ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 29, 2007

JOHNSON DISAPPOINTED BY HEMP DECISION

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson said the dismissal of a lawsuit by two North Dakota farmers against the federal government over industrial hemp leaves the farmers with little recourse, other than an appeal to a higher court.

“The judge said this is a matter best left to Congress,” Johnson said Thursday. “It is disappointing because realistically, I don’t think Congress will deal with it.”

U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland dismissed the lawsuit brought by David Monson, Osnabrock, and Wayne Hauge, Ray, against the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), seeking to stop the agency from prosecuting them for growing industrial hemp under state regulations. Hovland wrote that “Congress can best address this problem” in a ruling issued Wednesday.

Johnson issued industrial hemp growers licenses to Monson and Hauge earlier this year under regulations developed under state law by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The licenses require DEA approval to take effect.

“Mr. Monson and Mr. Hauge did everything they were supposed to do; they submitted to background checks; they filled out a lot of paperwork, and they paid considerable fees,” Johnson said. “Now the growing season is long over, and they still have had no word from DEA, other than a complaint that there was not enough time for the agency to conduct a complete review for a license that, if approved, would have been for only one year.”

-30-

MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 220-4357 or plahlum@nd.gov.