ON THE TOWN:

Someone please check the quality of the water and air supply at the offices of the state’s Republican Party because both must be poisoned.

That’s the only reason I can think of for its failure to support Assemblyman Chuck DeVore in his attempt to legalize the growth of hemp in California.

First, I will repeat what should be common knowledge: Hemp is not marijuana or any other type of drug. You cannot get high smoking hemp. I know because I’ve tried.

Just kidding.

Hemp is used mostly to make a very sturdy fiber, that’s all. Hemp is already being sold in California but due to decades of backward thinking, it is not allowed to be grown in the state.

Most of the hemp sold in California is imported from Canada.

DeVore’s bill is not a drug bill, it is a business bill. DeVore’s bill will enable hemp farmers to develop a thriving new industry for the state that will bring jobs and tax revenue.

The Republican Party is perceived as the pro-business party, but when the rubber met the road with this bill, they drove off a cliff trying to distance themselves from the ridiculous drug tag. Shame on them for failing to seize the initiative and receiving the subsequent kudos for improving the economy.

Chuck DeVore deserves a standing ovation, not a rejection by his own backward party. They blew it.

If you want to help DeVore improve our economy with this common sense, no-brainer bill, call the governor’s office at (916) 445-2482 or e-mail him through www.govmail.ca.gov and tell him to sign the hemp bill that is on his desk.

Over the past several weeks, some letters to this newspaper have denounced Newport’s Greenlight movement because it removes the power from people elected to make the growth and development decisions.

The Greenlight critics are correct in their assessment, but instead of looking at Greenlight as a bad way to circumvent power, it should be viewed as the ultimate demonstration of democracy.

Greenlight is to Newport Beach what the state’s initiative programs are to all of us.

Greenlight is not a problem; it is a symptom.

Movements such as a state initiative or Greenlight occur when enough people are dissatisfied with the status quo and do not want to wait the many years it takes for the changing of the guard.

In effect, the initiatives and Greenlight are a sort of governmental fast forward, the likes of which we see only one other time. That’s when there’s a proposal for politicians to raise their own salaries.

In Newport Beach, many residents were very concerned about their city achieving growth that was not of the type that attracted them to and kept them in the city in the first place.

When enough of them perceived that the trend was dangerous, they began the Greenlight movement and took this particular power away from the people they believed had abused it, or were about to abuse it.

Greenlight is not perfect, but neither are our decision-makers. Greenlight is, however, a pure expression of the people’s will, and even if one opposes Greenlight, there should be some appreciation of that.

Greenlight is not the end of city government as we know it. When enough people decide down the road that the decision-makers are again acting in what they perceive to be a responsible manner, Greenlight will be overturned.

Greenlight should be a wake-up call not just to the Newport Beach City Council but to any governmental body that is not acting in the best interests of the people.

Greenlight is a pure example of how the United States remains the best example of freedom around the world. Greenlight reminds us all that ultimately, we, the people, are in charge.

And if the governor does not sign DeVore’s bill, we, the people, may even have to decide to allow the growth of hemp in the state.