Lobbying for Hemp

The article below by David Piller is from the Hemp Industry Association website.

Like David, I have been struggling for a long time to understand why industrial hemp is still outlawed in the USA. If there are so many benefits, why is it still illegal? I think David's insight below goes to the heart of the problem. Our political 'leaders' will not do anything until there is a critical mass of support from citizens and business interests.

Lobbying for Hemp

by David Piller

David Piller, Tom Murphy, Jim Rossiter, Anna Barrett, Hans Fastre in  Washington, DC. Photo credit: Anndrea Hermann. A question that I have often heard while educating people about hemp over the years is, "If it's such a good crop, why has Congress kept the barriers to its cultivation in place?" For many years my answers tended towards descriptions of the similarities between the robber barons of the 1920s and 1930s, our modern multinational conglomerates, and the corrupting influences both have exerted on our democratic process; and the collective ignorance and stigma surrounding hemp, a direct result of the deliberate campaign of misinformation perpetuated on the American people, our elected officials included, for over seventy years. While I knew greed and ignorance didn't cover all the reasons, it seemed to cover the bulk of them. It wasn't until after I had visited Capitol Hill after the HIA Convention in October 2009 and lobbied on behalf of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act that I came to better appreciate a "simple" truth that is often overlooked: we simply have yet to achieve the critical mass of engaged citizens required to get Congress to act. In the meetings that I had with Representatives and Senators' legislative assistants, the majority appeared genuinely receptive to learning more about hemp and asked good questions about the issue. What struck me the most, at the conclusion of meetings and in follow up emails, was the point many made that, while they may understand hemp's inherent value to the economy and the environment, the Representative would not feel comfortable taking a stand on the issue without more constituents, especially those in business, contacting them and urging their support. Put another way, they're essentially saying, "When the people lead, the leaders will follow." These experiences have definitely made me appreciate even more what a valuable organization Vote Hemp is as they have made it so convenient for citizens from every corner of this country to communicate their support. Within the past year and a half, it cannot be denied that the movement has made some incredible strides as evidenced by, among other things: The notion of hemp support as political suicide has been put to rest with the successful reelection of ALL of the Representatives who were co-sponsors of HR 1866. The success of last year's Inaugural Hemp History Week with its 200+ events in 30+ states, and collection of close to 25 thousand post cards. The steadily increasing number of hemp news stories by mainstream media outlets, educating large numbers of the population and helping to reduce our collective ignorance and build the critical mass. The addition of numerous states to the ranks of those which have introduced and/or passed hemp bills including California, Minnesota, and Illinois in just the past 2 weeks. As I look ahead to the reintroduction of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act this April, the second Hemp History Week in May, and the months beyond, it seems to me that 2011 has incredible potential to be a landmark year in U.S. hemp history. The tipping point is coming, it's just a matter of time. Here's to collectively dreaming, working, and creating a sustainable future of which we can all be proud. In Solidarity for a Hempful Future- David Piller Note: Please click here to download a PDF copy of The Vote Hemp Guide to Hemp Activism, a concise guide to citizen lobbying on the hemp issue. This eleven page guide will give you the information and tools that you need to confidently and effectively ask your elected representatives to support legislation which will lift the current ban on hemp farming in the U.S.