DEA HAS NO RIGHT TO DESTROY OTHERS' HEMP

The Drug Enforcement Agency recently burned a hemp plantation owned by
Canadians in Nicaragua. The hemp was to be used for fiberboard to help
rebuild cities after Hurricane Mitch. The oil was to be sent to U.S.
health-food stores and the cosmetics industry.

Hemp usage could be a multibillion-dollar business worldwide. There are 29
countries such as Germany, Italy, England and Canada that are working to
open markets in hemp.The seeds for the plantation were imported from China,
routed and inspected at Los Angeles, then sent to Nicaragua.

What right does the DEA have to stop use of hemp in other countries or to
destroy all hemp seeds in the United States at taxpayers' expense?

We in Kalamazoo are saying we will teach papermaking at a level second to
none. But we are not telling that Canada is working to open a hemp paper
mill. The new equipment needed to run this industry must be make from the
ground up. What an opportunity for our higher-eduction community-to be at
the forefront of a new industry.

Hemp is used to clean the soil after the accident at Chernobyl
(phytoremediation). It also is being used to clean contaminated soils at
military sites. I ask U.S. Rep.Fred Upton to initiate studies that would
help us, as we are downwind to the Cook and other nuclear plants.

Prices of Canadian hemp oil and fiber and the phytoremediation study can be
found at congrowpro.com and the details on the story about Nicaragua at
marijuananews.com.