Sen. Ron Wyden blames marijuana users for federal industrial hemp bill failure

0

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon.

After his federal industrial hemp bill failed to move forward late last week, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden wagged his finger in shame not at the closed-minded Senate that wouldn’t work with Wyden, but at marijuana users.
See, Wyden thinks that because marijuana users are prone to being pro-hemp that the two issues are seen as one in the same. And it’s clearly the pot smoker’s fault according to Wyden, not the ignorant elected officials.


Wyden introduced an amendment to the upcoming federal farm bill back in May that would have removed hemp from the controlled substances act, where it sits alongside it’s infinitely more mind-expanding cousin cannabis. States would have been allowed to regulated (or ban) hemp farming as they see fit. Last week, the senate refused to move the hemp amendment forward for a vote, pretty much tabling the bill for the session.
“Between the generational misconceptions about hemp within the Congress, continued opposition from the Drug Enforcement Agency, [sic]and no clear opportunity to vote on further Farm Bill amendments, the time is not yet ripe for industrial hemp,” Wyden said in a press release. “Better organized advocacy on behalf of hemp, clearly separated from advocacy for cannabis, is vital to overcoming these obstacles. As we continue to build support and look for other avenues, state agricultural commissioners, farmers and business that would benefit from this legislation need to help get the facts out there and push for Congress to pass this bill.”
The words are harsh, and sound like they are coming from a child who didn’t get his way. Wyden even managed to piss off staffers who worked for the grassroots group Vote Hemp, who helped craft the language.
“Senator Wyden makes a lame excuse for not getting the votes. Hemp is illegal because of marijuana prohibition that has overstepped, not because there is something wrong with hemp. I say, admit failure, bro, and blame your colleagues’ narrow mindedness, not the hemp advocates,” Eidinger said to the Huffington Post. “His statement is insulting, yes.”
Industrial hemp isn’t dead at the federal level yet, though. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013 is still currently alive and well in both the House and Senate, though neither branch has scheduled it for discussion as of yet.

Share.