END CANNABIS PROHIBITION

Thank you for publishing Mr. Polz's letter supporting medical cannabis
in Illinois, and I'?m grateful that the Daily Chronicle chose to use
cannabis instead of marijuana in the headline.

Many people are unaware of the history of cannabis prohibition but the
word marijuana was used as a racist slang term for Mexicans who used
cannabis. In 1937, when the federal government made cannabis illegal,
they did so under the Marihuana Tax Stamp Act and nobody even knew
what they were debating because everyone knew the plant as cannabis or
Indian hemp.

In fact, cannabis was one of the most widely used medicines before
becoming illegal, not to mention the benefit of growing industrial
hemp, a variety that does not have any psychoactive effects. Polo,
Ill., even has a hemp museum celebrating the WWII ?Hemp for Victory?
campaign since Illinois was a leading hemp producer during the war.

Hemp is a super food and can be used for many products including,
biodiesel, cordage, and canvas, and it replaces nitrogen in the soil.
Yet, hemp is illegal to grow in the U.S. because of its relation to
cannabis. However, every other industrial nation can grow hemp.

Medical cannabis and hemp are tragic losers in the failed war on
drugs. The time is now to end cannabis prohibition and let doctors use
this medicine if they think it is wise, along with allowing farmers to
grow hemp if they think it is wise.

Dan Linn

Sycamore