WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF PROHIBITION LAWS?

Dear editor:

In the series of letters-to-the-editor spawned by Rep. Art Fryslie on Aug.
2, and including letters from me, Rep. Bob Weber, Ray Aldridge and Rep. Al
Koistinen, one thing becomes clear. The opportunities offered to South
Dakota farmers by industrial hemp are irrelevant to Fryslie and Koistinen.

Instead, Fryslie and Koistinen, the governor's lapdogs in law enforcement,
and a vocal minority of the legislature continuously cloud the hemp issue
by bringing up the irrelevant subject of marijuana prohibition. As if THAT
program can defended.

Prohibition has accomplished many things. Prohibition has brought us more
drugs, more drug users, a steadily-decreasing average age at first drug
use, huge political and law enforcement corruption, and a boom in prison
construction. Prohibition has made the most vicious people on earth the
richest people on earth. In thirty years, it has brought us about 200,000
dead innocent people.

Prohibition has, however, brought us no benefits.

If Rep. Fryslie or Rep. Koistinen can name one beneficial accomplishment of
drug prohibition laws and enforcement, the South Dakota Industrial Hemp
Council will contribute $1000 to his next primary campaign.

Just one. You'd think there'd be one, wouldn't you?

If neither Koistinen nor Fryslie can name a benefit to drug prohibition,
then we shall donate $1000 to a primary election opponent to either (maybe
both), an opponent who will advocate for the most versatile and useful crop
God created.

Bob Newland
So. Dak. Industrial Hemp Council