Pubdate: Sat, 23 Sep 2000 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2000 San Jose Mercury News Contact: letters@sjmercury.com Address: 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190 Fax: (408) 271-3792 Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Author: Nora Villagran, written from wire reports and other news sources.

HEMP GIVES YOU ENERGY? ZIGGLY MARLEY SAYS IT DOES

Something's strange in Babylon. Ziggy Marley endorses hemp energy protein bars.

``I don't lend myself to endorsing stuff, but I believe in the hemp bar,'' the Rastafarian reggae artist said. ``Hemp has so many different uses. I want you all to support it, promote it and eat it.''

San Diego-based Govinda's Fitness Foods, which has marketed the Bliss Bar line to thousands of health-food stores for years, sent off a sample of the fibrous snack to Marley, who is the son of the late musical icon Bob Marley.

Ziggy liked it. In exchange for his endorsement, Marley gets 4 percent of the sales, which he donates to charity.