Nov 23 2008
A rhino made me do it
The Relevant Rhino has a great post today that if you haven’t read then you should. So go click that link. Now I don’t want to step on his toes (which is particularily hard to do with a rhino, I might add) or steal his thunder, but his post was about Hemp and why it should be legalized.
I fully agree with Rhino here. Hemp is a flexible product that has almost limitless uses, from bio-degradable plastics, clothing, soap, deoderant, paper, fuel — literally thousands of things.
Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington all grew hemp on their farms. In 1942 the United States Department of Agriculture made a movie called “Hemp for Victory” instructing farmers how to grow the product to replace raw materials that Japan had blocked off from the United States. In China hemp fibers are currently used to strengthen concrete.
There’s so much potential for development with this plant too. Hemp seeds actually contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary to maintain a healthy human life. Along with being edible and a good source of essential fatty acids, the oils from hemp seeds and stalks can be used as bio-fuels. More than thirty countries produce hemp and the United States is the number one importer of hemp-products.
So why is this helpful little green plant illegal?
Well, because it contains a teeny tiny amount of Tetrahydrocannabinol (man I love that word), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. In fact, hemp refers to the entire genus of cannibus, which includes but is not limited to the mean green reefer. The United States government refuses to acknowledge the difference.
Now as Rhino pointed out, a four year old could tell the difference between a pot plant and a hemp plant, but in all honesty why does that matter even.
Let’s take a step back.
Over 1% of the U.S. population is sitting in a prison cell right now as I type this. This is the highest prison-population in the world. What’s worse? What are a good majority of the people there? Non-violent drug offenders.
Now don’t read too much into this. I’m not saying all drugs should be legalized. Drug addiction is a huge problem in this country. I am glad that heroin is illegal. I am glad that crack-cocaine is illegal. I’m really glad that meth is illegal. But, marijuana? Really? I’m not even going to dwelve into the argument too much, I’ll just say this.
You’re telling me that a kid can legally go into a store and buy this and completely lose their sense of reason and sanity but can’t get slightly stoopid while puffing the magic dragon?
(10 points for those who know who slightly stoopid is)
I’m available as a scapegoat for birthday parties and bar mitzvahs as well…
Every 40 seconds in this country, another person is arrested for a non-violent marijuana offense. That’s just stupid. We’re at a tipping point culturally where this could either happen and benefit humanity, or be cast into the shadows until it’s too late.
It’s the fourth biggest cash crop in the country and it’s not even legal. Want a solution to the economic crisis? There you go.
I know of someone who offered to water a neighbor’s plants whilst they were on holiday - left them on the porch to get some sunlight, and found out what they were when local sheriff drove by and saw them! :) I have to confess that not having seen either hemp or weed, I wouldn’t know one from the other either …actually I couldn’t identify weed from weeds! :)
Fair enough. It is a pretty easy difference to see for those of us who have seen it. What a funny story though!
good point. just goes to show that america isnt looking for solutions.