The News
Jun 6: Woody Harrelson: PRESS RELEASE
Source: CONTACT: Simon Halls
A Follow-up to: June 1: Woody Harrelson arrested for planting hemp seeds in Kentucky following international hemp meeting Source: Andy Mead
Last Saturday, I was arrested in Kentucky for planting industrial hemp. I am not one to go
out of my way to get arrested. But in this case, I thought it was important for me to take
that step in order to demonstrate the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana.
June 5, 1996 Woody Harrelson: PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Simon Halls @ office-212-957-0707.... fax-0717 Last Saturday, I was arrested in Kentucky for planting industrial hemp. I am not one to go out of my way to get arrested. But in this case, I thought it was important for me to take that step in order to demonstrate the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana. Industrial hemp, like the four certified seeds I planted, was first grown in Kentucky two hundred and fifty years ago. It is currently grown in other countries across the globe, including France, England, Canada, Australia, China, Hungary, and the Ukraine.
Industrial hemp has very little THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. It cannot be used as a drug. None of the countries that allow industrial hemp production have experienced any problems related to the crop. Industrial hemp is very clean and easy to grow. It is one of the most environmentally sound sources of industrial fiber in the world. Paper and timber companies readily admit
that we are facing a severe worldwide fiber shortage. Industrial hemp can help meet our fiber needs while also revitalizing our struggling rural economies, like Lee County, Ky. where I planted my seeds. Cars can run on hemp oil. Environmentally friendly detergents,
plastics, paints, varnishes, cosmetics and textiles are already being made from it in Europe. Our government currently subsidizes nuclear, petroleum, mining, pesticide and other destructive industries to the tune of billions of dollars every year. For example, our government pays half a billion dollars annually to build roads into our national forest so the
timber industry has access to clearcut 500 year old trees. Each year, more than 30 million acres of trees, 70% of which come from virgin forests, are chipped to make pulp which could just as easily come from hemp. At the same time, it continues to thwart the development of a domestic hemp industry. Industrial hemp does not need subsidy, but it
does need to be left alone. The law is not even wrong, the enforcement mechanism is wrong. Congress never intended to make legitimate industrial hemp farming the same as marijuana cultivation. I planted industrial hemp and got arrested because someone must highlight this difference and in order to truly know the law, one must test the law. I think it is time for all of us to make a stand against corporate welfare and for environmentally friendly, rural economic development. If the people lead, the leaders will follow. Sincerely, Woody Harrelson
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