HEMP WAR

I applaud you for pinpointing the implications of White House drug czar
Barry McCaffrey's March 5 letter to U.S. Customs and the Drug Enforcement
Administration relating to industrial hemp regulation in the article titled
"Shampoo High" [Washington Whispers, March 27].

As primary sponsor of the legislation that established the Hawaii
Industrial Hemp Research Project (HIHRP), I can tell you that the "trade
war" is underway. The Customs Service is not happy about McCaffrey's
directive to seize and test hemp products.

McCaffrey's war on non-hallucinogenic industrial hemp is of great concern
to Hawaii, since our HIHRP is developing a seed variety appropriate for
growth within U.S. latitudes. Major Hawaiian agricultural corporations
want to add hemp as an intercycle crop, and some expect it to replace sugar
as one of our state's central crops.

I believe a trade war is avoidable and would like to see a more in-depth
article about the industrial hemp market, states' action to allow farmers
to grow, and the consequences of Barry McCaffrey's misguided opposition to
this non hallucinogenic crop.

Cynthia Thielen
Assistant Minority Floor Leader
49th District
Honolulu, Hawaii