Pubdate: Tue, 30 May 2000
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2000 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  1150 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20071
Feedback: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Author: Ben Masel
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n664/a02.html

HARVESTING HEMP

In a May 19 Metro story, The Post reported: "Other than Maryland, only 
Hawaii, North Dakota and Minnesota have laws allowing hemp production. All 
were passed last year. Both Minnesota and North Dakota allow farmers 
statewide to grow hemp."

But Wisconsin has always allowed farmers to grow hemp. In the 1930s, the 
legislature imposed a $100 permit, which was last issued in 1958. Unlike 
Canada and U.S. states with more recent laws, Wisconsin law distinguishes 
hemp from marijuana by use, rather than by genetic variety.

Ben Masel, Madison, Wis.
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