Pubdate: Sun, 08 Feb 2004
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Section: Sunday Magazine
Copyright: 2004 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Doug Buis
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n106/a06.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?330 (Hemp - Outside U.S.)

IF HEMP IS OUTLAWED, WHY NOT THE POPPY?

This enlightening article points out how truly stupid governments can
be. The history of the banning of hemp goes back to the 1920s and
'30s, when William Randolph Hearst, who had vast holdings in the pulp
and paper industry, fought for the ban because of the threat hemp
posed to his empire. The relation to marijuana was just a handy
excuse. If hemp can compete with oil and logging interests, do you
think it could be legalized? Not likely. In a shortsighted way, the
government knows what it's doing.

Doug Buis

Long Beach
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake