HEMP IS MARIJUANA

The call for legalized hemp ("Lawmaker Urges Legalization of Hemp," May 21)
is very discouraging for those of us who are working day and night to
prevent drugs from being acceptable to children. Hemp is marijuana.

Both contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient that makes people high.
Studies show that even 0.1 percent THC can produce a high. There is no way
to visibly tell marijuana and hemp apart. Chemical analysis would be needed
on each plant.

The hemp issue is a cruel hoax on farmers. It is being promoted as an
economic opportunity for unlimited markets. The truth is that there is a
very small market for hemp products. The hemp plant is extremely costly to
process. Hemp's core of support comes from wealthy drug pushers. As long ago
as 1993, a writer in High Times magazine included the hemp issue as one of
the key strategies for legalization of marijuana.

But the real disaster of the hemp issue involves our children. Legalizing
hemp marijuana would further legalize and normalize marijuana, a drug that
is already too available and too acceptable to Nebraska kids.