Don’t forget hemp

Sun., March 23, 2014

Some states say yes, some say no, and the feds don’t know what to do.

The present prohibition of cannabis is being modified by consumer demand in many states.

Medical use is being allowed to a few with medical need. Some states see a tax opportunity in recreational use. What is being omitted in the debate is the elimination of the prohibition of industrial cannabis; hemp. Hemp has many uses, primarily industrial.

Cannabis is the correct term for the many varieties from which we get canvas. Indeed, canvas, rope, sails, cloth, oil, fuel, paper and even plastics were important cannabis products until all forms of cannabis were prohibited in 1937. That ended the industrial uses upon which the United States depended and prospered for over 200 years.

Steve Smith

Spokane

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