Hemp Industry on Fire

Exploding marketplace stoked by DEA lawsuit

Valerie Vande Panne | September 24, 2004

(Page 2 of 2)

While tackling domestic hemp cultivation laws is on the horizon, the current issue is protecting hemp foods, and the outcome of HIA v. DEA will be decided next week.

DEA Public Affairs Specialist Bill Grant told Reason, "The issue has been handed over to the Office of Chief Counsel," and had no further comment.

"I don't know if the Solicitor General will appeal the case," Civil Specialist for the Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs Charles Miller tells Reason. "I won't know until a) we file [for appeal] or b) we let the deadline pass. I can promise that if we do appeal, it will be very close to the deadline."

"Appealing the decision would be a last-ditch effort to save face at the expense of taxpayers and limited law enforcement resources," counters Eric Steenstra, president of Vote Hemp.

And just how much has been spent trying to classify hemp seed with marijuana?

"We've spent $200,000," says Bronner. "I don't know what the DEA has spent, but it's a huge waste. We're not getting paid to fight the government. They're getting paid to fight us. It's a two and a half year court case, ringing up quite a sum of money for the tax payer."

The DEA and the Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs were unable to give any figures as to the cost of their case.

"This is free American enterprise versus an out of control government agency," says Bronner.

On Monday, however, the out of control government agency may unwittingly give free enterprise an unexpected gift.

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