, States like Kansas, Missouri, and Indiana have acres upon acres of uncultivated Marijuana plants.
The Irony? However, the DEA being ridiculous about their inability to distinguish between Hemp and Marijuana makes a little more sense, now that the DEA has admitted to being legitimately insane. They started this Marijuana Eradication Program and all they can find is Feral Hemp. If they actually legalized hemp, what would happen to the Marijuana eradication program? They would lose 98% of their Taxpayer Profits!
Seriously, I can't believe there are already thousands acres of Hemp growing in the United States. And why does the DEA insist on calling it all Marijuana?
Turns out, this Feral Hemp, or Ditchweed, is actually just wild Hemp that continues to grow year after year, left over from a long legacy of hemp farming. The hemp could probably be used for simple products like Animal Bedding or Biomass for Agrofuel, but this is not the case.
The DEA began its Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program in 1979 and has been expanding since. While I'm sure they would like to find growhouses with high potency marijuana, these are not very easy to find, if you've ever looked yourself. However, it is easy to find a desolate field covered with grass; this is a general description of the Great Plains. So,
Over 98% or Cannabis Seized by the DEA in their "Cannabis Eradication" program is actually wild Hemp; containing generally less than 1% THC. When I first heard this I did not actually believe it. But low and behold, it has been going on for years, according to NORML.
Apparently, the DEA spends taxpayer dollars to harvest and burn an agricultural commodity. According to The Data, States like Kansas, Missouri, and Indiana have acres upon acres of uncultivated Marijuana plants.
The Irony? However, the DEA being ridiculous about their inability to distinguish between Hemp and Marijuana makes a little more sense, now that the DEA has admitted to being legitimately insane. They started this Marijuana Eradication Program and all they can find is Feral Hemp. If they actually legalized hemp, what would happen to the Marijuana eradication program? They would lose 98% of their Taxpayer Profits!
Seriously, I can't believe there are already thousands acres of Hemp growing in the United States. And why does the DEA insist on calling it all Marijuana?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I'm Quoted in the Paper!
So a few weeks ago, a journalist came to write an article about Capitol Hemp, Adam Eidinger's (my boss) new Hemp store. Long story short, she wrote an article that was published in today's Express, Washington DC's free daily newspaper. You should check it out Here
I am quoted as "the wiry young hemp enthusiast". Its pretty cool.
I am quoted as "the wiry young hemp enthusiast". Its pretty cool.
Vote Hemp Intern
As my first blog entry, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Ben Droz and I am currently working as an intern for Vote Hemp. That means that I do anything and everything I can to advance Hemp. That means, for example, leaving hundreds of voicemails in offices of Capitol Hill, with little response. Plus, I go to Capitol Hill sometimes.
OK.
If you read this, make a comment that says you read it. I will not blog if no one reads it. If people read it (like people used to check bendroz.negimaki.com), I will update it.
Now... lets see if this blog is sustainable....
OK.
If you read this, make a comment that says you read it. I will not blog if no one reads it. If people read it (like people used to check bendroz.negimaki.com), I will update it.
Now... lets see if this blog is sustainable....
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