The return of American hemp?

AP reports:

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — State legislator David Monson began pushing the idea of growing industrial hemp in the United States a decade ago. Now his goal may be within reach — but first he needs to be fingerprinted.

Monson turned in an application Monday to the state Agriculture Department to become the nation's first licensed industrial hemp farmer. State Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson said Monson provided fingerprints with his application, which will be used for a background check to prove he is not a criminal.

A couple of thoughts.

Doesn't it just figure that a politician-farmer is the first person allowed to get this far along in the process? Once again the principles of Animal Farm are implemented (thanks for the reminder, Dr. Lenny): "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

Doesn't it just figure that "the federal Drug Enforcement Administration still must give its permission before Monson, or anyone else, may grow industrial hemp," even though industrial hemp is described as "a cousin of marijuana that does not have the drug's hallucinogenic properties"? The demonization of a plant that Thomas Paine described as one of America's most important natural resources is nothing if not thorough.

But I am encouraged that "North Dakota is one of seven states that have authorized industrial hemp farming," even if it's discouraging that a valuable cash crop is banned in 43 states. It's also illustrative that "In 2005, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, introduced legislation to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana in federal drug laws. It never came to a vote."

Oh, and one more thought: How do you think hemp farmer George Washington would react to the suggestion that he needed to buy a license and submit to fingerprinting before he could plant his crop?

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