HEMP FOE MISSED MARK

I am writing this in response to Courtney Scharfe's letter about the perils
of legalizing hemp/marijuana ("Legal hemp steals freedom," Aug. 28), in
which he warns the readers of vice, organized crime, "so-called escort
services" and "exotic dance clubs"; how they are robbing us of our freedom
"to be good"; and how that influence would grow upon legalization.

I believe that he missed one of the points that he himself made in his
letter, that if we legalize hemp/marijuana, it will not be a crime to
possess or buy it. With that in mind, why would members of organized crime
bother with something that would be incredibly cheap and involve no profit
for them because there would be virtually no black market for it? Also, I
do not believe that hemp/marijuana's being legal or illegal has much to do
with the sex industry.

- -- Kathy McCown

Anchorage