Four years ago, Michelle Obama picked up a shovel and made a powerful symbolic statement about America's food and farm future: She turned a patch of White House lawn into a working organic garden.
That was a great move, earning kudos from just about everyone this side of Monsanto and the pesticide lobby. But now, as she begins another four years in the people's mansion, the first lady is probably asking herself: "How can I top that? What can I do this time around to plant a crop of common sense in our country's political soil that will link America's farmers, consumers, environment and grassroots economy into one big harvest of common good?"
Thanks for asking, Ms. Obama, and please allow me to intrude into your thoughts with a one-word suggestion: hemp. Plant a good, healthy stand of industrial hemp next to your organic garden!
This would, of course, drive the anti-drug zealots up the wall (a good place for them, I think). "Holy J. Edgar Hoover," they'd scream, "hemp is a distant cousin of marijuana!"
Well, yes, but the industrial variety of cannabis lacks the psychoactive aspects of pot, so their hysteria is misplaced. Industrial hemp won't make anyone high, but it certainly can make us happy, because it would deliver a new economic and environmental high for America. Plus, hemp production is firmly rooted in American history. Question: Besides being founders of our republic, what did Thomas Jefferson and George Washington have in common? Answer: Both farmed hemp. Most of America's founders were strong promoters of this extraordinarily useful agricultural crop, with Jefferson declaring it to be "of first necessity ... to the wealth and protection of the country."
The first draft of our Constitution was written on hemp paper. "Old Ironsides" was powered by sails of hemp cloth. As late as World War II, the government urgently pushed farmers to grow the crop as part of a "Hemp for Victory" program.
So why are American farmers today prohibited from producing this patriotic, profitable, pesticide-free plant? Political nuttiness. Most recently, in a frenzy of reefer madness, U.S. drug police decided that President Dick Nixon's "Controlled Substance Act of 1970" not only outlawed marijuana, but also its non-narcotic cousin, industrial hemp.
If ignorance is bliss, they must've been ecstatic, yet their nuttiness remains the law of our land today.
While our nation is the world's biggest consumer of hemp products (from rope to shampoo, building materials to food), the mad masters of our insane "drug war" have lumped hemp and marijuana together as "Schedule 1 controlled substances" — making our Land of the Free the world's only industrialized country that bans farmers from growing this benign, profitable, job-creating and environmentally beneficial plant. Thus, the U.S.A. is consuming millions of dollars' worth of products made from hemp, that hemp comes from producers in other countries, because our farmers aren't allowed to grow it in the U.S.A. and reap the economic benefits here at home.
The good news, though, is that a wave of sanity is now wafting across America. In Colorado, for example, farmer Michael Bowman and Denver hemp advocate Lynda Parker helped pass Amendment 64 in last fall's election. While it legalizes personal pot use, which got all the media attention, it also directs the legislature to set up a program for "the cultivation, processing and sale of industrial hemp."
Bowman now hopes to be the first American farmer in generations to plant a legal crop of it. Appropriately enough, he hopes to do so on April 30 — the 80th birthday of family-farmer hero and hemp champion Willie Nelson.
Even red states like Kentucky are on the move. Its Republican ag commissioner, backed by its Chamber of Commerce, is campaigning to legalize hemp farming there, and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is cosponsoring a national bill with Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden to take hemp off the controlled substance list.
As Bowman puts it: "Can we just stop being stupid?" To help move us in that direction, he's seeking 100,000 signatures on a online petition requesting that President Obama include the words "industrial hemp" in his Feb. 12 State of the Union speech. I'm sure the president would appreciate my advice on this, so I suggest he say: "First thing tomorrow morning, Michelle and I are going to give a symbolic jumpstart to the development of a thriving hemp industry in America by planting a stand of it on the White House lawn."
To sign Bowman's petition, go to the White House website: petitions.whitehouse.gov.
(Jim Hightower has been called American's most popular populist. The radio commentator and former Texas Commissioner of Agriculture is author of seven books, including "There's Nothing In the Middle of Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos" and his new work, "Swim Against the Current: Even Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow".)

To the editor,
Dear residents of Gilmanton:
I am running for the position of selectman. Many of you remember me from the years I spent behind the desk in the Town Clerk's Office. Since that time, I have served one term as selectman and three years on the Budget Committee. Over the years I have learned a lot about how the town works, how it is financed, how it is managed on a day-to-day basis. I also have heard a great deal from many people about what affects them and what is important to them.
I know that the challenges are great, that there are often, perhaps always, conflicting interests at play. I come to the decision to run again for selectman with no self-interest, no agenda other than to try to balance the needs of the people with the wants of the people, but first and foremost, promising to abide by the existing rule of the people, as set down in ordinances and laws.
I further promise not only to pay heed to the loud and present voice, but also to seek out the silent voice of those not present, as well as the quiet voice of tradition and history. I seek to listen respectfully and to decide fairly.
I hope you will show your support for me by voting for me on Tuesday, March 12 and, no matter what, pay attention to what the board is doing and make your voices heard!
Betty Ann Abbott
Gilmanton

