Sioux Who Grew Industrial Hemp Find Conviction Upheld in Circuit Court
The Eighth Circuit upheld the conviction of two Sioux men, Alex and Percy White Plume, for growing industrial hemp on federal trust land in spite of a Tribal penal code section that declared the activities legal. The court's ruling placed the burden for change on congress, explaining that the contentions favoring the allowance of industrial hemp cultivation are "policy arguments better suited for the congressional hearing room than the courtroom. Today we fulfill our role to interpret and apply the statute as written by Congress." The men did not procure a DEA certificate for hemp growth.
Thanks to the Drug Law Blog for the story.