Pubdate: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Copyright: 2000 Lexington Herald-Leader Contact: 606-255-7236 Website: http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/ Forum: http://krwebx.infi.net/webxmulti/cgi-bin/WebX?lexingtn Author: Lee Anne Wheeler HEMP COULD SAVE STATE Not only are there plenty of substances grown in plant form that will do a lot worse than hemp or marijuana, but also marijuana growers will take the risk of losing crops grown outdoors to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Kentucky needs a crop that can be used in several different markets. The government officials who oppose growing hemp should take a shower with hemp soap, wash and condition their hair with hemp shampoo, moisturize their bodies with hemp lotion, put on hemp cloths, slip on hemp shoes and grab their hemp bags as they go out the door. Then they should get in their hemp-fueled car to go to their destination, wherever that may be in the booming economy of Kentucky. They should contemplate for just a minute the time they wasted and the discontent they created by keeping Kentucky tobacco growers from making a decent living. Whatever problems hemp production by bring it will not come close to the havoc created when a state full of tobacco farmers realizes there it nothing wrong with growing hemp. So make a note on a pad of hemp paper to thank the farmers for the economic gold mine we are setting on. Whatever hang-ups the undereducated people of Kentucky have, they need to do some research even though Canada already has and encourage hemp production before everyone else goes, leaving Kentucky behind the times again. Lee Anne Wheeler Midway, Kentucky - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake