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US KY: Hemp Study OK By Congressional Candidates

ccguide

Thursday 12 Oct 2000


Pubdate: Thu, 12 Oct 2000
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2000 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact: Fax: 606-255-7236
Website: http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/
Forum: http://krwebx.infi.net/webxmulti/cgi-bin/WebX?lexingtn
Author: Peter Baniak

HEMP STUDY OK BY CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES

Fletcher, Baesler: OK To Study Hemp

LEXINGTON, Ky - The major-party candidates for the 6th Congressional District l
ast night expressed cautious support for studying whether Kentucky farmers shou
ld be allowed to grow industrial hemp.

And Reform Party nominee Gatewood Galbraith said he's been right on the issue a
ll along.

At a forum sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau, Republican Ernie Fletcher and
Democrat Scotty Baesler said they would support further study of industrial he
mp as a possible supplemental crop, though both said it couldn't replace the ec
onomic value of tobacco for farmers.

Speaking by phone from Washington, Fletcher said it's especially important to c
onduct a law enforcement study of hemp because police often object to the crop,
saying it can be mistaken for marijuana.

"It will be difficult to do anything without law enforcement on board," said Fl
etcher, the incumbent.

Baesler, a former three-term congressman and tobacco farmer, said its OK to stu
dy hemp, but that it wouldn't be a silver bullet for the troubled farm economy.

"I don't think anyone should go around the state of Kentucky and say this is go
ing to replace tobacco," Baesler said. "Because its not."

Galbraith has long advocated legalization of medicinal marijuana and industrial
hemp for fiber and fuel. He pointed out that four former Kentucky governors re
cently agreed with his position on hemp as an alternative crop.

He also said that law enforcement shouldn't have to give permission about wheth
er farmers can grow a crop. Hemp and marijuana aren't the same, he said.

"Hemp and marijuana are to cannabis as Dennis Rodman and Danny DeVito are to be
ing adult males," Galbraith said.

The candidates covered a wide range of farm-related issues during the forum. Mu
ch of the talk was about tobacco, and whom to blame for farmers' woes.
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe

 

 

 

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