Legislation Would Allow Mother Lode Farmers To Grow Hemp

That green stuff growing in Mother Lode's farmers' fields may not be alfalfa if a Northern California Assemblyman gets his way.

Democrat Mark Leno has introduced legislation that would allow Tuolumne and Calaveras County farmers to grow hemp for industrial use. Hemp is grown and processed throughout the world for paper, clothing housing materials, rope, canvas, food products and other retail uses.

"Products manufactured with hemp are already a multimillion dollar industry in California, but because of current law manufacturers must buy hemp seed, oil and fiber from international growers."

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency list hemp as a controlled substance in spite of its common use by industry. Leno claims, "Hemp is a potential bonanza for California and could create thousands of new jobs, industries and markets."

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