# U.S. to ban food products made from hemp **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 5, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581 "2001-01-05T15:38:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/1 "2001-01-05T15:38:24Z")
Ugh. Here we go again. You know, at least I can almost understand criminalization of recreational marijuana, since it gets you high (despite its more dangerous competition, alcohol, being legal), but [this](http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n014/a09.html?999) is just fucking **ridiculous!** Hello? Department of “Justice”? You **cannot** get high off this stuff. It’s physically impossible! You **KNOW** this! What, in god’s name, is the fucking problem?! Their lame-ass excuse is that since hemp contains teensy, tiny trace amounts of THC, edible forms of it need to be banned, since it is possible (but _highly_ unlikely) that it will show up on a drug test. Hmmm, you know that sounds vaguely like something else. Oh yeah! Poppy seeds! Why the fuck aren’t they banning poppy seed muffins if this is such a huge goddamn concern?! Hemp seed oil is actually quite nutritious, high in protein, and nobody can deny that it has a taste all its own. Good god, I need to get out of here. What’s the job market like in British Columbia? I’ve never even been there, but I’m feeling more and more Canadian every day. ---
**Author:** ![SCRIMMY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@SCRIMMY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCRIMMY)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/2 "2001-01-05T16:52:41Z")
My theory is the Dept of Justice gets bored and feels like they just gotta ruin somebody’s fun now and then. And, since we had a democrat in the white house for a while, they were a little aprehensive trying to sneak by some crippling legistlation, so they just threw in something that will only piss off about 100 dirty flag-burning hippies. That, and it’s been obvious that these folks are themselves rather high, on _something_. ---
**Author:** ![hflathead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@hflathead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hflathead)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/3 "2001-01-05T17:00:47Z")
that my Dr. Bronner peppermint soap is “new and improved”. Now it’s called “magical with hemp”. Guess I’d better keep an eye out for the police while I’m in the shower! Yup, this is the kind of bullshit we can expect to keep flowing our way. later, Tom. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/4 "2001-01-06T03:49:55Z")
What foods contain hemp? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/5 "2001-01-06T04:31:45Z")
We’re not talking Alice B. Toklas brownies, apparently, but rather assorted crunchy bars and whatnot that contain non-intoxicating hemp. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/6 "2001-01-06T05:11:00Z")
I think this is an important first step. How can you expect to make room for all the varieties of genetically modified crops that need to be grown with all this natural stuff taking up space ? ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/7 "2001-01-06T10:00:15Z")
Hemp really has no significant nutritional properties. MY WAG is that is was banned for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![Byzantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@Byzantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Byzantine)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/8 "2001-01-06T10:18:30Z")
Ah hem! It would compete with U.S. products. End it there and get a clue. The fact that it “may contain THC” is a minor issue because the real problem is that it competes with already established U.S. markets. Like cotton. And tobacco. The THC factor is a very nice, very convenient excuse. Welcome to the U.S. If we can’t honestly beat you in trade we’ll find a savvy, lame but LEGAL way to do so. And this must just be the height of U.S.A. bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/9 "2001-01-06T10:29:45Z")
Umm, Byz- the Master (ie Cece) has already spoken on the “usefullness of hemp, and it’s ability to save the world”. Hemp is no competition to cotton. The only reason why some folks wear it- is because it is- “hemp”. It is just “OK” as a clothing material. And I m afraid that hemp, having little THC in it- is useless for smoking. Even it’s much more smokable cousin is no threat to tobacco- as it is NOT addictive, and contains no nicotine. Folks very rarely smoke for the “taste”- they smoke for the drug fix. Hemp & co does not have the right drug for that “fix”. ---
**Author:** ![Byzantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@Byzantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Byzantine)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/10 "2001-01-06T10:42:23Z")
Dear Dan… honey, you help make my point. It’s a competing issue. It has nothing to do with value, smoke-ability or any of that… but WHY is any hemp product immediately excluded? We all see the VIABILITY of it, even Uncle Cece but the fact that these products are excluded from US markets… that’s what I’m talking about hon. They get automatically excluded because of THC even though it’s not a LEGITIMATE factor because it’s just another way to protect the markets we ALREADY have. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. Perhaps you weren’t? ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/11 "2001-01-06T11:08:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danielinthewolvesden \* > \*\*Hemp really has no significant nutritional properties. MY WAG is that is was banned for that reason. \*\* Whatwhatwhat? You’ve got some amazing faith in politicians, doncha, Danny-boy? Your WAG is so wild-assed it really blows me away. When was the last time the government banned something because it isn’t nutritious? Last I checked, McDonalds and Burger King were not being closed by order of the federal government. Candy manufacturers were not being shut down _en masse_. The only reason such a regulation would be put in place would be the same reason industrial hemp is banned, (it may not be a “miracle crop,” but it still has its uses) **politics!** ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/12 "2001-01-06T16:55:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tzel \* > \*\* > The only reason such a regulation would be put in place would be . . .(it may not be a “miracle crop,” but it still has its uses) **politics!** \*\* Elected and appointed government officials doing something for a political reason?! \ ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/13 "2001-01-06T21:09:47Z")
