ALLOW HEMP TO BE GROWN IN U.S.

I was glad to see Bill McLaughlin's guest commentary on Dec. 19,
titled "Hemp should be grown locally." This is an issue that has
been overlooked for years and needs to be addressed on a national
level. This country was founded on hemp. Literally.

The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper! In the
Jamestown colony it was illegal not to grow hemp because it is such
a useful crop. Henry Ford built a car out of hemp, that ran on hemp
seed oil. It was stronger than steel and, needless to say, vastly
more efficient and cleaner than cars that run on fossil-based fuels.

Hemp also enriches the soil it is grown in, unlike cotton, which
depletes it. It is time for America to end this ignorant and
destructive prohibition of hemp.

Will Elting

Oneonta