I AM heartened by the obvious concern of some readers for our environment (Letters, October 14).

There is already a plant available to man which will grow anywhere in the world and which could, within ten years, make a significant impact on the damaging effects of climate change.

There are approximately 50,000 products that can be made from it, including non-toxic paints, bio-degradeable plastic, cloth, food (it has one of the most nutritious edible seeds known) and building materials (bridges built in France from this plant 900 years ago are still standing).

It can also produce more paper per acre than trees and more fibre per acre than cotton (which uses 40 per cent of the world's pesticides).

Significantly this plant can also make fuel. In fact Henry Ford, founder of Ford cars, built a car made of 70 per cent of this plant and powered by its fuel nearly 100 years ago.

This plant is still grown today but in secret, by many millions of citizens around the world. Why in secret? Because if you are caught growing it you could go to prison.

This plant is cannabis hemp, which man in his infinite stupidity made it a crime to cultivate.

Steve Clements,

The Legalise Cannabis

Alliance,

Church Street, York.

Updated: 11:11 Thursday, October 28, 2004