DEA IS UNJUSTLY PERSECUTING HEMP FARMERS, DISTRIBUTORS, CONSUMERS

In response to your cover story on the DEA's hemp food ban and its local
implications, it's been a tough time for anyone in the U.S. who appreciates
cannabis in some way. I was devastated by what happened to Don Wirtshafter
when the DEA issued its interpretation of drug laws and made hemp foods
illegal to consume (The NEWS, Jan. 7). I refuse to give up my seeds because
they offer complete protein and essential fatty acids that we need in our
diets.

This DEA administration has just been a bully to organic farmers and
consumers. Edible hemp products that are actually good for you are banned
while GMO or pesticide-laced soil that depletes crops remain; that's pretty
much an indication they don't care how many victims the drug war takes.
There is no such thing as a zero standard for THC in hemp food. The levels
are so insignificant and pose no drug threat.

It is time to get pissed off or else continue getting pissed on! Let's make
our voices heard to protect the awesome Ohio Hempery and protect the
control over our own bodies. Anyone can go to Savehemp.org and write his or
her representatives regarding the absurd DEA rules banning hemp. My prayers
are with the Ohio Hempery and other threatened hemp businesses.

Andy Koosed

South Green Drive

Athens

WHAT ABOUT THOSE DUDES WHO WROTE THE CONSTITUTION ON HEMP PAPER?

A while back some dudes called "The Framers" got out a nice blank sheet of
HEMP PAPER and wrote this thing called the "U.S. Constitution." In this
"Constitution" thing, there is this one part called the "4th amendment"
that says that the government can't take property from citizens without a
good reason. This means that if the government makes a law outlawing
refined sugar (for example), the government has to pay all the sugar owners
the value of their sugar since the law effectively confiscates private
property.

Reading on through this "Constitution" thing, other rules in this document
written on HEMP PAPER say that the House, Congress and the president
collectively make laws and that the courts interpret the laws.

One thing I did not find in this document written on HEMP PAPER is where it
says that the "DEA" can "clarify laws" or "change the meaning of a law" or
"steal $800,000 worth of merchandise from a local businessman who is
creating jobs in our county." Perhaps the DEA already confiscated that part
of the Constitution. After all, it is written on HEMP PAPER!

Oh well.

Christopher Perisho

Walker Street

Athens

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GOD GAVE US CANNABIS; NOW THE DEA IS TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY

The crime of the century ("DEA Rules Threaten to Strangle Hemp Business,"
Jan. 7) has to have been the prohibition of hemp and cannabis. It is the
epitome of ignorance. Christ God gave us cannabis and put cannabinoid (THC)
receptor sites in our brains. Why use public taxes to punish citizens for
making that connection?

Now, we are talking about hemp with zilch for THC. There are two
conflicting policies pertaining to cannabis: one is man's, caging humans
for using cannabis, and the other is Christ God's saying cannabis is a
blessing.

Thank God for cannabis. Accept cannabis (also known as kaneh bosm, before
the King James Version), for what it is as described on the very first page
(like Deja vu) of the Bible (Gen. 1:11-12 & 29-30). Christ God gave us
cannabis; who prohibits it? Hint: check 1 Timothy 4:1-5.

Stan White

Climax Drive

Dillon, Colo.

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DEA AFRAID OF HEMP BECAUSE IT MESSES UP DRUG TEST READINGS

Asa Hutchinson continues in the time-honored manner of the DEA; when it
comes to marijuana, always lie.

It is a lie that "hemp and marijuana are parts of the same plant and hemp
cannot be produced without producing marijuana." Hemp is a totally
different strain of the species. No part of the hemp plant contains
significant amounts of THC, flowers, leaves, nothing. No part of it
produces a "high." If planted in a field with THC-producing marijuana, hemp
would cross-pollinate and seriously dilute the THC producer's potency.

The real reason the DEA is afraid of hemp is that ingestion of large amount
of hemp oil or other hemp products may interfere with the sacred drug test
readings. The whole huge drug test industry is based on detection of
long-lasting THC; therefore, the demonization of hemp by the DEA.
Hutchinson and his henchmen will do anything to protect this invasive industry.

John McKee

Columbia Falls, Mont.