AVENUE CABLE TO AIR DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HEMP

Story Chronicles Hemp's Journey From The World's Leading Crop To Menace.

VENTURA -- Avenue Cable is scheduled to air "Emperor of Hemp," the story of
one man's 30-year struggle for truth, justice and a plant, at 8 p.m. today.

Written by former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Herer, "Emperor of Hemp"
exposes the dark secrets behind marijuana prohibition and reveals the
political and commercial reasons why hemp, once the world's leading crop,
became forbidden fruit in the 20th Century.

The film tells the story of Herer, 60, who devoted half of his life to
educating the world about hemp's medicinal, industrial and environmental
value.

That devotion often came at the expense of his own liberty.

His 1983 stay in federal prison resulted from his refusal to pay a fine for
protesting on government property. Herer said he believes that fuel made
from the biomass of the prolific hemp plant could replace polluting fossil
fuels. He said he also believes that pesticide-free hemp, once a staple of
the paper industry, could again be grown for paper, saving forests.

With songs by Bonnie Rait, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Walsh, Cheap Trick and
others, "Emperor of Hemp" is narrated by Peter Coyote.

The film is produced by Double J Films of Ventura, funded by Body Shop
International founder Anita Roddick, written by Jeff Meyers and directed by
Jeff Jones.

Available only on video, "Emperor of Hemp" is available at Tower Records.
Avenue Cable is expected to air it again on Thursday.