Pubdate: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Copyright: 2001 Lexington Herald-Leader Contact: 100 Midland Avenue, Lexington, Ky. 40508 Fax: 606-255-7236 Website: http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/ Forum: http://krwebx.infi.net/webxmulti/cgi-bin/WebX?lexingtn Author: Louie B. Nunn Note: Author is a Former Kentucky Governor ATTACK ON HEMP UNFAIR A Return To "McCarthyism" It appears that Jeanette McDougal of Drug Watch International mixed a few facts with a lot of misinformation in the anti-hemp commentary that appeared in Monday's Herald-Leader (inserted below). It's the old legal tactic: If you don't have the law or facts, attack the person. In newsprint it's frequently referred to as character assassination by association or "McCarthyism." I have known the Graves family for three generations. During World War II the federal government asked the Graves family, as well as many other Kentucky farmers, to grow hemp for the war effort. Everyone was thanking them in those days instead of attempting to malign them as McDougal did. I know of no member of Andy Graves' family, passed or present, who would approve of or promote the production or use of marijuana. As for Woody Harrelson, I defended him without charge in the name of liberty and justice. I didn't know him before the trial. He came here to test a legal concept in the interest of Kentucky farmers. No one was harmed. McDougal and I have talked by telephone. She faxed me much outdated and narrowly interpreted material. Modern technology can immediately distinguish between the industrial hemp plants and the marijuana plants, as can the naked eye. We should destroy the marijuana plant, but make every possible use of the industrial hemp plant. In an honest effort to do both, there is no need to try to destroy decent people by insinuation, slander, guilt by association or the use of outdated or misdirected information. I admire and support McDougal's objective, but shame, shame, shame on the course she has taken. Louie B. Nunn, Former Kentucky Governor, Woodford County - --- MAP posted-by: Derek