HempCyberFarm United States Scandals

Memo from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada summarizing new U.S. Customs zero tolerance for THC policy
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For more information, see:
http://www.levellers.org/dea
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Ottawa, January 7, 2000
CIRCULAR
This is to alert my regional MISB colleagues to a recent US Customs
memorandum.

REF: Suspension of guidelines regarding the importation of hemp seed and
related products.

Please advise the exporters of hemp products in your region that US
Customs has issued a memorandum on January 5, suspending the guidelines
of December 7, 1999. Please refer market access questions to Ron
Krystynak , Deputy Director for the US, Western Hemisphere,
International Trade Policy Directorate, at (613) 759-7653

For convenience, I will summarize the main points, but copy of the
original memorandum can be obtained from US Customs as follows: Vera
Adams, Director, Commercial Processing, at (202) 927-0360

SUMMARY OF THE US CUSTOMS MEMORANDUM

1) On December 30, 1999, the Office of the National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP) requested US Customs to suspend the guidelines of December 7th,
1999.

2) The ONDCP, together with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
will review the issue to determine whether the policy to allow for
traces of THC in hemp products is consistent with their National Drug
Control Strategy.

3) In the meantime, and until the final determination is made, Customs
field personnel is instructed to take the following action:

A) For sterilized hemp seed and hemp products containing THC, effective
immediately:
"Any hemp product, or part thereof, which contains ANY amount of THC is
subject to seizure. Customs retain the right to sample shipments of
hemp products to verify the presence of THC."

The field personnel is instructed to use constructive seizure
procedures.

B) Unsterilized cannabis (hemp) seed:
Unsterilized hemp seed, capable of germination, is a Schedule 1
controlled substance and may be imported into the US only by persons
registered with the DEA and holders of special permits. Shipments
without permit will be seized.

Juan Miranda
Special Crops
Tel: (613) 759-6240
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

HempCyberFarm says: "Outrage over the above measure will help advance Industrial Hemp in the USA." "Thank you ONDCP and thank you Mr. Barry R. McCaffrey, you are rendering the greatest service to your country and its citizens!"

*Industrial-Hemp has no psychoactive properties following definition of the European Economic Community (EEC); THC content is less than 0.3%. In general, low THC-seed varieties without psychoactive properties are those that have a THC content of less than 1%. (See also No-THC Hemp-seed.) THC= Delta-9 TetraHydroCannabinol.