Hemp for New Hampshire

It's good to see policy on industrial hemp making strides. New Hampshire legislators are taking up the issue, rightly seeing the plant as a crop that could help out an ailing agricultural industry in the state. The bill allowing its production has already squeaked through the House of Representatives and will now come before the state Senate.

Of course, they still have to battle the misconception on the part of the public that equates agricultural cannabis with the smokeable variety. Take for instance the Ossipee police chief - who really should know better.

“Legalization of hemp is really a backdoor attempt to legalize marijuana. You’re going to increase the supply, which will lower the prices. That will give kids more access to it. It’s ridiculous,” he said.

What's ridiculous is that a law enforcement officer doesn't know the difference. With a 12,000-year history of growth you would think folks would be able to understand the huge benefits of this crop. As proponents point out, with an increasing amount of farmland being sold off and developed into condos and tony developments, it would be a great way to save a number of family farms and preserve our rapidly diminishing open spaces.

The hemp industry is thriving internationally. Given a chance, hemp could become the new cotton here and could bail out failing tobacco farms. Let's hope it gets the opportunity to demonstrate its worth.