The South Dakota House of Representatives killed a bill (HB 1267) which would have allowed for the cultivation or industrial hemp. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Robert Weber (R-Srandburg), died in the House Agriculture Committee following testimony from both sides. Testimony given by law enforcement and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, with encouragement of Gov. William Janklow, proved to be most detrimental, even after an amendment was added to the legislation which said the provisions of the bill would not go into effect until the federal barriers on the cultivation of industrial hemp are lifted.
“Governor Janklow demonstrated once more that he cares little for the plight of farmers,” said Bob Newland, Chair of Mount Rushmore State NORML, who had spent the months prior to the 2000 legislative session drumming up support for the bill. “Here we had a chance to do something positive, something which would cost the taxpayer nothing — would save the taxpayer money, in fact something which would tell the federal government that we wanted them to change their regulations.”
Following the defeat of HB 1267, Rep. Weber introduced House Concurrent Resolution 1015 urging the U.S. government to remove its barriers regarding the production of industrial hemp.
For more information, please contact Bob Newland, Chair of Mount Rushmore State NORML at (605) 255-4032 on online at http://www.nakedgov.com/mtrushnorml.htm.
