Hemp World P.O. Box 550, Forestville, CA, 95436

Editor-in-Chief: Mari Kane

Summer 1997

HEMP POLITICS

Wichita Voters Want Moore Hemp

Debby Moore, Founder of Kansas environmentalists for Commerce in Hemp, was re-elated to another four year term as a Citizens Participation Organization Representative, advising the Wichita city council. Well-known for her pro-hemp views, Moore won more votes than any of the other six candidates in the race.

Then the city council then voted to deny Moore her seat, claiming that she is somehow “ineligible,” Moore commented, “It’s the government superseding the vote of the people. They’re giving a loud, clear message that our votes don’t count.” Now citizens of the district are blocking efforts to replace her on the board.

Moore made news when her hem information library was seized in a 1992 police raid. In 1996, her computer with the same information was also seized (see * Hemp World Summer ‘96). Soon thereafter, police raided her hemp store and found 5.71 grams of cannabis in the form of pressed leaves of feral hemp Moore had gathered 10 years earlier.

She is facing two counts of felony possession of marijuana, and two counts of possession with no tax stamps. The latter charges are especially ironic since Moore bought to national attention the existence of marijuana tax stamps, and had purchased hundreds of stamps to sell in her store. Police found no evidence of marijuana sales, despite sending undercover police wearing hidden microphones to her store in an entrapment attempt.

Her next trial date is July 21, with attorney Charles A. O’Hara of Wichita arguing her case. Moore’s website, http://www.feist.com/~hemplady, has loads of good information on hemp, including an ill-informed letter on the subject from current USDA Secretary Dan Glickman.

Picture Caption: Moore, center, at home with her mother and sister.

*The Hemp World Summer 1996 article discusses seizure of Debby Moore computer.