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Former CIA Director Woolsey weaves case for legalizing hemp

Gargi Chakrabarty

Published March 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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President Bush talks with James Woolsey, former CIA director, left, last week in Washington, D.C.

Photo by Dennis Brack-Pool / Getty Images

President Bush talks with James Woolsey, former CIA director, left, last week in Washington, D.C.

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Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey is scheduled to address a meeting today at the Canadian Consulate in Denver.

But he won't speak about terrorism.

Woolsey, who has served under former President Clinton and has been an adviser to President Bush, will hold court via telephone on another of his favorite topics: industrial hemp.

Commercial farming of hemp is banned in the United States for its apparent similarities to marijuana - a charge repudiated by hemp supporters. Developed regions such as Europe and Canada allow farmers to grow hemp for industrial purposes such as ropes or fabrics. The Canadian consulate in Denver supports the move to lift the ban.

Woolsey says hemp, if allowed in the U.S., could become a low-water-consuming and easy- to-grow feedstock for biofuels. Also, because of its biological properties, hemp could inhibit the growth of illegal marijuana through cross-pollination.

"Historically, the Drug Enforcement Administration has interpreted hemp to be in the marijuana band so as to include a ban on it," Woolsey said Monday during a phone interview with the Rocky. "In fact, what that is doing is undermining the single most effective way to cause trouble for marijuana."

"Hemp is so valuable, the last time I looked, it was many times more than the price of wheat and has industrial uses so substantial," added Woolsey, a self-described conservative Democrat who also serves on the board of the North American Industrial Hemp Council.

"If you harvested hemp, you could use part of the plant for industrial purposes and the rest of the plant for cellulosic feed- stock for some type of biofuels."

Today's meeting is expected to draw about three dozen supporters of industrial hemp, including farmers and representatives from Colorado legislators. Most farmers' lobbies, including those in Colorado, support lifting the ban on industrial hemp. They hope to pass a resolution in the current legislative session, said Mike Bowman, chairman of the Colorado Industrial Hemp Initiative.

A pending bill in Congress, if approved, would give rights to states to regulate industrial hemp.

chakrabartyg@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2976

Comments

  • March 11, 2008

    6:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    windbourne writes:

    Woosley, like Carter, vilified by the right and takes the blame for problems that the rights created. No doubt the next pres will be a dem and they will have to deal with nightmare that the pubs have put us in. again. Stagflation (like the 70's, Nixon and ford created it, and carter solved it by hiring Volcker, and increasing interest), monster deficit (last solved by Clinton/poppa bush another pub considered liberal), a worthless war, etc. will be issues that will be hard to solve.
    Fortunately, Woosley will probably be able to push hemp which if we are going to have ethanol, this is probably the single best crop to grow.

  • March 14, 2008

    7:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    KanehBosAmericas writes:

    Right On, W!

    "Make the most of Indian hemp seed and sow it everywhere!"

    Just like George W. said.

    George Washington that is.

  • March 15, 2008

    6:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    KanehBosAmericas writes:

    Right On, W!

    "Make the most of Indian hemp seed and sow it everywhere!"

    Just like George W. said.

    George Washington that is.

  • June 5, 2008

    4:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    tyedyedj writes:

    I formed the Rocky Mountain Hemp group 18 years ago. We spread the education back then, about hemp, and I'm so glad to see that the word is still spreading. I still talk about hemp facts every sat. nite on my radio show. Its about time that America become informed with the truth about hemp. Spread the truth!! Tune in to my show every Sat. nite at khen.org from 6pm to 9pm. I play rock and roll, and Grateful Dead, and spread the truth about hemp.

  • June 16, 2008

    2:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    tyedyedj writes:

    As long as people keep learning the truth about hemp, we will keep getting closer to using hemp for fuel, instead of being slaves to the oil cartel. I urge everyone to read "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" book by Jack Herer. Then help spread the truth. Tune in every Sat pm at www.khen.org from 6pm to 9pm to listen to rock and roll, the Grateful Dead show, and learn more hemp facts. peace, connie