NO HEMP SUPPORT

President George W. Bush does not favor lifting the Congressional
embargo on domestic cultivation of industrial hemp for the purposes
of fuel or fiber, according to comments from his spokesman Ari
Fleisher at a July 16 White House press briefing.

Fleisher responded to the question: "Does the president favor the
legalization of industrial hemp?" by stating that Bush has not made
"any statements. . . that would lend one to reach that conclusion."

At present, some 30 nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom,
France and Japan, license farmers to grow hemp. Since 1996, twelve
states have passed laws or resolutions endorsing hemp, which belongs
to the genus Cannabis sative, but contains only negligible amounts of
THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Since the Bush family has major holdings in oil and pharmaceuticals I
would expect no less.

Buster Jones

Albany