Pubdate: Wed, 30 Aug 2000
Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)
Copyright: 2000 The Anchorage Daily News
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Author: Kathy McCown

HEMP FOE MISSED MARK

I am writing this in response to Courtney Scharfe's letter about the perils 
of legalizing hemp/marijuana ("Legal hemp steals freedom," Aug. 28), in 
which he warns the readers of vice, organized crime, "so-called escort 
services" and "exotic dance clubs"; how they are robbing us of our freedom 
"to be good"; and how that influence would grow upon legalization.

I believe that he missed one of the points that he himself made in his 
letter, that if we legalize hemp/marijuana, it will not be a crime to 
possess or buy it. With that in mind, why would members of organized crime 
bother with something that would be incredibly cheap and involve no profit 
for them because there would be virtually no black market for it? Also, I 
do not believe that hemp/marijuana's being legal or illegal has much to do 
with the sex industry.

- -- Kathy McCown

Anchorage
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