N.H. LEGISLATORS SHOULD APPROVE HEMP FARMING

I recently made a brief trip back to Milford from Honolulu, Hawaii. I
am a Milford native and legislative analyst to Rep. Cynthia Thielen of
Hawaii.

On behalf of Rep. Thielen, I delivered literature concerning the many
uses of industrial hemp to New Hampshire state Reps. Peter Leishman,
R-Milford, and Tim O'Connell, R-Milford.

With great foresight and understanding of this crop's future
potential, Rep. Leishman cosponsored and voted in favor of House Bill
239, titled, "Relating to Industrial Hemp." Unfortunately, Rep.
O'Connell voted against this bill and ultimately it was defeated.

My former Milford AREA Senior High School science teacher was Rep.
O'Connell. I hope he will read the materials I brought to him about
Hawaii's industrial hemp project and learn about this agricultural
crop.

With bipartisan support, Rep. Thielen promoted legislation that allows
industrial hemp to be grown on a research basis for the first time on
U.S. soil since World War II. Hemp seeds were planted last December on
a day proclaimed by Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano as "Industrial Hemp Day."

Hemp (cannabis sativa L.) has only .3 percent of the psychoactive
component THC in comparison to marijuana, which has 15 to 20 percent
THC.

You cannot get "high" from smoking hemp, but you can make over 25,000
products out of the crop. These range from cosmetics, automotive
parts, carpet, building materials and animal feed.

Hawaii legislators and Gov. Cayetano believe industrial hemp can
replace the dying pineapple and sugar industry in Hawaii. I also am
confident industrial hemp can help the faltering farmer in New Hampshire.

At this time, 32 countries, including Canada, grow and sell industrial
hemp. Currently nine states have passed some kind of hemp legislation,
Maryland being the most recent. Unfortunately my home state of New
Hampshire is left behind.

Jay W. Duffy Legislative analyst Honolulu, Hawaii