Pubdate: Thu, 02 Dec 1999
Date: 12/02/1999
Source: Fairfield County Weekly (CT)
Author: Myron Von Hollingsworth
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1237/a06.html

I full realize that the hemp industry may not be advocates of drugs
and I completely acknowledge and respect that. The purpose of my
message is to point out that the enemies of hemp reform and the
enemies of cannabis reform are the same and the "me no marijuana"
position means less than nothing to them.

It is because I have the greatest respect for the hemp movement and a
greater resolve to further the cause of both of our movements that I
send my message to you.

We share common enemies.

They are many and some are well concealed.

Their motives are among the most evil and sinister imaginable. Not
only do they not give a tinker's damn about hemp, they think nothing
of letting thousands of sick and dying people linger in pain and
misery or incarcerating 700,000 people a year, mostly for simple
possession, while they lie, cheat and steal in order to maintain the
propaganda and profits of prohibition. They care nothing about
environmental benefits or ground water pollution or THC content much
less suffering and death.

The alternative to prohibition--legalization--will not be as
profitable to them as the present corruption, bribery and
forfeiture-ridden policies are. And that includes hemp...like it or
not.

Maybe the politicians are required to adhere to the party line of
prohibition because law enforcement, customs, the prison industrial
complex, the drug testing industry, the INS, the CIA, the FBI, the
DEA, the politicians themselves 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 guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Myron Von Hollingsworth,
Fort Worth, Texas