NO TIME TO MELLOW OUT

Editor: I strongly disagree with the Sun-Star's editorial, "Mellow
out on legalized pot for awhile" (Oct. 5, 2010), claiming Proposition
19 did not pass because citizens wanted to avoid "confrontation with
federal authorities."

More likely, Prop. 19 failed because it was an off-year election,
which typically brings fewer younger voters out. There was much news
claiming it also was not worded well, which had cannabis (marijuana)
supporters voting against it.

Many other reasons for Prop. 19's failure have been discussed but
there's one that doesn't get mention which could have made a big
difference. Educating farm counties about opening the door to hemp
farming was a missed opportunity.

If citizens may legally grow cannabis with THC, then it stands to
reason free American farmers may grow hemp without THC. Chinese
farmers and Canadian farmers grow hemp, and it's time to reintroduce
hemp as a component of American agriculture. Until then, American
farmers are unable to fairly compete in the free world market.

It is not time to mellow out on legalized pot for awhile, it's time
to work harder at ending the devil law known as cannabis prohibition.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.