ON MARIJUANA AND HEMP, A HANDY PLANT TO HAVE AROUND

John Boyle's informative article, "Building with hemp: Asheville on the
forefront of a new green technique," (AC-T, Nov. 22), stated, "Hemp is
derived from the same plant that marijuana comes from." This is misleading.
Both plants are cannabis sativa, but the marijuana cannabinoid is THC
(delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), which produces the psychoactive high. The
industrial hemp cannabinoid is CBD (cannabidiol), which cannot get you high
and actually blocks the effect of THC.

Because they can cross-pollinate, industrial hemp's CBD decreases the
potency of THC in any nearby marijuana plant, making marijuana less
attractive to grow. Industrial hemp has been recognized as a distinctive
and important crop in the U.S. since colonial times, and only recently has
it been demonized for its connection with marijuana. Hemp is a hearty,
soil-renewing, carbon-negative crop that can yield 2-3 crops a year,
requires no pesticides and be used for paper, cloth, oil, food, bio-fuel,
bio-plastic, building materials and more. Industrial hemp is a ready
solution for many of our 21st century challenges.

Kristine Madera, Asheville