pg_0001

.168561.1

HOUSE MEMORIAL 49

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Ray Begaye

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO STUDY

THE VIABILITY OF A LEGAL HEMP INDUSTRY; URGING CONGRESS TO

RECOGNIZE INDUSTRIAL HEMP AS A VALUABLE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY

AND TO TAKE CERTAIN OTHER ACTIONS.

WHEREAS, industrial hemp refers to varieties of Cannabis

that have less than three-tenths of one percent

tetrahydrocannabinol, are genetically distinct from drug

varieties of Cannabis and are cultivated exclusively for fiber,

stalk and seed; and

WHEREAS, industrial hemp should not be confused with

varieties of Cannabis that have high concentrations of

tetrahydrocannabinol and are commonly referred to as marijuana;

and

WHEREAS, industrial hemp is commercially produced in more

pg_0002

.168561.1

- 2 -

than thirty nations, including Canada, Great Britain, France,

Germany, Romania, Australia and China; and

WHEREAS, annual sales of hemp food in the United States

are growing rapidly and industrial hemp seed prices are good

and yield is medium to high; and

WHEREAS, in Canada, without irrigation, eight hundred

pounds of seed per acre is average, and with irrigation, yields

may increase to one thousand six hundred to two thousand pounds

per acre; and

WHEREAS, industrial hemp is a high-value, low-input crop

that is not genetically modified, requires no pesticides, can

be dryland farmed and uses less fertilizer than wheat and corn;

and

WHEREAS, many farmers view industrial hemp as a versatile

and valuable agricultural commodity that will have long-term

economic benefits to the farmers who produce the hemp and the

persons who use hemp in the production of twine, rope,

textiles, paper products, building materials, including

plywood, concrete, insulation and roofing, animal bedding,

automobile parts, plastics, fuel, including biodiesel and

butanol, cosmetics, foods, nutritional supplements, body care

products and more;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico

department of agriculture be urged to undertake an in-depth

pg_0003

.168561.1

- 3 -

economic analysis study that will address the viability of a

legal hemp industry in New Mexico. The New Mexico department

of agriculture is urged to review the long-term impacts of a

permitted hemp industry and the costs of establishing proper

permitting and licensing procedures. The economic analysis

study shall attempt to determine the costs and benefits

associated with encouraging economic development in various

areas, including textiles, pulping products for paper,

biocomposites and building materials, animal bedding,

nutritional products for livestock, industries related to seed

extraction and resins for potential biofuels, lubricants,

paints and inks, cosmetics, body care products and nutritional

supplements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States congress be

urged to recognize industrial hemp as a valuable agriculture

commodity, to define industrial hemp in federal law as a non-

psychoactive and genetically identifiable species of the genus

Cannabis and acknowledge that allowing and encouraging farmers

to produce industrial hemp will improve the balance of trade by

promoting domestic sources of industrial hemp and can make a

positive contribution to the issues of global climate change

and carbon sequestration;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the director of the New Mexico department of

agriculture, the president of the United States, the federal

pg_0004

.168561.1

secretary of agriculture, the chair of the United States senate

committee on agriculture, nutrition and forestry, the chair of

the United Stated house of representatives committee on

agriculture and each member of New Mexico's congressional

delegation.

- 4 -