THE MANY BENEFITS OF HEMP

Hemp is environmentally safer and more economical than cotton. Hemp does
not need pesticides, whereas cotton uses huge amounts of chemicals.

In 1994, 50 million pounds of pesticides and more than a billion pounds of
synthetic fertilizers were used in six cotton producing states. It is
estimated that it takes a third of a pound of chemicals to make one cotton
T-shirt.

Pesticides used in cotton production were originally used for nerve gas and
have 107 carcinogens which can cause birth defects, infertility, sterility,
hormonal imbalance, respiratory problems and behavior changes.

Pesticides contaminate ground water in 32 states, and besides killing pests
pesticides are toxic to wildlife. Dependence on only one crop like cotton
causes serious soil erosion where nutrients in the soil are lost. The
taxpayer unknowingly pays billions of dollars for subsidies, pesticide
testing and regulation, hazardous waste disposal and cleanup, environmental
damage and higher health care costs.

Hemp could be grown around cotton, as it was done in the 19th century to
combat pesticide infestation, and used in crop rotation to prevent soil
erosion. It is time for Alaska to join other states, like Maryland, that
have already authorized the growing of hemp as an agricultural crop.

- -- Susan Ware

Anchorage