Theodore A. Feitshans: Legalizing hemp a win-win

It was a pleasure to read Colin Campbell’s Oct. 30 Focus article “Industrial hemp set to become new legal crop.”

I have spent many years working with North Carolina farmers to help them improve their profitability. It has long been recognized that legalization of industrial hemp would open a profitable alternative for some farmers. Those who worked hard to accomplish this and the overwhelming majority of the members of the General Assembly who recognized the wisdom of legalization of industrial hemp are to be congratulated.

I was unhappy to see repeated the specious argument that there exists some relationship between industrial hemp and recreational marijuana. There is no relationship. There is a far greater relationship between allowing automobiles on our highways and DUIs, yet no rational person would argue for banning cars to prevent DUIs.

The prohibition on growing industrial hemp never made sense. It is a classic example of regulatory overreach.

The fact that the N.C. Sheriff’s Association supports this legislation is ample evidence that the prohibition is not needed to protect the public from the serious and well-known dangers of recreational marijuana use.

Passage of this law will contribute to our farm economy and to job growth in rural areas.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Theodore A. Feitshans: Legalizing hemp a win-win."