THE LOUISVILL COURIER-JOURNAL
Louisville, Kentucky
August 16, 1998

Not a smoke screen

Woody Harrelson's visit to the Louisville Forum last week started the conversation about hemp anew. What a shame that it takes a comedic actor to keep a serious topic on the public agenda. That's life in the star-studded 90's.

Mr. Harrelson made his audience laugh, but he also scored a few important points. One was, "It's silly to let farmers and the environment and the economy lose out because of paranoia about drugs." In the case of hemp, the fear does border on paranoia. Hemp and marijuana are cousins, but they certainly aren't the same. It's possible to care deeply about the dangers of drugs and still believe that hemp could be a valuable crop.

Hemp used to be important to Kentucky. The climate here ( and in Tennessee and Missouri ) is just about perfect for it. Our rolling topography suits it. Given all the uncertainties about tobacco, we need a serious look at returning to hemp cultivation.

It may not be as lucrative as its most enthusiastic supporters hope. But it takes years to develop new markets, and this is an industry that has been dormant for about 70 years. A Canadian hemp farmer who also spoke at the Louisville Forum said he found it "exciting that America wasn't into hemp yet. It will give my country a strong start in the industry." Hemp now is being used for paper, clothing, carpeting, as well as for food products.

What Kentucky needs isn't more celebrity gawking, but folks brave enough to stand up and make the case for hemp. The question isn't "Should we legalize marijuana?" It's "Should we legalize hemp?" As time passes, the evidence continues to lead to the answer "Yes."