Pubdate: Thu, 27 Sep 2001
Source: Watertown Public Opinion (SD)
Copyright: 2001 Watertown Public Opinion
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1166
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1416
Author: Bob Newland

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF PROHIBITION LAWS?

Dear editor:

In the series of letters-to-the-editor spawned by Rep. Art Fryslie on Aug. 
2, and including letters from me, Rep. Bob Weber, Ray Aldridge and Rep. Al 
Koistinen, one thing becomes clear. The opportunities offered to South 
Dakota farmers by industrial hemp are irrelevant to Fryslie and Koistinen.

Instead, Fryslie and Koistinen, the governor's lapdogs in law enforcement, 
and a vocal minority of the legislature continuously cloud the hemp issue 
by bringing up the irrelevant subject of marijuana prohibition. As if THAT 
program can defended.

Prohibition has accomplished many things. Prohibition has brought us more 
drugs, more drug users, a steadily-decreasing average age at first drug 
use, huge political and law enforcement corruption, and a boom in prison 
construction. Prohibition has made the most vicious people on earth the 
richest people on earth. In thirty years, it has brought us about 200,000 
dead innocent people.

Prohibition has, however, brought us no benefits.

If Rep. Fryslie or Rep. Koistinen can name one beneficial accomplishment of 
drug prohibition laws and enforcement, the South Dakota Industrial Hemp 
Council will contribute $1000 to his next primary campaign.

Just one. You'd think there'd be one, wouldn't you?

If neither Koistinen nor Fryslie can name a benefit to drug prohibition, 
then we shall donate $1000 to a primary election opponent to either (maybe 
both), an opponent who will advocate for the most versatile and useful crop 
God created.

Bob Newland
So. Dak. Industrial Hemp Council
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MAP posted-by: Beth