THOUGHTS ON HEMP

People may be asked to sign a petition to bring the legalization of
industrial hemp to a vote. Here are some thoughts:

The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration views "hemp
reclassificiation", the attempt to distinguish industrial hemp from its
psychoactive "cousin" marijuana, as a step towards the legalization of
marijuana. It is believed that some advocates of the reclassification of
hemp have a hidden agenda to legalize marijuana.

It is difficult to distinguish between a field of legitimate hemp with
low levels of THC, the psychoactive chemical, and a field of illegal
cannabis with high levels of THC. Marijuana is a controlled substance,
regardless of the THC levels. The fact is, industrial hemp and marijuana
are botanically and legally the same plant.

Despite claims, world production has steadily fallen. Also found by the
University of Kentucky's Department of Agricultural Economics, the
current hemp fiber production is now only a quarter of the volume of the
early 1960s. With China, India, and the former Soviet Union producing
about 70 percent of the world's supply, the United States' farms would
have a hard time competing, at least initially, with the low cost of
these experienced nations.

Before signing the petition, people should ask the individuals carrying
it a few questions:

What are their views on the legalization of marijuana? Why do they want
to grow hemp? How do they expect to market the product?

The responses may be surprising.