To the editor,
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the fine folks at the Fink Chiropractic Center for their incredible skills and techniques used in helping me recover from surgery to my right arm back in October of last year. With the knowledge of the team at this great organization my recovery time, as well as my pain were both cut significantly. Techniques like cold lasering, nutrition and physical adjustments only added to regaining my strength and dexterity in a much shorter time period. At this point I am approaching 100 percent of my original capabilities.
To Dr Fink and his team I can not say it enough: Thank you, thank you, thank you. . . and GOD Bless you all.
Daniel Downing
Center Tuftonboro

To the editor,
On February 4, the Belknap County Executive Committee (EC) convened a noticed meeting. The chair of the convention stated the law required the committee to elect its officers. By a show of hands, they voted; Representatives Tilton - chair, Greenmore – vice-chair and Vadney - clerk; the first election to have ever taken place.
Then the brouhaha about Tax Anticipation Notes (TANs) took place. Without being recognized, the county administrator stated the Executive Committee had to approve a TAN, the borrowing of money per RSA 29:8, as the county will run out of money by the end of March. What was not said is the convention had until 31st of March to adopt its budget. The new EC chairman questioned why TANs had to be voted right then, without public notice, also demanding to know how much? The deliberation went on for some time about the $10,000,000 borrowing. Ultimately, the EC's motion to allow the treasurer to borrow up to $10 million passed. This was all done without the required commission approval for the treasurer to borrow the $10 million.
After the Executive Committee adjourned, and prior to the convention meeting, the commission meeting took place. Commissioner Philpot addressed the convention, stating the commission had to issue its order before the convention votes. In spite of a quorum being present; a conference call was made to John Thomas, chairman, and by majority vote, the commission ordered the Treasurer to borrow up to $10,000,000. The treasurer and rinance officer responded to convention questions, but the convention took no action. The cart came before the horse and fell off track.
The Right-to-Know requires 24 hour notice for a public meeting. The two meeting notices were: a. Executive Committee Meeting 4:30 PM - Conference Room #1; b. "Delegation / Commissioners Public Meeting" 5:00 PM — County Complex.
Clearly, no notice exists for a joint meeting with the Executive Committee/Commission at 4:30 PM. Therefore, the required order by the commission that the treasurer borrows up to $10 million did not exist when the Executive Committee voted to authorize the borrowing.
29:8 Borrowing — "... the treasurer, upon the order of the commissioners with the approval of the executive committee of the county convention, and such approval shall not be given until the treasurer has appeared in person before the committee to testify in support of any such request, may borrow such sum as they shall deem necessary for the purpose, ..., the approval of the county convention for such excess borrowing must be secured, unless the convention has not acted upon the appropriations for the ensuing year."
A "Historical Tax Anticipation Report from 2005 to 2013, attached to the Convention/Delegation agenda packet is not indicative to the facts and is problematic as to the legitimacy of TANs since 2010. The minutes /process for TANs since 2010 are as follows:
1. On March 4, 2010, "The County Treasurer has come before the Executive Committee per RSA 29:8 to seek authorization to borrow up to $14 million in anticipation of taxes for calendar year 2010" The Executive Committee affirmed the borrowing. Because the convention had not adopted its 2010 Annual Budget, Convention approval need not be secured and was not requested.
2. On April 6, 2011, "... The Treasurer is requesting to borrow in Tax Anticipation Notes up to $10 million." The commission approved the request.
This joint meeting was then turned over to the Executive Committee. A Motion "to authorize the Commissioners to Authorize the Treasurer to borrow up to $10 million in Tax Anticipation Notes." Motion Carried.
What is problematic is that on March, 14 2011, the convention had adopted the ensuing 2011 Annual budget. Therefore, the approval of the county convention for such excess borrowing must be secured. No recorded convention vote exists, a fatal flaw.
3. On April, 9 2012, the Executive Committee motioned "to authorize the County Treasurer to borrow up to $10 million in anticipation of taxes" Motion carried.
What is problematic is that on March, 20 2011, the convention adopted the ensuing 2012 annual budget. Therefore, the approval of the county convention for such excess borrowing must be secured. No recorded convention vote exists, a fatal flaw
On February 4, 2013, the commissioners approval of the treasurer's request to borrow $10 million dollars came after the committee voted. A fatal flaw. Then, the TAN $10 million borrowing deliberation was repeated a second time with the convention — which is not even required because, "the convention's approval must only be secured had the convention adopted the 2013 county budget, which is clearly still under consideration. What parts of the borrowings were done correctly? Can the Treasurer legally borrow the money this time?
Thomas A. Tardif
Laconia