hemp
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Vice Presidential Showdown Being Held in Hemp Country
The political world has been buzzing since last week’s presidential debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Most analysts and viewers felt Mr. Romney won the debate and that the President seemed distant and unmotivated. The president has vowed to turn up the intensity next week as the polls have shifted toward Romney a bit. However before next week’s showdown we will watch the right hand men of the two candidates go into political battle.
Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan will be in Danville Kentucky for their debate. While this may not seem significant for some, Kentucky is hemp country both in a historical sense and in a modern sense. Kentucky lawmakers, one of them being the widely known Rand Paul, have been fighting to reform hemp laws, which if possible, make even less sense than our marijuana laws. Our politicians are the quickest to include American flags on their lapelle but often the slowest to remember exactly what the stars and stripes stand for. America’s history on hemp will forever be intertwined as George Washington even required farmers to grow the plant in order to help during the revolutionary war.
Irrational and overblown fears of marijuana during the turn of the 20th century into the 1930s lead to lawmakers also outlawing hemp. The fact that it is virtually impossible to get “stoned” from this part of the marijuana plant would not serve as a deterrent for dogmatic lawmakers. Hemp stalks include a fraction of 1% of THC, where most strains of marijuana can range from 10-25% THC. As more is being uncovered about hemp’s versatility, even politicians who love reminiscing in the good old days of anti science are forced to reconsider their opposition.
The two vice presidential candidates will probably stick close to the talking points of their runningmates/bosses. Even as Joe Biden is known for abandoning the script, we do not feel he will be fielding questions on marijuana and hemp, even though much of the debate will revolve around recycled ideas as to how we get America back to work. If only each debate required a local segment, where the issues impacting the region where the debate is being held were discussed. If that were the case then last week we may have heard President Obama and Governor Romney articulate their position on compassion and relief while this week we would be treated to Paul Ryan and Joe Biden telling us how they would jumpstart hemp farming, create jobs, and educate Americans about the wonder fiber.
As Convention Politics Dominate It is Important not to Lose Sight of Hemp Developments
Rand Paul, the son of the popular marijuana legalization advocate Ron Paul, has secured a passionate following in his own right. Rand Paul is a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, a state with an extremely rich hemp history. This week he spoke at the Republican National Convention, of course to no one’s surprise he did not bring up hemp and marijuana reform. We will not hold Rand Paul accountable for that as the RNC heavily vetted his speech, perhaps worried he would channel some of the ideas the Paul’s that are not in step with the GOP. However, while August has been a highly national political month as the presidential election kicks into full gear, another issue has gained momentum. Joining Rand Paul is Kentucky Agricultural Commissioner James Comer who is also seeking to reform outdated an ill advised laws restricting hemp farming. The two would like to alter Kentucky law before it becomes fashionable for other states to do so. Kentucky has traditionally been the center of hemp production in the U.S. and the feeling is that economic prosperity could return to Kentucky if they act now.
Former NHL Hockey Player Starts Hemp Organization
While it is common for professional athletes to turn to charitable work after they leave athletics, former NHL player Riley Cote is in uncharted waters. The ex-Philadelphia Flyer has decided to start organize a concert festival called “Hemp Heals”. His view on hemp has been inspired by his sister and the healing she has found with hemp food products. Cote’s sister suffers from MS. The concert/festival will be held today so anyone in the Philadelphia area is encouraged to attend. Hemp Heals aimed at promoting hemp awareness and education and will include high profile musical acts such as Sublime with Rome and longtime activists Cypress Hill. Cote said he was not “a pothead” though did say he believed in the effectiveness of medical marijuana. However, he seems inclined to focus on the many benefits of hemp. Recently he said “People are foreign to it, but hemp is a superfood, like almonds. It’s full of protein and fiber. I’m promoting industrial hemp as an eco-friendly material for clothing and a healthy food option.” Cote currently coaches the minor league hockey team “The Adirondack Phantoms” and looks as if his free time from coaching will be filled up with hemp activism.