Hemp food items. [http://www.globalhemp.com/News/2000/October/hemp\_oil\_canada.shtml](http://www.globalhemp.com/News/2000/October/hemp_oil_canada.shtml) > [@](#): > > Praire Emerald Oil” hemp seed oil & gelcaps > “Hemp Nuggets” hulled hemp seeds > “My Stash” toasted hemp seed snack > “Premium Prairie Hemp Coffee” > “Dog Munchies” pet training treat Hemp food uses. It looks like it’s mainly the seeds and the oil you can press out of them. You can also apparently use the leftover “presscake” to make things like burgers. I imagine they’re much like TVP burgers, in other words, about as un-meatlike as you can get. [http://www.santabarbarahempco.com/hempuses.html](http://www.santabarbarahempco.com/hempuses.html) It doesn’t look like it’s one of those “surprise” food substances, by which I mean, you’re “surprised” to discover that it’s in something. Judging from the hysteria surrounding the whole THC thing, I doubt if any manufacturer would dare to put hempseed cake into his granola bars. But take heart, hemp lovers! Illinois State Representative Ron Lawfer is going to the mattresses yet again, for his bill to make it legal for two state universities, the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, to grow enough industrial hemp to study it. One small step for a legislator, one giant leap for hemp-loving mankind. [http://www.sj-r.com/news/00/11/29/i.htm](http://www.sj-r.com/news/00/11/29/i.htm) It’s been passed twice in the Senate already, but keeps getting shot down in the House. The biggest opponents of it are the Illinois State Police, who claim that if industrial hemp is legalized (making a huge leap here from “letting the U of I study it” to “having it legal everywhere”), every time they stop some druggie and search him and find funny green leaves, he’ll just claim it’s industrial hemp and they won’t be able to arrest him after all. And they’ll have to send it off to a lab to be tested, and that will take weeks, and will cost the taxpayers lots and lots of extra money… This time around, the bill only missed passing in the House by two votes. Rep. Lawfer says he has great hopes for the lame duck legislature next week. And there is a small but growing movement here to find alternative crops for farmers, corn and soybeans having their ups and downs. However, as long as we have people like the Illinois Drug Education Alliance, we can sleep safe in our beds, knowing that no babies with THC-induced birth defects will be born. [http://www.bestofidea.com/](http://www.bestofidea.com/) It’s an oddly empty and pointless website. Too busy handing out Red Ribbons at the State Capitol to maintain the Web page, I guess. [Here’s a sample of their rather slanted rhetoric from another website.](http://www.drugtext.org/press/webster/mar00/%5B%5D%20Harmful%20Hemp%20Bills(Peter%20Webster).htm) I’m not even particularly pro-legalization, but this is such tripe that even I’m offended. > [@](#): > > The Illinois Senate and House of Representatives have before them > “industrial hemp” bills. > These bills have serious implications for increasing drug use. Really? :eek: That’s a mighty big assumption, ain’t it? > [@](#): > > Hemp > and marijuana are the same plant, cannabis sativa, which has the > psychoactive ingredient, THC. Yes, but notice how she doesn’t make it clear about the differing amounts. > [@](#): > > It is being suggested that “industrial > hemp” could be a vital, new crop for Illinois farmers. > Yet, according to a new USDA report, there is only a negligible market > for hemp. “Given the average size of farms in the United States (about > 500 acres), just a few farms could have supplied the hemp fiber and > seed equivalent of 1999 import levels.” Um, the idea is not merely to supply today’s hemp needs–the idea is to give Illinois farmers a new cash crop. > [@](#): > > “Industrial hemp” and > marijuana look alike, and short of chemical analysis, there is no way > to discriminate between the two. Okay. > [@](#): > > Today, people clear patches in the > middle of corn fields and grow marijuana plants, hidden from > passers-by. Granted. > [@](#): > > If hemp is allowed to be grown in Illinois, then certainly > high levels of THC in cultivated marijuana plants will also be > growing. Um–huh? > [@](#): > > The demands on law enforcement will be tremendous. Yes, but they bring it on themselves, dearie. > [@](#): > > Levels of THC in “industrial hemp” are 0.1 to 0.3 percent, the same > strength as the marijuana smoked in the 60s and 70s. And this proves, what? That all those long-haired hippies were getting high from the placebo effect? If this factoid is indeed true, which I doubt it is. > [@](#): > > Drug use is higher among youth in rural America than in large urban > areas, according to a study done by the National Center on Addiction > and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. So there’s not much else to do out there at night except drink and get stoned. Did the study mention alcohol was a drug, too, or are you just ignoring that part? > [@](#): > > Rural eighth-graders are > 34 percent likelier to smoke