Growing Agricultural Hemp

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Growing Agricultural Hemp

In 2006 , a violations and 43 .9 of this figure was on marijuana offenses . This also implies marijuana arrests account for 5 .8 of the attributed to various factors such as lack of public awareness to relevant facts about marijuana , peer pressure , and increase of its availability , among others

Marijuana is derived from hemp , plant of the species Cannabis sativa L and family HYPERLINK "http /www .britannica .com /eb ?idxStructId 92644 typeId 13 " \o Cannabaceae . Marijuana and hemp

are actually separate parts of the said plant cannabis . Under the federal law , marijuana ' is defined as the part of cannabis plant which is a source of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC the hallucinogenic substance that causes psychoactive effect , and the remainder of the plant is commonly referred to as hemp (a term not found in the federal law ) which has lower THC as compared to marijuana Asa Hutchinson , then Administrator of US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA , said that many Americans believe that hemp and marijuana are not the same , while in truth , they are both parts of the same plant and one cannot be produced without the other . Though THC is concentrated in marijuana , all parts of the plants were found to contain THC (DEA 2001 . Since marijuana and hemp are on the same plant , hemp is also prohibited to be grown

Growing hemp poses numerous disadvantages to public as well as the government . It will likely increase the likelihood of covert production of marijuana , complicate DEA 's surveillance and enforcement activities and will send a wrong message to the public on the government 's position on drugs (CRS , 2007

There is a great risk of legalizing production of this crop . It will bear consequences unacceptable to the majority . Commercial hemp growing when legalized , will possibly encourage illegal production of marijuana Since these are of the same plant , it will be easier for producers to camouflage marijuana patches in a hemp plantation . Controlling the production of this most sought crop will be difficult and tedious task DEA , as the federal police service mandated to enforce the Controlled Substances Act , in coordination with the Department of Agriculture , will have to closely monitor and ensure that marijuana is not grown on the hemp plantation . However , DEA will find it difficult to monitor the numerous plantations across the country and enforce the rules and regulations set , given the legalization of hemp growing

Legalizing hemp growing will also increase the underground market for marijuana which is detrimental to our economy . As we know , underground markets do not add up to the taxes gained by the economy but rather refrain from paying for it . Underground markets are the major suppliers of prohibited drugs such as marijuana , among others . This will add up to the mounting problem of the law enforcement agencies to control drug use and distribution

Aside from these risks mentioned , the general public will also believe that the government is encouraging marijuana production and usage...