Hempcrete To Be used in Construction of Florida Home
We at marijuana.net have posted many articles that highlight hemp’s varied uses. Food, paper, clothing, rope, and so many other products can be made by utilizing the hemp plant. During a time where we hope the green movement catches on, American Lime Technology is begining the construction of a home that will showcase an entirely new way of construction. America’s first home made from hempcrete will hopefully pave the way for future buildings. The home is expected to sustain hurricane force winds (up to 123mph). Bob Clayton of American Lime Technology is hoping hempcrete construction catches on across the U.S. He says that it is common in Europe to use hempcrete in construction and would like to see it gain popularity here. Many believe hempcrete offers a healthier lifestyle and does not trigger allergies linked to latex and other materials used in building traditional American homes.
For more on hempcrete an Americal Lime Technology click here
New Bill Aims to Fix Hemp Laws
Patients are all too aware of how destructive the war against marijuana has been. For reasons that defy logic marijuana has been treated like the “The Devil’s Smoke”. Another unfortunate by product of the common senseless approach to marijuana has to do with its impact on hemp. Even with low levels of THC that could not produce psychedelic effects, hemp production in the U.S. has been outlawed since the 1930s. Hemp offers so much potential and can be used in food, building materials, rope, paper and has many other practical uses. Many analysts have wondered why our government has not altered hemp laws, especially in this struggling economy.
Fortunately a few elected officials are seeking to change this. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are pushing for a bill to be passed that once again legalize hemp production and could help create jobs. Senator Wyden said “Introducing this bill is the first step toward a common sense policy on hemp that helps create American jobs. It is vital that all advocates for industrial hemp redouble their efforts tow in support in Congress if we are going to reestablish this economically important crop.”
Love is A Complicated Matter
Last week marijuana.net ran a story about President Obama and his roller coaster relationship with cannabis in an article titled “Can Hemp Repair Fractured Relationship Between Obama and Marijuana?”. In it we detailed a classic American love story that is currently fractured and in pieces. The president’s re-election campaign was selling scarves made of hemp, so we started to wonder if this was the first step to the president and marijuana getting on speaking terms again.
Similar to most all romantic problems, the issue can get very complex. Normally marijuana.net does not get into the “she said/he said” but we cannot resist here. Last week the move appeared to be an attempt to mend the fences but we have found out a new twist. Critics were upset with President Obama because the hemp used for the scarves has to be imported from China. Americans are still not allowed to grow industrial hemp despite all of its known uses and quality. The president has the ability to push to legalize hemp, instead, he choose to keep it in the dark. This move hurts desperate American farmers who could benefit tremendously from a newly legal hemp market.
The president and other elected officials often say “what kind of message does this send to our children” when describing hemp, medical marijuana, or cannabis legalization. However we must ask what kind of message does it send to our children that a benign wonder fiber that could jump start the economy has been criminalized? Even further what kind of message do we send when we say it is ok for China to produce and export hemp to us, but it is not appropriate for the United States to create their own hemp. What kind of message does it send to ignore our rich hemp history, (which includes an order by none other than General George Washington to grow hemp fiber for the Revolutionary War) especially in Kentucky. It always seems that the American government looks to other nations when they need their dirty work done.
The White House had to or should have been well aware of the critical reaction to this story. How could they think they would get away with acknowledging hemp’s usefulness and diverting the profits toward a re-election campaign but keeping it illegal on U.S. soil? The only theory we have is that the president was trying to antagonize his former love marijuana. Instead of granting her legal status he decided to take her cousin out on a date. Being a gentleman is not a prerequisite for the United States presidency, but the leader of the free world should know better.
Can Hemp Repair Fractured Relationship Between Obama and Marijuana?
Barack Obama, the president of the United States, seems to have already found the love of his wife. Any quick internet search on he and Michelle Obama will yield many pictures where the couple looks genuinely in love. However, like many marriages, a former love can really make a situation difficult to deal with. It …continue reading
Canadian Government Decides to Invest in Hemp
The criminalization of marijuana has caused some head scratching for decades. Why exactly are naturally growing buds with few side effects (certainly far less than many FDA approve drugs”) and a wealth of medical potential illegal? Lobbyists? Political stubbornness? Lack of Compassion? Well if we cannot these questions about why our government has outlawed marijuana …continue reading
Could Hemp Save the World?
Much of our focus at marijuana.net is on the constantly evolving legalities that is the medical marijuana industry. Old propaganda dies hard and lazy politicians have taken up the standard talking points of “we need more research” and “what kind of message does this send to children?”. While talking about propaganda, medical research, patient stories …continue reading