Whereas, student government should encourage students to be active members of the UC Irvine community, and

Whereas, Legislative Council members, duly elected by the student body, should provide the opportunity for their constituencies to voice their opinions, advocate a cause or propose possible solutions to problems at hand, and

Whereas, Legislative Council representatives should serve as a bridge between the students and student government, and

Whereas members of the Agora student group, have taken steps towards raising awareness as to the possible benefits of hemp research, and

Whereas it is the prerogative of their representative to aid them in their endeavors, and introduce the following proposal authored by Oren Klein and Ben Jakovljevic:

Whereas, California House Resolution 32, introduced by Assemblyman Strom-Martin in August 1999, confirms the potential benefit of Hemp in producing viable, sustainable resources; and

Whereas, the Legislature is suggested by the Assembly to consider revising the Legal status of industrial Hemp, and to consider directing the University of California and other state agencies to prepare studies in conjunction with private industry on the cultivation, processing, and marketing of industrial Hemp; and

Whereas, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano proposed AB 390, a bill to legalize and tax marijuana, in which scientific research can benefit from; and

Whereas, a paradox exists in researching Hemp since there is no recognized study due to its illegality, and its legality remains unlikely to change unless legitimate research indicates that it is a viable resource; and

Whereas, the University of California is a research- based institution, and allowing scientists to research Hemp is the best alternative for, and preliminary steps towards legalization;

Whereas Medicinal Marijuana has been approved by thirteen states, including California, and yet no state or national study has been approved to research the economic, industrial, nutritional and medicinal advantages of Hemp; and

Whereas, the United States is the only industrial country that does not produce Hemp, and all its raw materials currently must be imported to manufacture products that are distributed by, and sold in, stores throughout California;

Whereas, industrial Hemp thrives without herbicides, reinvigorates the soil, requires less water than cotton, matures in three to four months, and can potentially yield four times as much paper per acre as trees, building materials that are twice as strong as wood and concrete, textile fiber that is up to eight times as strong as cotton, better oil and paint than petroleum, clean- burning diesel fuel, biodegradable plastics, and more digestible protein per acre than any other food source; and

Whereas, members of the Agora, a student group at the University of California at Irvine, understand the potential benefits to California's economy and environment as outlined by HR32, and wish to help initiate and direct a holistic Hemp study on campus as directed; and

Whereas, this bill calls for the research of Hemp at the University of California at Irvine in conjunction with the Legislature of California now, 

Let it therefore be resolved that ASUCI and the undersigned support House Resolution 32, and declare alongside the Assembly of the State of California, that Hemp is a vital, sustainable, renewable resource for building materials, cloth, cordage, fiber, food, fuel, industrial chemicals, oil, paint, paper, plastics, seed, yarn and many other useful products, and anticipate the approval of HR32 in the state Senate;

Let it further be resolved, that ASUCI and the University of California and its constituents support the legalization of Hemp for scientific research, and according to H.R. 32, wish to institute its own center in Irvine for a detailed study and a multidisciplinary approach;

Let it further be resolved, that the ASUCI declare, support, and advocate for an approval of its own Hemp research center in accordance with H.R. 32; and advocate to reconsider industrial hemp's legal status in California.