According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, on Monday, the Fairbanks City Council voted 4-1 to approve a resolution that "emphatically" encourages the state of Alaska to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp.
The resolution, submitted by council member Lloyd Hilling, also petitions the president and the Drug Enforcement Agency to prove that the U.S. ban on growing non-psychoactive industrial hemp is constitutional, and if not, to nullify it.
Council member Bernard Gatewood cast the only "no" vote. Gatewood is the superintendent of the Fairbanks Youth Facility and said that he didn't feel comfortable voting for the resolution because the illicit drug marijuana and industrial hemp are too closely associated in people’s minds.
Fairbanks City Council member Lloyd Hilling is seen between an assortment of hemp products on Monday evening, Nov. 14, 2011, at City Hall. Fairbanks City Council Resolution No. 4497, which was introduced by Hilling, urges the Alaska State Legislative and Executive Branches to make expressly legal the cultivation of industrial hemp in the the State of Alaska. John Wagner/News-Miner
Frank Turney points to an assortment of hemp products while voicing his support for Fairbanks City Council Resolution No. 4497 on Monday evening, Nov. 14, 2011, at City Hall. The resolution, introduced by City Council member Lloyd Hilling, urges the Alaska State Legislative and Executive Branches to make expressly legal the cultivation of industrial hemp in the the State of Alaska. John Wagner/News-Miner
Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - City Council will urge state Legislature to legalize industrial hemp cultivation
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FAIRBANKS — The Fairbanks City Council passed a resolution Monday “emphatically” urging the state to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp.
The resolution, introduced by Councilman Lloyd Hilling, also urges the state “to petition the president of the United States and his Drug Enforcement Administration either to justify constitutionally its ban on hemp or to nullify its restriction on its cultivation and distribution in the United States.
The cultivation of industrial hemp is illegal in the United States, even though its importation and use in products is not. Hemp fiber and oil can be used to make a variety of products such as textiles, plastics, paper products, animal bedding, rope, essential oils, medicines and food.
Industrial hemp and marijuana are closely related, but unlike marijuana, hemp does not contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol to be used as a recreational drug.
The resolution passed 4-1, with Councilman Bernard Gatewood casting the only no vote. Gatewood, who is the superintendent of the Fairbanks Youth Facility, said marijuana and hemp are too closely associated in people’s minds for him to feel comfortable voting yes on it.
“I can separate the two, and see the value of a hemp product. I want to support the resolution, but I’m struggling because I just can’t afford to be associated with the legalization of marijuana in any shape or form,” Gatewood said.
Councilman Jim Matherly said he supported the measure because of the research he had done into the topic, and because he feels that it could benefit the state and the country if hemp were legalized.
“I’m not saying legalize pot, I’m saying, let’s get hemp growing,” Matherly said.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Frank Turney, a long-time proponent of industrial hemp, displayed some of the many items that can be made from hemp and urged the council to vote yes on the resolution.
The resolution, introduced by Councilman Lloyd Hilling, also urges the state “to petition the president of the United States and his Drug Enforcement Administration either to justify constitutionally its ban on hemp or to nullify its restriction on its cultivation and distribution in the United States.
The cultivation of industrial hemp is illegal in the United States, even though its importation and use in products is not. Hemp fiber and oil can be used to make a variety of products such as textiles, plastics, paper products, animal bedding, rope, essential oils, medicines and food.
Industrial hemp and marijuana are closely related, but unlike marijuana, hemp does not contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol to be used as a recreational drug.
The resolution passed 4-1, with Councilman Bernard Gatewood casting the only no vote. Gatewood, who is the superintendent of the Fairbanks Youth Facility, said marijuana and hemp are too closely associated in people’s minds for him to feel comfortable voting yes on it.
“I can separate the two, and see the value of a hemp product. I want to support the resolution, but I’m struggling because I just can’t afford to be associated with the legalization of marijuana in any shape or form,” Gatewood said.
Councilman Jim Matherly said he supported the measure because of the research he had done into the topic, and because he feels that it could benefit the state and the country if hemp were legalized.
“I’m not saying legalize pot, I’m saying, let’s get hemp growing,” Matherly said.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Frank Turney, a long-time proponent of industrial hemp, displayed some of the many items that can be made from hemp and urged the council to vote yes on the resolution.
Hemp Resolution
ReplyDeleteAnother "Hemp Resolution" will be coming up for a vote before the Northstar Borough Assembly on January 26th Sincerely,Hempster Frank Turney