Hemp

Are your children unknowingly giving money to the movement for the legalization of marijuana? According to some national anti-drug organizations, the recent fashion trend among children and teens is doing just that. Hemp, a non-hallucinogenic form of cannabis plant is finding its way into a number of things children and teens wear and use.

The Drug Enforcement Agency and drug educators like Dr. Thomas Gleaton say the promotion of hemp products is subterfuge for the legalization of marijuana and parents should take notice. "Now the question is will you do anything about this or will you accept that it’s just a stage," says Gleaton. "It may just be a stage. It may be the first stage of drug addiction." Sixteen year-old Michael Stafford doesn‘t think that most kids understand the connection between hemp and marijuana. "I mean you can’t smoke it and it doesn’t really make a statement about how you feel about drugs," says Stafford. "At least I don’t think it does."

According to teenager Frances Whiteside, wearing hemp probably does promote smoking marijuana, although that isn’t the reason she wears it. "I just wear it ‘cause I like it," says Whiteside. And that is why experts, including children’s health specialist Dr. Karen B. Dewling, says parents need to be aware. Dewling says parents of kids who wear hemp need not panic or suspect drug use automatically. Instead use the new trend as an opportunity for discussion. "It can be used as a real door opener for a conversations about values regarding drugs and the dangers of drugs, " says Dewling.

What Parents Can Do

Explain the significance of hemp. Marijuana is a derivative of the hemp plant called Cannabis Sativa. Manufactures use different parts of the plant to make marijuana than they do to make hemp. Hemp is different from marijuana because it has no hallucinogenic properties even though hemp and marijuana come from the same actual plant.

Explain the controversy around hemp. Anti-drug educators are against the use of hemp because they believe supporting hemp weakens the fight against drugs and marijuana. Many believe that buying hemp adds fuel to the fight to legalize marijuana because it keeps producers in business.

Tell both sides. Pro-hemp supporters and manufacturers believe they should be allowed to grow and process hemp without having to deal with the controversy of being associated with marijuana.

Non-narcotic hemp is imported from other countries because it is illegal to grow hemp plants in the United States.

Ask your kids to make a statement. Challenge your children to ask themselves if they may be sending mixed messages to peers by wearing hemp products. Encourage kids to make a positive statement against drugs and to stop the promotion of the idea that drugs are cool.

Send the message. If your kids decide to say no to hemp, encourage them to explain to their peers why they feel the way they do.