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Hundreds of pounds of (non-psychoactive) hemp seeds seized at Canadian border
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/apnewsbreak-hemp-seeds-seized-us-canada-border-24213960Hundreds of pounds of industrial hemp seeds bound from Canada to Colorado have been seized by federal authorities in North Dakota, marking the latest bump along the road to legalization of marijuana's non-intoxicating cousin.
At the center of the dispute is hemp activist Tom McClain. Armed with a copy of last year's federal Farm Bill, which allowed states to permit hemp cultivation for research and development, he set off for MacGregor, Manitoba, and bought 350 pounds of seeds used to grow a strain known as X-59 or Hemp Nut.
Shawn Neudauer, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed the seizure.
"The shipment is currently undergoing scientific evaluation, as hemp seeds can look much like marijuana seeds," Neudauer said in a statement.
At the center of the dispute is hemp activist Tom McClain. Armed with a copy of last year's federal Farm Bill, which allowed states to permit hemp cultivation for research and development, he set off for MacGregor, Manitoba, and bought 350 pounds of seeds used to grow a strain known as X-59 or Hemp Nut.
Shawn Neudauer, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed the seizure.
"The shipment is currently undergoing scientific evaluation, as hemp seeds can look much like marijuana seeds," Neudauer said in a statement.
This follows the seizure of hemp seeds from Italy to KY last month by the DEA, who also informed the KY Ag. Dept. it needed to provide coordinates for all hemp fields sown in KY... the better to raid you, my dears.
Currently Colorado has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for hemp growers in that state, where marijuana was officially legalized in 2012. The state has not been asked to, nor has it intervened on McClain's behalf. The seeds need to be planted within the next few weeks in order to have sufficient time to grow before harvest.