Pubdate: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2000 Los Angeles Times Contact: Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053 Fax: (213) 237-4712 Website: http://www.latimes.com/ Forum: http://www.latimes.com/home/discuss/ Author: Stacy Brown AVENUE CABLE TO AIR DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HEMP Story Chronicles Hemp's Journey From The World's Leading Crop To Menace. VENTURA -- Avenue Cable is scheduled to air "Emperor of Hemp," the story of one man's 30-year struggle for truth, justice and a plant, at 8 p.m. today. Written by former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Herer, "Emperor of Hemp" exposes the dark secrets behind marijuana prohibition and reveals the political and commercial reasons why hemp, once the world's leading crop, became forbidden fruit in the 20th Century. The film tells the story of Herer, 60, who devoted half of his life to educating the world about hemp's medicinal, industrial and environmental value. That devotion often came at the expense of his own liberty. His 1983 stay in federal prison resulted from his refusal to pay a fine for protesting on government property. Herer said he believes that fuel made from the biomass of the prolific hemp plant could replace polluting fossil fuels. He said he also believes that pesticide-free hemp, once a staple of the paper industry, could again be grown for paper, saving forests. With songs by Bonnie Rait, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Walsh, Cheap Trick and others, "Emperor of Hemp" is narrated by Peter Coyote. The film is produced by Double J Films of Ventura, funded by Body Shop International founder Anita Roddick, written by Jeff Meyers and directed by Jeff Jones. Available only on video, "Emperor of Hemp" is available at Tower Records. Avenue Cable is expected to air it again on Thursday. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk