For the third time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States over 50 years ago, a bill will be introduced attempting to remove restrictions on the cultivation and production of non-psychoactive industrial hemp.

Ron Paul (R-TX), famed for his internet fueled run at the 2008 presidency, has teamed up with Barney Frank (D-MA) to introduce the legislation.

“It is unfortunate that the federal government has stood in the way of American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet, from competing in the global industrial hemp market,” said Paul, adding that some of the Founding Fathers who grew hemp themselves “would surely find that federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained federal government.”

Under current policy, inustrial hemp can be imported but not grown by U.S. Farmers.  According to Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp, U.S. companies such as Ecoprintworks and Dr. Bronners soaps of California import over $300 million worth of industrial hemp each year.

It is long overdue that the U.S. market is opened to this naturally organic, naturally sustainable crop.

Ron Paul