Montgomery County politician says hemp could grow local economy

By: KEN HEINECK 

Source: 2.wsls.com

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, VA --

From food to clothes, there are around 25,000 products sold in the U.S. with a common thread. They are all made from hemp.

Montgomery County politician Jim Politis believes in the industry.

"I believe it could create 10,000 jobs in southern Virginia. We are forgotten here by Richmond, we are forgotten here by the federal government," said Politis.

But industrial hemp comes from the plant cannabis, the same plant that marijuana comes from, which has been outlawed by the Drug Enforcement Agency since the 1930's.

"Every time I mention hemp, the first question that comes to mind is well can I smoke it so it's a direct relation to marijuana," said Politis.

"Can you smoke it," we asked.

"Sure you can smoke it, but you won't get any buzz out of it. You know we used to smoke corn-silk when i was a kid at a farm up in indiana," replied Politis.

While a handful of local communities have already shown their support and hope to have the plant removed from the controlled substance act, and allow the crop to once again grow in Virginia, a majority of the Town of Christiansburg's council members want to wait on Congress.

"We want to see that it's legal before we do it and that's the bottom line. If it will stimulate the economy, well and good, but lets make sure that it's legal to do that," said Rich Ballangee, Mayor of Christiansburg.

As for Politis, his effort will be much like hemp grows in about thirty other countries including Canada, from the ground up.