Please Take Action this August for Industrial Hemp!

by the Hemp Industries Association
Source: thehia.org

Congress Desperately Needs Your Help Please Take Action this August! By Ben Droz, Washington, DC Legislative Correspondent Team Hemp discusses with Congressman Welch of Vermont. All of my meetings here in Washington  have gotten positive reception, but with one caveat: they need more feedback from you. Washington is primed for your phone calls, but our grassroots efforts are only as successful as you make them. This video on the right shows how effective you can be by directly addressing your member of Congress. Watch it and then you can do the same! Over the next five weeks, during the Summer congressional district work period, we are working to gain more cosponsors for H.R. 1831. We have selected 48 Members of Congress to ask. Please click through and call your Representative. Use one of the 48 custom call alerts or the default U.S. - Please Call Your Representative in Congress call alert. From August 8-September 2nd, Members of Congress will also be back at home in their districts meeting with constituents and some of them holding town hall meetings, coffee house chats and fundraisers. They are looking for ideas and feedback of how to create jobs, cut spending, and do what "the American people want". They desperately need your input to encourage straightforward, bipartisan, job creating solutions. A good example is the two Vote Hemp supporters in Vermont who questioned Rep. Peter Welch on video and posted it on Facebook. I am in contact with them to follow up to get the Representative's cosponsorship of H.R. 1831. Your job, should you choose to accept it: effectively convey the message that the Industrial Hemp Farming Act will reduce federal regulations to create jobs, support local farmers with crop diversification, and support American entrepreneurship. There are many ways to convey this message, for example, you can simply call the office and tell them. One of the best ways is to publicly ask a question at a town hall meeting, which not only can gain the support of your representative, but also of your fellow neighbors at the event. Either way, it is of utmost importance to stay on message: we are talking about job creation, not drug reform. Keep your audience in mind so that your question is relevant. Remember to keep it short and if you own a business work that into your opening to the question. Here is a sample question that may help reframe the issue to be taken seriously: ·  Introduce yourself, mention that you are a constituent and that you are a voter ·  I am concerned about the environment, economy and jobs ·  The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011, H.R. 1831, was introduced in the House in June ·  The renewal of domestic hemp farming and processing in the U.S. would provide green, local jobs right here in ________________. (Add state specific information here) ·  Will you become a cosponsor of H.R. 1831 and allow farmers to grow hemp once again? Addressing a Member of Congress feels great. You are doing your part to make America a better place. Freedom isn't free, which is why you must do you part to make America great again. If we want to grow hemp, we need to get serious this time. Hit reply with "Get Serious!" in the subject line, we'll let you know about one of our upcoming activist training sessions. To learn more, check out our Lobbying Guide and our revamped What Can I Do? page. Looking forward to looking forward, -Ben About the Hemp Industries Association The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) represents the interests of the hemp industry and encourages the research and development of new products made from industrial hemp, oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis.