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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Central Point couple face elder abuse charges ... Civil Air Patrol gets hands-on training ... Whitewater park with 'wave shaper' to open in Bend ... Central Point couple face elder abuse charges ... Civil Air Patrol gets hands-on training ... Whitewater park with 'wave shaper' to open in Bend ... OUR VIEW Our View: Hemp hemp, hooray — old crop is new again Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter or email to ... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter or email to [email protected] . » Social News If it was good enough for George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, it ought to be good enough for Oregon farmers. We're talking about hemp, an ancient fiber crop used for everything from clothing to auto parts to food. Washington and Jefferson grew it in Colonial times, when the law actually required farmers to produce it. During World War II, the U.S. government subsidized it. But because it is a variety of cannabis sativa and therefore a relative of marijuana, it falls under U.S. drug laws and is severely restricted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This despite industrial hemp containing only minute amounts of the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana plants.  Oregon legalized hemp growing 1997, but did not write rules for its production for fear the federal government would crack down. Even now, with recreational marijuana legalized in three states and medical marijuana in many more, industrial hemp, which is not usable as a drug, is not widely grown because of federal red tape. Oregon is one of 18 states that have legalized industrial hemp, but the federal government has not caught up with the trend. Growers cannot obtain hemp seeds without a permit from the DEA. An Eagle Point farmer has obtained the first state permit to grow hemp on property in the Applegate Valley, but can't get started until clearing that regulatory hurdle. Besides being a very versatile crop, hemp is a good fit for this area for other reasons. It is resistant to most agricultural pests, so it can be grown without pesticides, and its canopy inhibits weed growth. Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber, and hemp paper can be produced using less acid and safer bleach, making it an environmentally friendly alternative. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that does not permit hemp growing on a national basis. Federal law should stop treating the crop as a dangerous drug and recognize its value to the agriculture industry.     MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 12, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501