SEES NO HARM IN BILL TO STUDY HEMP PRODUCTION

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to an article in the Nov. 15 edition titled,
"Anti-drug activists blast hemp-study bill." I am in favor of Bill 1397
that would let Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois
study the possibility of farmers growing hemp as a cash crop.

I think there is no harm involved in this, and that the Illinois Drug
Education Alliance's standpoint that this is a "foothold strategy" so that
marijuana or other drugs will be legalized is completely absurd. This is
obviously purely a scientific study for the feasability of growing it and
it is not legalizing the use of hemp as a drug.

I hope that this bill eventually will pass the House because I think it is
i good idea for another source of income for farmers whose crop may be
struggling.

Jeff Anderson, Rochester High School student