FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 8, 2003

Free Hemphry!

Pure Hemp promotional vehicle gets impounded at US Border for 8 pounds of roasted, seasoned hemp seed and driver get charged with attempt to import 8 pounds of Marijuanna.

Toronto, Canada.

Hemphry, a 1971 VW van painted in a hemp field motif and sporting “PURE HEMP” license plates was impounded at US Customs in Madewaska Maine last weekend for attempting to enter the United States with eight pounds of roasted, seasoned hemp seed.

“I purchased three kilos of toasted and salted hempseeds in Montreal” said Hemphry’s driver Johannes (Yo) Chapman. “The owner advised me not to bring hempseeds over the border, reminding me of America's ‘zero tolerance’” and I said "hempseeds are not banned in America."

A recent (June 30, 2003) U.S. Court of Appeals ruling invalidated the Drug Enforcement Administration's October 2001 "Interpretive Rule" that would have construed the Controlled Substances Act to ban edible hemp seed, oil and oil and seed products. The hemp seeds in question, being roasted (hence unviable) and salted are clearly a food product and as such are in no way prohibited from entry into the United States.

Using a “field test” the customs officers purportedly found that the seeds tested positive for THC and were therefore considered a narcotic. “The validity of this field test is questionable to say the least” commented David Marcus, president of Natural Emphasis, Ltd., the owner of Hemphry and exclusive North American distributor of Pure Hemp cigarette papers. “An official THC test of the seed in question has been obtained from a Canadian lab accredited by Health Canada showing that the seed contains no THC.” Furthermore, the field test indicated that both the Pure Hemp cigarette papers and hemp twine in the van’s cargo also contained THC, yet both are made from the stalk fibres of the hemp plant which don’t contain THC.

According to Johannes Chapman “a guy in a Dead shirt, who turned out to be DEA with another partner, had me sign a paper. When I signed, he said this is not an admission of guilt, it just says that I'll show up at Court in Maine on Sept. 9th. I am charged with an attempt to import Eight pounds of Marijuanna into Maine. That is why Hemphry was detained, the papers seized and why we were turned back to Canada.”

Hemphry is currently in limbo, awaiting the findings of the DEA's testing of the seeds in Boston. If they test positive to THC, he will be seized. If the tests come back negative, Hemphry, it is hoped, will be returned. Johannes is currently back in Ontario waiting to be reunited with Hemphry.

For more information please contact David Marcus at Natural Emphasis by telephone at 416-535-3497 or email dave@purehemp.com. For ongoing news on this issue, please visit www.purehemp.com.

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