[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 125 (Monday, September 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         VERMONT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CONGRESSIONAL TOWN MEETING

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                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2001

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the outstanding work done 
by participants in my Student Congressional Town Meeting held this 
summer. These participants were part of a group of high school students 
from around Vermont who testified about the concerns they have as 
teenagers, and about what they would like to see government do 
regarding these concerns.

  On Behalf of Hillary Knapp and Christine Harvey--Regarding Healthy 
              Choices During the Teens Years, May 7, 2001

       Hillary Knapp. In January, Otter Teen Network helped 
     organize and run a peer leadership project, with the help of 
     Green Mountain Prevention Project.
       Christine Harvey. Otter Teen is a student-initiated and run 
     organization that invites teens to work together to create a 
     safe environment and positive school community at Otter 
     Valley. And OTM encourages young students to develop 
     leadership skills, have fun, and be high on life, not 
     alcohol, tobacco or other dangerous drugs. One of OTM's goals 
     is to empower individuals to respect themselves and others, 
     and not give in to negative peer pressure. There are no 
     membership requirements. All student and faculty are already 
     members. As a member, you can become involved as much or as 
     little as you desire.
       Hillary Knapp. Peer Leadership Project is where certain 
     kids from the school go and have leadership training for one 
     weekend. And Green Mountain Prevention projects provided a 
     facilitator, Workshop-presenter and team-building games. 
     Through the PLP, we generated interest among the middle 
     school students to get involved with planning and carrying 
     out of our Power of Choice Day.
       Christine Harvey. Our Power of Choice Day was a day where 
     we had workshops for students to go to instead of regular 
     classes, and the workshops were on healthy choices and the 
     power you have to make your own choices.
       Hillary Knapp. Students came to our Power of Choice Day 
     thinking that it was going to be really boring and they were 
     just going to sit there. And as they went to the workshops 
     and did all the Activities we had, they found that it was 
     interesting and they liked the day. The preliminary results 
     of the survey for the day showed that the vast majority of 
     the students enjoyed the day and found it somewhat to be 
     useful in their everyday life.
       Christine Harvey. We have a packet on all the stuff that we 
     did during the day, and some pictures.

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 On Behalf of Josh Smolkin--Regarding Legalizing Cannabis, May 7, 2001

       Josh Smolkin. My name is Joshua Smolkin. Thank you for 
     letting me speak here. Cannabis legalization has been 
     increasingly popular. This push is misunderstood by those who 
     discredit and close their ears to the cause. This push has 
     not come from people who merely wish to walk down the street 
     and smoke a joint without getting apprehended. It comes from 
     intelligent individuals who wish to make as much use of a 
     significant resource as humanly possible. Cannabis is the 
     only plant that has resilient enough growing habits, frugal 
     value, and the versatility to provide all the basic 
     necessities of life while helping to save our ecosystem and 
     supply all the energy we would ever need. I feel it is in our 
     best interest to legalize cannibus. Hemp is a form of the 
     cannabis plant that does not contain enough 
     tetrahydracanibinol, or THC, the psychoactive chemical found 
     in cannabis, to get an individual high. It would astonish me 
     as to why we have been confronted with so many problems 
     whenever there is an attempt to use it industrially. That is, 
     it would astonish me if I did not know that it is because 
     hemp poses a huge threat to the timber and oil companies, 
     both of which exert huge influence within the United States. 
     Hemp can be effectively made into all sorts of energy 
     products that are practically sulfur-free and cleaner burning 
     than currently used national resources such as crude oil, its 
     by-products, and coal. It can be easily made into a biomass 
     form of charcoal and gasoline. While when burnt, it will 
     release carbon dioxide, while it is growing, it uses up 
     CO2, creating more of a balance. I am convinced 
     cannabis is one of our prime allies in the fight against the 
     greenhouse effect and pollution. This possibility is 
     definitely not given enough credence. I guess it is a 
     horrible thing to explore likely ways to save our ecosystem. 
     The truth is, our oil supplies are not going to last that 
     much longer. Why destroy our world for the hundred some-odd 
     years it will take for our oil to be depleted, at which point 
     we will just have to run to a savior such as hemp our of 
     necessity? Pulped hemp is a prime candidate for paper 
     production. The cannabis plant has four times as much paper-
     usable pulp per acre as trees do. Furthermore, it grows back 
     in about four months. Hemp fibers are very long, and grow in 
     the organically binding glue found in plant cells, allowing 
     for environmentally safe chlorine-free bleaching. These 
     fibers can be made into various household items and clothing, 
     far superior to cotton in durability, insulation, UV 
     protection, and is easy to




     

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