PRE-HEMPTIVE STRIKE

In regard to "Give up drug war," Jeffrey Farrar's letter of Oct. 15
concerning "our own war on American civilians" and making prisoners out of
pot smokers, I'd like to add that on Oct. 9 the DEA banned "all food
manufactured with hemp grain," claiming it as a controlled substance. The
DEA justifies their decision only by saying that it is to "protect the
public health and safety."

For the first time in our history, the government is outlawing a whole
class of food products. What are they going to outlaw next? I do have some
hemp-based shampoo I wash my hair with. Will they come and arrest me for
the shampoo in my bathroom, or the lip balm, that also contains hemp seed
oil? Where will they stop? This is a war we need to be concerned about and
put an end to.

Julian Alexander
Lafayette