Pubdate: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 Source: Illinois Times (IL) Copyright: 2000 Yesse Communications Contact: PO Box 3524 Springfield, IL 62708 Fax: 217/753-2281 Author: Myron Von Hollingsworth HEMP WARS To the editor: I wonder if DEAland's war on hemp is based, at least in part, on the fear that popularizing hemp products could produce many false-positive drug tests thereby jeopardizing one of the many large (multi-billion dollar) industries whose existance depends on DEAland's drug war. Maybe the corrupt politicians and media are required to adhere to the party line of prohibition because law enforcement, customs, the prison and military industrial complex, the drug testing industry, the INS, the CIA, the FBI, the DEA, the politicians themselves, et al, can't live without the budget justification, not to mention the invisible profits, bribery, corruption, and forfeiture benefits that prohibition affords them. The drug war also promotes, justifies, and perpetuates racist enforcement policies and is diminishing many freedoms and liberties that are supposed to be inalienable according to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Myron Von Hollingsworth Fort Worth - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens