Pubdate: Wed, 08 Mar 2000 Date: 03/08/2000 Source: Herald, The (WA) Author: Darral Good I would like to hear the presidential candidates views on using hemp to save the forests and the farmers. Hemp is the strongest, most versatile and evolved plant on earth and is organically grown. George Washington grew hemp. Betsy Ross crafted the first American flag out of hemp and Ben Franklin opened a hemp paper mill so that America would not be dependent upon British sources of paper. Hemp has been know to humankind for thousands of years. Hemp has been used for food, fuel, clothing, medicine and much more. The use of hemp products have many environmentally and economic benefits. Hemp even has the potential to replace more than three-quarters of the nation's fiber needs currently served by logging, and could make the petro-chemical industry virtually obsolete. DARRAL GOOD, Lynnwood Note: The author is Information Officer for the Washington Hemp Education Network (W.H.E.N.) http://www.olywa.net/when/, PO Box 1217, Olympia, WA 98507 -- Voice 360-866-6523 -- FAX 360-956-0769