Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Soap Co. CEO Arrested Outside White House

David Bronner locked self in cage ... along with hemp plants

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 11, 2012 2:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – David Bronner knew how to make his arrest a complicated affair. The professional hemp grower locked himself in a 64-foot-square steel cage outside the White House and endured police warnings until firemen finally broke through with a chainsaw, the Washington Post reports. Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, was protesting US policy that conflates hemp with marijuana and forbids the cultivation of either.

“The industrial hemp plants I am harvesting and processing into oil cannot produce a high of any kind, but according to the Obama administration I’m in possession of approximately 10 pounds of marijuana,” Bronner said in a statement. He used a big sign and a microphone to make his case to President Obama, but no one has reported on White House residents peeking through the curtains. Huffington Post has video of the arrest. (Click here if you're curious about hemp seed vodka.)

A Washington police officer inspects various items of hemp following the arrest of David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic soaps, during a hemp protest, Monday, June 11, 2012, in Washington.
A Washington police officer inspects various items of hemp following the arrest of David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic soaps, during a hemp protest, Monday, June 11, 2012, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic soaps, is arrested during hemp protest, Monday, June 11, 2012, in Washington.
David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic soaps, is arrested during hemp protest, Monday, June 11, 2012, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic soaps, stands in a cage and points to hemp during a hemp protest, Monday, June 11, 2012, in Washington.
David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic soaps, stands in a cage and points to hemp during a hemp protest, Monday, June 11, 2012, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic soaps, stands in a cage holding hemp during a hemp protest, Monday, June 11, 2012, in Washington.
David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic soaps, stands in a cage holding hemp during a hemp protest, Monday, June 11, 2012, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
11%
1%
6%
76%
0%
6%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 35 comments
793tango
Jun 12, 2012 5:42 AM CDT
I worked at a health food store for a couple of years and they carried his products. Pretty popular. I would have tried it but the packaging is covered in biblical verses and I found that offensive so I make my own soap instead using olive oil and flowers I grow on my windowsill. One batch will last me months and is cheaper than anything else I can buy at the store.
Avera
Jun 11, 2012 11:13 PM CDT
It's the only chemical-free soap bar out there...great for post surgery and newborns.....I bought it for the first time a few weeks ago and just now saw this story about its founder's son. Please support him, he has a needed and valuable HOMEMADE product.
schmidtkoff
Jun 11, 2012 8:36 PM CDT
the united states is so myopic. think of how many jobs in so many industries could be created if industrial hemp was legal to grow in the US. as it is now all industrial hemp used in products is imported from canada. to grow it for research permission from the DEA is required as it is considered a "controlled" substance. dumb asses do some botanical research. the industrial hemp is not the same as pot. ya can't get high off it.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/fiber/industrial_hemp_profile.cfm 
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne