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92_HB3377gms
STATE OF ILLINOIS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
SPRINGFIELD, 62706
GEORGE H. RYAN
GOVERNOR
August 3, 2001
To the Honorable Members of the
Illinois House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois
Constitution of 1970, I hereby veto and return House Bill
3377 entitled "AN ACT concerning industrial hemp."
House Bill 3377 authorizes the University of Illinois to
study the feasibility and desirability of industrial hemp
(cannabis) production, subject to the availability of
non-State funding. The study is to include an analysis of
required soils, growing conditions, seed availability,
varieties, harvest methods, market economies, and
environmental benefits. It also requires the research to
include development of hemp varieties with a zero level of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in
cannabis/marijuana. Western Illinois University of Illinois
is required to obtain all federal and state permits needed to
legally grow industrial hemp for research purposes.
This bill is similar to Senate Bill 1397 in the 91st
General Assembly, which I vetoed. The sponsors to House Bill
3377 have made a good-faith effort to address the concerns
that I raised in my prior veto. However, I still believe that
this bill is unnecessary. Though I believe the sponsor's sole
purpose is to promote this research in an effort to benefit
legitimate agricultural producers in Illinois, this
legislation nonetheless plays into the national strategy of
groups seeking to remove existing criminal penalties for
cannabis/marijuana possession and use. The National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the
principal national advocate for legalization of marijuana.
NORML has told its members to: "Encourage farm organizations
to endorse hemp cultivation: The American farm industry is
one of America's most influential lobbies on both the
national and state level." I am sure the sponsors of House
Bill 3377 and the agricultural interest groups supporting it
are as uncomfortable as I am with his unintended connection.
Further, as I stated in my veto of Senate Bill 1397, I
cannot ignore the concerns of the drug prevention and
treatment groups that the ultimate commercial cultivation and
availability of a product that contains a potentially
mind-altering substance would leave open the prospect of
substance abuse. This would send a mixed message to the youth
of our State. I recognize that House Bill 3377 is only
authorizing cultivation for research purposes but,
nontheless, it is a step toward full commercial cultivation.
Many studies have already been done on industrial hemp
that indicate it is unlikely to move beyond the current small
niche market to large-scale commercial production. A United
States Department of Agriculture study concluded that
industrial hemp production "will be unable to sustain
adequate profit margins for a large scale production sector
to develop." The Office of National Drug Control Policy found
that "for every proposed use of industrial hemp, there
already exists an available product, or raw material, which
is cheaper to manufacture and provides better market
results." The federal Drug Enforcement Agency state that is
has never been approached by a major clothing, food, paper,
fiber or textile company with an interest in the cultivation
of hemp supplies. Finally, a University of Kentucky study
found that in the countries where industrial hemp is
currently grown, none have a thriving hemp industry and many
are reducing their already small hemp acreage. In April 2001,
Governor Jane Dee Hull of Arizona vetoes a similar bill in
her State. She too cited the numerous studies that have
already been done and stated: "with this study already
complete, the need for additional study by our universities
is dubious."
Finally, House Bill 3377 is only necessary to allow the
University of Illinois to actually grow industrial hemp for
research purposes, if licensed to do so by the federal
government. The University of Illinois, without House Bill
3377, can conduct privately funded research on the economic
feasibility, processing costs, comparison with current
alternatives and the long term prospect for development of
sustainable markets for industrial hemp. Likewise, Western
Illinois University does not need House Bill 3377 to study
what effect legalization of industrial hemp would have on the
enforcement of existing laws prohibiting possession, sale and
use of cannabis. Therefore, I do not see the need to
authorize growing industrial hemp as part of any such study.
For these reasons, I hereby veto and return House Bill
3377.
Sincerely,
s/GEORGE H. RYAN
Governor