INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS A VERSITILE, VIABLE CROP

Dear Editor,

This is in response to the Feb. 4th letter to the editor, "Industrial Hemp
is indeed a controlled substance." Does Priss Parmenter, president of the
Illinois Drug Education Alliance, truly believe that the bill to study
industrial hemp is simply a ploy to legalize marijuana? She must think
very little of our General Assembly's intelligence that they would pass it
if it were such a tactic.

Would the farmers so strongly support it if there was this hidden
agenda? What an insult to our farmers and legislators! I must give more
credit to the farmers, and even the politicians.

They have educated themselves of this issue and realize that there is great
potential for industrial hemp to be a versatile, viable crop for the state
of Illinois. I urge Gov. Ryan not to cave in to the myths and
misinformation of the IDEA, and sign Senate Bill 1397.

Boyd Holmes

Decatur