Pubdate: 2-11-1999
Source: MSNBC KTSM-TV El Paso, TX
Contact:  http://www.msnbc.com/local/ktsm/
Author: Michelle Alegria IS HEMP ECONOMICALLY SOUND?

The word hemp makes people think of marijuana, but the fact is they're two
very different things. Hemp won't get you high, and it just may be a cash
cow as a commercial crop. Some states are set to look into the possibilities.

'We may be missing out on some important opprtunities to increase incomes
of the plant growers.' --Prof. Rhonda Skaggs NMSU

A tough fibrous plant that has been used as rope and fabric for thousands
of years is beginning to take root in the minds of Americans. There's a
growing movement in the U.S. to make the plant legal so it can be used to
make cloth, paper and other products.

It's called hemp, and the U.S. prohibits it's growth. Thirty other
countries, including Canada, have made it legal to grow. Now, the New
Mexico Legislature will consider a bill to allocate $50,000 to New Mexico
State University to study the economic possibilities of commercially grown
hemp.

"You can't smoke industrial hemp, it doesn't have the same psychoactive
properties as marijuana," said Rhonda Skaggs, and agricultural professor at
NMSU.

Experts say hemp contains only trace amounts of the chemical in marijuana
that gets people high. Hemp is grown for its fiber and has long been used
to make canvas and rope. Today, it's transformed into everything from
cloth, paper, shirts, hats, and even necklaces.

Officials in New mexico say, that's why they want to know if they could
make a part of the state's agricultural economy.

"With the concerns over the use of fossil fuels in the production of
plastic and rope and bags and other products,.. it makes some sense to have
some sort of renewable resource, a plant product, which is an annual
production," said Skaggs.

Some legislators say that hemp could be the cash crop of the future. Law
enforcement officials say, however, it would only make their job more
difficult.

"The biggest problem for police is going to be looking at a budget to buy
more field tests," said Sgt. Joel Cano of the Las Cruces Police Department
in southern New Mexico. "The other problem is that it will tie up the
officers for a little longer."

Those who support hemp, say not being able to grow hemp legally is a loss
to the whole country.

"We may be missing out on some important opportunities to increase incomes
of the plant growers," said Skaggs.

The bill before the New Mexico Legislature has already passed its first
hurdle. The House Agriculture Committee recommended the bill's passage. It
has one more committee to go through before going before the full house. 
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