Rapid City Journal article:

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2001/July/31-952-news06.txt


July 31, 2001

Hemp grower defiant after crop taken


By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal Staff Writer


MANDERSON ‹ Alex White Plume said Tuesday he will plant industrial hemp on his
family's land again next year, despite having two consecutive crops confiscated
by federal agents.


Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of
Investigation seized hundreds of hemp plants Monday from White Plume's land near
Manderson, hauling them away in 11 vehicles and a U-haul trailer.


White Plume said they removed about 330 bundles of plants, with 20 to 30 plants
per bundle.


"They wanted to be in and out of here in an hour, but they didn't realize how
strong the plants were. They went down fighting," he said with a half-hearted
chuckle, noting that agents spent four hours removing the plants.


Last August, agents confiscated 3,782 hemp plants from the White Plume place.


Federal law makes it illegal to grow hemp, which is related to marijuana.


Hemp is different in that it has very low amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),
the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that gives a "high." Hemp also can be
used to make everything from paper to clothing to candy.


Government officials have held that allowing hemp farming would send mixed
messages to young people and make it easier for growers to hide marijuana plants.


Under federal law, cultivating 1,000 or more plants is punishable by 10 years to
life in prison.


But White Plume said he isn't afraid of going to jail because he believes he has
the right to grow hemp under the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.


"We feel like we're not criminals," he said. "I don't even swear."


White Plume never was charged after last year's raid. Interim U.S. Attorney
Michelle Tapken was not available for comment Tuesday.


Monday's seizure was no surprise to the White Plumes. They had told federal
authorities openly that they were planting hemp and knew agents planned to raid
the plot.


"Our family agreed that we would let them come in and cut it down," White Plume
said. "We kept our agreement with them. They were real kind. They were the nicest
police officers I've ever seen."


However, he did tell Bureau of Indian Affairs criminal investigators to leave his
property Monday. He said he had asked Oglala Sioux tribal police earlier this
year to take samples of his hemp to be tested for THC.


"Instead ... they turned it over to the BIA's criminal investigation, which are
federal police officers, who then brought in the DEA," White Plume said. He said
BIA investigators should have consulted with the tribe before calling DEA.


Members of White Plume's family spent Monday morning sitting around a sacred
staff in the hemp field, forcing agents to pull plants around them. "We had to
show some kind of anger, so we did it through silence," White Plume said.


He plans to file a lawsuit against the United States, possibly demanding payment
for the plants that were destroyed.


White Plume said he has established "family law" that levies a fine for damaging
hemp plants on his property.


You may call reporter Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419, or send e-mail to
heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com.