|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
US SD: Reservation Hemp Crop Destroyed By Feds
ccguide Saturday 02 Sep 2000 Pubdate: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 Source: Indian Country Today (US) Copyright: 2000 Indian Country Today Contact: Address: P.O. Box 4250 Rapid City, SD 57703 Fax: (605) 341-0952 Website: http://www.indiancountry.com/ Author: David Melmer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?169 (Sioux hemp) RESERVATION HEMP CROP DESTROYED BY FEDS MANDERSON, S.D. - Two days before the first crop of industrial hemp planted to create much-needed economic development on the Pine Ridge Reservation was to be harvested, the federal Justice Department moved in and destroyed it. At 5 a.m. Aug. 24, armed Drug Enforcement Agency troops and FBI officers began to destroy an acre and a half of industrial hemp on the Alex White Plume farm, the first crop of what was to be a future of economic development for the family or tiospaye. "I'm just sick about it. I can't believe it," White Plume said. He said he tried to find out what the officers were doing and they "pointed an AK-47 at me." He said he returned to his house because he wanted his grandson to know his grandfather while the boy was growing up. Tyson, White Plume's grandson, helped plant the hemp in early May. The family knew at that time that White Plume and others could be prosecuted. However, authorities did not arrest White Plume. He said they didn't because of political reasons. U.S. Attorney Ted McBride would not confirm the reasons for not arresting White Plume at the time, but said the DEA officers spoke with White Plume at length and as of noon Aug. 24 no arrests were made. At the time he planted the crop in early May White Plume said, in a Robert Ecoffey and U.S. Attorney Ted McBride to the planting. White Plume said at the time he had nothing to hide . Planting the hemp was legal, according to the laws of the Oglala Sioux Nation. The tribal council passed Ordinance 98-27 in July of 1998 that authorized the growing of industrial hemp. The ordinance stipulates that industrial hemp must have a level of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical that creates the hallucinogenic effect) of less than 1 percent by weight. White Plume said officers told him a test revealed between zero and less than 1 percent THC for his plants. McBride pointed out that the federal government does not make such a fine distinction and therefore does not support the tribe's ordinance. The government requires that anyone wishing to grow industrial hemp must register it with the DEA, whether on a reservation or not. The government's definition of marijuana does not quantify the amount of THC the plant carries. Tribal members who abide by the rules of the ordinance are said to be immune from federal prosecution, says Thomas Ballanco, the lawyer who wrote the ordinance. It becomes a treaty issue, therefore a sovereignty issue. McBride said in an earlier interview the federal government would not accept that explanation and any tribal member who did not register planting industrial hemp with the DEA would be subject to prosecution. White Plume registered the land for planting hemp with the tribe, as per requirements of the ordinance. Joe American Horse, who said he's growing his hemp crop "for the people," also registered his land and crop with the tribe. He said he feels bad about White Plume's situation. He also said he worries that because federal agents pulled up hemp plants around Pine Ridge before they went to White Plume's, they could mix those with White Plume's crop to secure a conviction. As of noon Aug. 24, his crop was still standing 3 feet tall in his fields. - --- MAP posted-by: Olafur Brentmar
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!