Sir - John Dyson,(EADT December 1) makes a valuable contribution to
the environmental debate by pointing out the potential of rapeseed oil
biodiesel.

However, Environmental, Economic, agriculture and health
considerations make hemp a far better crop for the future:

Hemp (also known as cannabis) can also be grown to produce biodiesel.
In fact the first diesel engines were invented to run on hemp seed oil
and petroleum wasn't synthesized to mimic hemp seed oil for over a
decade after the invention of the first internal combustion engine,
the diesel engine (invented by Rudolph Diesel in 1894.) Henry Fords
Model T was designed to run on hemp fuel .

The seed can also be pressed for its highly nutritious vegetable oil,
which contains the highest amount of natural fatty acids found
anywhere in the plant kingdom. The by-product of pressing the oil is a
high protein seed cake suitable for human and animal
consumption.

Then there is the Biomass potential and its industrial uses -
including paper, building materials, plastic, paint, clothing,
cosmetic, medicines to name but a few.

Even the roots play an important role by invigorate the soil to
control erosion and mud slides.

If cannabis hemp were allowed to be grown free of all restrictions it
would Rejuvenate the rural economy and prove, both for the farmer and
the public, the most desirable and profitable crop that can be grown

But the petrochemical, arms, and pharmaceutical companies won't like
this.

Question: Who do the laws controlling cannabis protect-the public or big
business?

Don Barnard