YOU CAN'T SMOKE HEMP

To the editor:

This is in response to an article which appeared April 10 titled,
State considers legalizing hemp.

Is anyone in your state really taking this Ossipee Police Chief
Richard Morgan seriously?

He objects to proposals for legalizing hemp stating, Legalization of
hemp is really a backdoor attempt to legalize marijuana. You're going
to increase the supply, which will lower the prices. That will give
kids more access to it.

Huh?

More access to what? Marijuana? Marijuana is not hemp. Hemp is not
marijuana. Marijuana prices won't be affected by legal hemp because
marijuana users are funny about not wanting to smoke hemp, a
non-psychotropic substance.

But while we're at it, we"ll remind readers and Chief Morgan that the
only reason kids have ready access to marijuana is because all
marijuana sales are illegal, unregulated and controlled by sellers who
have no compunction about actively marketing to teenagers. Contrast
that to legal drug dealers who check IDs for age. While that doesn't
prevent access by minors, it greatly inhibits it.

If Chief Morgan wants to make a real difference in the community,
he'll stop talking about what he doesn't know -- hemp' and start
talking about ending marijuana prohibition.

Take the dealing off the streets and get it behind a licensed,
regulated sales counter.

For more visit, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition at http://www.leap.cc/

STEPHEN HEATH

Clearwater, Fla.