Friday, March 14,1997

The following six LTE's printed in the Skagit Valley Herald. My sincere
thanks to all! Congratulations!!!!

Skagit Valley Herald Online
Re: Voices of the Valley
Thank you so much for printing Allison Bigelow's article on hemp. She
is one of a few people that are willing to spread this knowledge. It
appears that your newspaper is willing as well.
Hemp has an enormous future potential. Henry Ford knew it, Thomas
Jefferson knew it, George Washington knew it and now all your readers
know it too. It is too valuable to waste and if we remain ignorant we
will not be able to compete. Germany is at least five years ahead of us.
Thank you again for your time.
Gretchen Harris, president
Cascade Hemp Supply Inc.
Vancouver, Wash.

Openminded view
Thanks for printing the openminded view on hemp. It is like a breath
of fresh air to hear some real facts in a newspaper article on the drug
war. So often it is just standard political rhetoric. Keep up the good
work.
James Burke
Renton

Obviously knowledgeable
Allison Bigelow's column on hemp and its many uses was informative and
obviously written by someone knowledgeable on hemp issues. It is sad
that in these times of hightech excitement, economic issues like
agricultural hemp are overlooked entirely or demagogued to death by
uninformed prohibitionist crusaders.
Perhaps you could persuade Bigelow to do another column on prohibition.
Richard Nixon's attempt to teach potsmoking hippies a lesson by
outlawing marijuana in 1970 have led this country badly astray. The War
on Drugs, started in 1972 by Nixon, has led directly to the largest
black market in history; larger than even the illfated prohibition of
alcohol in the '20s.
The real gateway to hard drugs isn't marijuana. To paraphrase Bill
Clinton, "It's the Prohibition, stupid."
Arthur R. Sobey
Corpus Christi, Texas

Led me to further education
I found the Bigelow piece to be informative and refreshing, a breath of
fresh air in an otherwise pungent atmosphere of politics and propaganda.
Her article has led me to seek further education on the subject.
In light of all the excellent characteristics of this plant, it seems
heavyhanded and selfserving to continue the ban based on a
prohibitionist war waged against our people for more than 60 years.
The main reason that marijuana was made illegal was due to the
excellent material that could be made from hemp. A textile mogul with
political ties funded the "reefer madness" campaign and eliminated his
competition. Reference: "The Emperor Wears No Clothes," by Jack Herer.
Jason Alexander Potts
Blue Springs, Mo.

Why to legalize marijuana
1. Go into any haspital emergency room. Ask how many drunk drivers and
passengers they treat in an average day from car accidents.
2. Ask how many marijuanasmoking drivers and passengers they treat in
an average day from car accidents.
3. Have you ever read in a newspaper of drunk drivers killing people in
car accidents?
4. Have you ever read in a newspaper of marijuanasmoking drivers
killing people in car accidents?
5. Have you ever heard about anyone who has ever died from smoking
cigarettes, drinking alcohol, taking aspirin?
6. Have you ever heard about anyone who has ever died from smoking or
eating marijuana?
7. Have you ever heard of any violence caused by people who are drunk
from alcohol? Child abuse? Spousal abuse? Murder? Rape?
8. Have you ever heard of any violence caused by people who have smoked
or eaten marijuana? Child abuse? Spousal abuse? Murder? Rape?
9. If...it is clear to you that marijuana use doesn't cause car
accidents, death from eating or smoking it, child abuse, spousal abuse,
biolence, rape and murder, then why is the "War on Drugs" being waged
mainly against marijuana users? Is it because loving, kind and smiling
people are easy to stomp on?
10. Marijuana users are usually very open, honest, helpful,
environmental, very intelligent and compassionate to millions of people
suffering from cancer, AIDS and a host of other painful diseases.
Marijuana is "good medicine." Why can't we believe the sick and dying
people when they tell us that marijuana helps them? Wouldn't you want
people to believe you or someone you love?
Eve Lentz (Allison Bigelow's sister)
Burlington

Wellwritten and informative
Allison Bigelow's column was wellwritten and highly informative. Hemp
would benefit us all, if we would just let it. Let's hear more from Ms.
Bigelow.
Gerald M. Sutliff
Walnut Creek, Calif.