May 10, 2001
		Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Outlaws the word 'Hemp' In what appears to be some sort of misguided effort to discourage marijuana use by censoring any references to related products, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) is forcing the Frederick Brewing Company of Frederick, MD, to change the name of its popular Hempen Ale so as to remove any references to the word 'hemp'. Hempen Ale uses hemp seeds as a part of the brewing process. Hemp is a relative of hops and provides unique hop-like bitters to the ale. Unfortunately, hemp is also a relative of marijuana, a product whose use is seriously discouraged by the ATF, because, among other reasons, marijuana users are less likely than most to be consumers of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms. The hemp seeds in Hempen Ale have absolutely no psychotropic value -- in other words, the product doesn't provide any kind of sensory alteration beyond the standard beer buzz. In fact, the ATF has no quibble with the fact that hemp seeds are used to produce the ale. The just want to protect America's youth from seeing the word in print.