HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT PLANTS THE SEED FOR LEGALIZING HEMP

New Bill Paves the Way for the First Hemp Plot to Sprout in the
U.S.

In Nearly Half a Century, According to Alterna

HONOLULU, - Hawaii State Governor Benjamin J.
Cayetano signed the bill making it legal for the first hemp test plot
to grow in America since 1937.

Alterna Hair Care is sponsoring the test plot. The company, which
uses hemp in its line of shampoos and conditioners, is presenting the
$200,000.00 check (on hemp paper) to the state of Hawaii. The grant
will be used to plant (THC drug free) industrial hemp seeds in
cooperation with the University of Hawaii to conduct the research
needed to initiate the recovery of this crop in the United States.
Hemp farming is important to Hawaii as the state's economy is
suffering from the loss of its main export, sugar cane.

Like Hawaii, thousands of American farmers are suffering from the
declining profitability of crops they produce. Many believe that hemp
is the answer. The Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative president is
currently suing the DEA in an effort to allow Kentucky tobacco farmers
the right to grow industrial hemp in lieu of their diminishing tobacco
crops.

Today, the industrial hemp plant is legally grown in 29 countries,
including Canada, Germany and China. Now the industry is beginning to
see a lot of green. According to the Industrial Hemp Information
Network, industrial hemp sales are projected to climb to over $1.5
billion by the year 2001.

Consumers are crazy about hemp. In addition to hair care products,
nature's all-purpose plant is being used in cars, clothes, shoes, food
and beer... just to name a few. Alterna hopes that by helping Hawaii
research the plant, our country will be one step closer to legalizing
the growth of this versatile, drug free plant.