marijuana and 104 percent likelier to use > methamphetamine. Um, this is because there’s marijuana all around, left over from when it was legal to grow it. It grows beside the railroad tracks all over Illinois. Meth labs in rural Illinois are the #1 growth industry. No wonder the farmer’s kids are using–it’s right there. But what’s that got to do with hemp? > [@](#): > > Trafficking and production of meth in rural > communities has increased. This, in part, is due to the availability > of chemicals used for farming and the cover that the vast farmlands > offer production labs. So, again, what do meth labs have to do with hemp? > [@](#): > > A field of hemp could provide easy access to > one more drug, compounding an already existing problem for Illinois > rural communities. Oh, of course, I see. Her basic assumption is that hemp IS a drug. “We already have a big problem with meth labs, why add to the problem by allowing people to grow hemp, that nasty dangerous addictive DRUG!”. This is just stupid. > [@](#): > > Pro-drug people have been quoted in High Times magazine as saying that > the promotion of hemp is simply a campaign to legalize marijuana. > “When people buy and see hemp it stimulates public awareness, > mainstreaming the evil weed into a normal commodity whose days of > illegality are numbered.” (High Times, August 1997.) Oh, honestly. It’s the Evil Illuminati Drug Conspiracy. And besides, “If you even LOOK at a reefer, you will be instantly addicted.” > [@](#): > > Some members of the General Assembly are saying that they want only to > research the plant, and bill taxpayers $375,000. The Illinois Drug > Education Alliance asks, what research needs to be done and money > spent,… Okay, I’m with her on the issue of cost. I can think of more interesting ways to spend $375,000. > [@](#): > > …when there is such a little market… There’s no market because nobody will let there BE a market. If you’d give it a chance, there might BE a market. > [@](#): > > …and growing hemp has such > serious implications for Illinois youth? No, it doesn’t. :rolleyes: For heaven’s sakes. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/14 "2001-01-06T21:31:53Z")
Saffron also has no nutrional properties. Mendocino Brewing company makes a Hemp Ale. While not my favorite, it is tasty. Hemp acts as a perfectly legitimete flavoring agent. ---
**Author:** ![Pit\_Meister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Pit\_Meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pit_Meister)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2001, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/15 "2001-01-07T02:28:13Z")
We all like grass, but don’t try to pretend you don’t know why they want hemp imported. To fool the sniffing dogs at the border. The real cure to the drug problem is decriminalization, not phoney sneaky ways to support the mob. ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2001, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/16 "2001-01-07T10:33:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Byzantine \* > \*\*Dear Dan… honey, you help make my point. It’s a competing issue. It has nothing to do with value, smoke-ability or any of that… but WHY is any hemp product immediately excluded? We all see the VIABILITY of it, even Uncle Cece but the fact that these products are excluded from US markets… that’s what I’m talking about hon. They get automatically excluded because of THC even though it’s not a LEGITIMATE factor because it’s just another way to protect the markets we ALREADY have. > \*\* Umm, even in nations where hemp is legal- it hardly competes with anything as a FOOD product. Hemp, for paper, clothing, cloth- is all legal to sell & import into the USA. You can buy all you want from Real Goods. So, no- “any hemp product” is NOT “immediately excluded”. Just FOOD products with hemp in them. And, food hemp products are not competeing with anything- anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2001, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/17 "2001-01-07T18:01:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danielinthewolvesden \* > \*\*Hemp really has no significant nutritional properties. MY WAG is that is was banned for that reason. \*\* Hi, **Ditwd**. you might want to do a little research before making such a sweeping generalization. According to [this site](http://www.hempery.com/nutrition_article.html) hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are high in protein, low in saturated fats, contains all eight amino acids needed by the human body in the correct proportions needed, an excellent source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and high in calcium, magnesium, and potassium. I would say those are pretty significant nutritional properties. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/18 "2001-01-07T18:19:34Z")
Er, what **Daniel~** probably meant to say was something like, “Hemp has no significant nutritional properties _that are recognized by the American ruling elite_, and so it has been marginalized as a food substance.” 🙂 What I say is, just wait until somebody discovers a way to use a compound from industrial hemp to cure erectile dysfunction for half the cost of Viagra. Oh baby. ---
**Author:** ![Chronolicht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Chronolicht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronolicht)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2001, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/19 "2001-01-07T21:37:22Z")
Jesus drink de Oban. Satan puff de chronic… How does it go? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581/20 "2001-01-08T02:19:38Z")
Well, let’s see, Cheetos and Dr. Pepper don’t have any real nutritional value, either. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-ban-food-products-made-from-hemp/48581.md?page=2)