Pubdate: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 Source: NOW Magazine (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 NOW Communications Inc. Contact: http://www.nowtoronto.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/282 Author: Russell Barth INDUSTRIAL-STRENGTH HEMP One thing the Tories would never mention in any environmental legislation is industrial hemp. Hemp produces polymers that could replace oil-derived plastics for car bodies and thousands of other products. This would further reduce our dependence on crude oil and reduce the pollution that we put into the air, soil and water. Finally, hemp gobbles CO2 like crazy, which would further help us eat up some of our own emissions and those from the U.S. But then, using hemp to meet our energy needs and reduce pollution might "send the wrong message to youth" about marijuana, so it looks like we're stuck with crude oil and dirty air. Russell Barth Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine