Republican Sean Blackwell is running for Congress, and his primary issue is hemp.

The 25-year-old Lake City High School graduate said Idaho should be producing a lot of hemp and using it in manufacturing of food, medicine and fuels. Many housing materials can be manufactured with hemp, he said.

"Idaho is so perfect to grow hemp," he said. "This is an industrial product that will bring endless opportunities."

Once the state grows hemp on an industrial scale it will create thousands of jobs, he said.

Blackwell backed former Texas Congressman Ron Paul in the last presidential election. Blackwell said his political philosophy is similar to Paul's.

Blackwell has been bouncing around between sales jobs since graduating high school in 2007, most recently selling cookware. Before that he worked at Dave Smith Motors. He has also worked at Center Partners.

He currently lives in Rathdrum but is moving to Coeur d'Alene, where he has purchased a home, he said.

He said the minimum wage must be increased, but in steps. He would like to see the minimum wage increased gradually to $10 per hour within five or six years.

"To make it so Idaho's small businesses can handle it," he said.

He earned minimum wage in Idaho, working at Jamba Juice in the past, and recalls how hard it was to get by on that level of pay.

He would also work to promote local farming, he said. The country would benefit by having people consume food that is produced closer to their homes.

Finally, if elected, Blackwell would work to increase the country's production of nuclear power.

Blackwell is single and has no children.

More information: www.blackwellforcongress.com.