Source: The Louisville Courier-journal Author: Andy Graves, President, KY Hemp Growers Co-op Pubdate: 3 April 1998 Contact: http://www.courier-journal.com/cjconnect/edletter.htm Website: http://www.courier-journal.com/ LETTER TO THE EDITOR, In response to your March 11th article, “Drug-czar blast hemp-crop advocates,” it is evident that Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey’s contention that “the cultivation of hemp is economically not feasible in the United States,” is merely a personal opinion. Although he says he is open to new evidence that proves otherwise, he has consistently refused to meet with individuals who are truly knowledgeable regarding industrial hemp. It seems the only real reason the cultivation of industrial hemp is not economically feasible in the United States is simply because of the absurd restrictions imposed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, i.e., high barbed wire fences, 24 hour armed guards and so forth. The reality is, the United States is the only industrialized country that effectively prohibits the cultivation of industrial hemp. McCaffrey’s belief that industrial hemp production “would completely disarm all law enforcement from enforcing anti-marijuana production laws,” appears to be self-serving at best, since industrial hemp is grown commercially in every industrialized country, including our neighbors to the north, Canada. Law enforcement officials in these other countries have no problem distinguishing between industrial hemp and marijuana. So why does this issue causes such a problem for U.S. law enforcement officials? Could it be because state and local law enforcement officials receive over $500 million annually through bounties from the Federal Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program? This program, according to the DEA’s own figures, indicates that more than 98% of those plants eradicated were ditchweed, i.e., wild hemp left over from WWII. McCaffrey’s statement that efforts to legalize industrial hemp “is a thinly disguised attempt to legalize the production of pot,” is little more than a slanderous attempt at character assassination. Would an informed person honestly believe the Ministers of Agriculture in Canada, England and other European Communities are proponents for the legalization of marijuana? The fact that Canada will be commercially cultivating industrial hemp this year should be a wake-up call for American agriculture and our elected representatives. As a Kentucky farmer, it is my belief that we should explore all possible opportunities to offset the impact of our declining tobacco industry, including an unbiased evaluation of industrial hemp’s potential. To do otherwise, puts our farmers and our economy at a competitive disadvantage. Andy Graves, President (606) 293-0579 KY Hemp Growers Co-op P. O. Box 9395 Lexington, Kentucky 40533