Pubdate: Mon, 31 Dec 2007
Source: Daily Star, The (NY)
Copyright: 2007 The Daily Star
Contact:  http://www.thedailystar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/557
Author: Will Elting

ALLOW HEMP TO BE GROWN IN U.S.

I was glad to see Bill McLaughlin's guest commentary on  Dec. 19, 
titled "Hemp should be grown locally." This is  an issue that has 
been overlooked for years and needs  to be addressed on a national 
level. This country was  founded on hemp. Literally.

The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp  paper! In the 
Jamestown colony it was illegal not to  grow hemp because it is such 
a useful crop. Henry Ford  built a car out of hemp, that ran on hemp 
seed oil. It  was stronger than steel and, needless to say, vastly 
more efficient and cleaner than cars that run on  fossil-based fuels.

Hemp also enriches the soil it is grown in, unlike  cotton, which 
depletes it. It is time for America to  end this ignorant and 
destructive prohibition of hemp.

Will Elting

Oneonta
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