LETTER TO THE EDITOR,

In response to your March 11th article, “Drug-czar blast hemp-crop
advocates,” it is evident that Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey’s contention that
“the cultivation of hemp is economically not feasible in the United
States,” is merely a personal opinion. Although he says he is open to new
evidence that proves otherwise, he has consistently refused to meet with
individuals who are truly knowledgeable regarding industrial hemp.

It seems the only real reason the cultivation of industrial hemp is not
economically feasible in the United States is simply because of the absurd
restrictions imposed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, i.e., high
barbed wire fences, 24 hour armed guards and so forth. The reality is, the
United States is the only industrialized country that effectively prohibits
the cultivation of industrial hemp.

McCaffrey’s belief that industrial hemp production “would completely disarm
all law enforcement from enforcing anti-marijuana production laws,” appears
to be self-serving at best, since industrial hemp is grown commercially in
every industrialized country, including our neighbors to the north, Canada.
Law enforcement officials in these other countries have no problem
distinguishing between industrial hemp and marijuana. So why does this
issue causes such a problem for U.S. law enforcement officials? Could it be
because state and local law enforcement officials receive over $500 million
annually through bounties from the Federal Domestic Cannabis
Eradication/Suppression Program? This program, according to the DEA’s own
figures, indicates that more than 98% of those plants eradicated were
ditchweed, i.e., wild hemp left over from WWII.

McCaffrey’s statement that efforts to legalize industrial hemp “is a thinly
disguised attempt to legalize the production of pot,” is little more than a
slanderous attempt at character assassination. Would an informed person
honestly believe the Ministers of Agriculture in Canada, England and other
European Communities are proponents for the legalization of marijuana?

The fact that Canada will be commercially cultivating industrial hemp this
year should be a wake-up call for American agriculture and our elected
representatives. As a Kentucky farmer, it is my belief that we should
explore all possible opportunities to offset the impact of our declining
tobacco industry, including an unbiased evaluation of industrial hemp’s
potential. To do otherwise, puts our farmers and our economy at a
competitive disadvantage.

Andy Graves, President
(606) 293-0579
KY Hemp Growers Co-op
P. O. Box 9395
Lexington, Kentucky 40533