Hemp could be robust for B.C.

Editor: In response to Shelley Eberle’s letter to the editor on May 20, marijuana legalization is a bad idea.

Contrary to popular belief, usage rates among teenagers were monitored the last few years by Scientific American. After Colorado legalized the recreational use and sale of marijuana, they found rates decreasing from 30 per cent of teens using in 2011 to 21 per cent in 2015. This has also been the case in Washington state as well as Portugal, as after marijuana was decriminalized, both usage and addiction rates decreased.

Legalization provides a safe platform to purchase substances free from the criminal element or buying product laced with more harmful substances such as fentanyl or other, unwanted drugs.

The intent of my letter was to share the message about hemp’s potential to bring much needed employment that is not minimum wage to B.C.While many enthusiasts promote cannabis legalization for recreational purposes, the plant’s true potential lies in growing and utilizing the hearty hemp plant, which can be harvested and re-planted in the same field, making it a sustainable resource.

Rather than extensive clear cutting and replanting of forests, much time and effort would be saved by harvesting hemp, which can be made into stronger paper, rope, and building materials at a fraction of the cost. S. Rathwell, Kelowna