marijuana
Moving to Legalize Domestic Hemp
As the movement for the legalization of marijuana marches on people often forget about the Mary’s sister plant, industrial Hemp. Both plants are members of the cannabis genus and both are illegal to grow or possess under Federal law. They are two genetically distinct species with different properties. Marijuana contains as much as 27% THC in its buds, leaves and trichomes. Whereas hemp generally contains 0.3% or less THC (although some places do allow for it to contain 1% and remain classified as industrial hemp). Furthermore the two plants are unsuited to be used interchangeably. Marijuana is unsuited for industrial purposes such as paper, clothing and building goods due to the nature of growth of the plant fibers. Similarly, industrial hemp will not get have the effects of smoked marijuana. It is very similar to the way that poppy seeds can make a person test positive for opium, but would produce get them “doped up”.
Since 1937 it has been illegal to cultivate both marijuana and hemp plants, aside from a special dispensation in WW2 (see “Hemp for Victory“). Today many states have passed laws allowing for compassionate use of medical marijuana, but it is still illegal to domestically grow and distribute industrial hemp products. This continues despite growing demands for hempen clothing, building supplies, fossil fuel substitutes, and food products. However, it is legally allowed to import foreign hemp products. To meet this demand, American companies must purchase goods from Canada, China and a few European countries. This is a farce. America (from the time of the colonies) was built on money provided by Hemp cash crops. At this time we are relegated to sending hard-earned American dollars overseas (OK, Canada is not overseas) to buy raw seed and fiber and end-products that could easily be made here, at an economic benefit for Americans. This market has nowhere to go except upward, especially as more Americans become aware of the many benefits (nutritional, agricultural, industrial, economical) presented by Hemp.
Currently, eighteen states have recent laws (within the last 20 years), bills, or amendments on the books or pending legislation seeking to allow for domestic cultivation of Industrial Hemp. Many of those states have only first stage laws that require studies by state boards looking into economic and agricultural benefits. Many of these studies are underway, but none have been completed. Part of this is due to the political insecurity that arises from dabbling in marijuana laws. Although attitudes have shifted greatly in the last several years, many politicians are still wary of endorsing anything marijuana-related. Regardless of those studies, every bill has language reflecting the worries about Federal prosecution. The caveats in the bills all mention that Federal statutes must either be overturned, rewritten, or researchers and farmers will require permits or dispensations from the DEA, DOJ or even IRS in order to grow hemp crops and be in compliance of state and federal laws.
The most recent states to challenge this Federal ban include Kentucky, Vermont, North Dakota, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Montana. Members of Congress have also sought to change the laws. In 2007, 2009, and 2011 they have introduced “The Industrial Hemp Farming Act” so that low potency cannabis crops would be exempted from the Federal ban. The current measure, House Bill 1831 has numerous co-sponsors but has not received a Congressional hearing. If passed, states would have the power to approve and regulate hemp cultivation and trade. Last year, Hemp imports were valued at over four hundred million dollars. This number is expected to increase this year and more in the future. Hemp production could soon be valued at over $1 billion. Taxed revenues from this business would do well to help offset American debt and trade deficits, if it was a domestic product. Not only is this an incredibly useful plant, it is hardy and grows in poor soils that are unsuited for other crash crops. Additionally, rotating hemp through poor soils helps to lock nutrients back into the earth so that other crops can grow better. It also is a prime source for photosynthesis and carbon sequestration, helping to mitigate the problems posed by increased amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse chemicals present in the atmosphere.
As more information comes to light about hemp it seems that the cultivation of this plant is a win-win situation for the environment, the economy, and the people of our country. Unfortunately, the same special interests (tobacco lobby, Big Pharma, Alcohol, fossil fuels) who secured the ban over seventy years ago still have enormous political clout. Combined with the inordinate amount of false information and prejudice against the cannabis plant, those in favor of legalization face a stiff uphill battle. More than ever it is incumbent upon us, we the people, to take an active role in our nation’s future and declare that this plant should not be denied to us.
The India Hemp Drugs Commission
By the late 1800’s, the British Empire though no longer ruling the New World, was still firmly entrenched to the East and still held sway over the Middle East and India. The major reason for this was, of course, trade. The Indian subcontinent, highly populated, was both a source and a consumer of massive amounts of British resources and products. In order to exact as much revenue as possible from their colonial subjects, the British taxed many products. This included alcohol and other intoxicants. In 1790, the British crown started collecting those duties, expanding to Cannabis products in 1793, “No person shall manufacture or vend any such drugs (bhang, ganja, charas, and other intoxicating drugs) without a license from the collector of the zillah.” For many years the cannabis plant and its products were legally bought and sold throughout the Empire. As time marched on, various laws were passed limiting the scope of their sales. This stemmed from the unknown nature and effects of the plant. Even today scientists, doctors, and politicians seem baffled by everything that is known, and unknown about cannabis.
It was with little surprise in 1893 that the British House of Commons raised a formal inquisition into the truth of this plant and the preparations made from it. At this time, the British undertook perhaps the most exhaustive and scientific research of the cannabis plant of all time. Nixon’s Shafer Report of 1972, and even modern studies may come close, in scope, to the size of this undertaking. Over the course of nine months, many members of the medical and scientific community, stationed initially in Bengal but eventually encompassing all of India, looked into all cases of marijuana-induced disease, of mental, physical and moral concerns. This was a thorough investigation, involving testimony from civil and military sources, as well as merchants, commoners and professionals. Almost 1200 individuals were interviewed, their testimonies closely scrutinized and questioned in an effort to sort truth from opinion and superstition, so that the India Hemp Drugs Commission might gain an actual understanding of the benefits and threats posed by the hemp plant. The main thrust of the inquiries were designed to ferret out the consequences of the drug in terms of “adverse physical consequences, insanity, and the causation of crime.”
The British were particularly worried about the physical effects of cannabis preparations on their soldiers (Napoleon even outlawed hash amongst his own soldiers in Egypt). It was a very easy habit to get started on, especially with so many troops stationed throughout India. In India there were several popular ways to imbibe marijuana. It was often smoked out of a pipe or cigarette, or as charas (sticks or balls of hash). Also it could be prepared as a drink, called bhang, which was mixed with milk and other herbs and spices, occasionally with poppy as well. Also, it could be smoked with herbs of the Datura plant to induce strong hallucinations. This was mentioned several times in the report, with doctors commenting that it should be given separate investigation because its effects were far less beneficent in that preparation.
The inquiries were thorough in nature. Doctors sought to compare the effects of single use with that of moderate, consistent and heavy users. They were concerned with its effects on digestion, causation of dysentery, asthma, bronchitis and insanity. One thing became clear as the investigation continued; there was no consensus on the benefits or detriments of the plant. Some doctors touted its medicinal properties, while others decried it as a poisoner of mind and body. Some things don’t change. In the year 1894, 2344 patients were admitted to insane asylums. Of those, 222 were alleged to be caused by hemp. Carefully whittling down those numbers to 61 cases it was still unclear, “even in regard to the remaining 61 cases, it must be borne in mind that it is impossible to say that the use of hemp drugs was in all the sole cause of insanity, or indeed any part of the cause. The following considerations combine to demand caution and reserve in pronouncing an opinion on this point.” Statistically, less than 2% of the purported cases of insanity could be blamed on hemp, and even that two percent were suspect. The report’s conclusion, “The careful inquiry which has been made by the commission into all the alleged hemp drug cases admitted in one year into asylums in British India demonstrates conclusively that the usual mode of differentiating between hemp drug insanity and ordinary mania was in the highest degree uncertain, and therefore fallacious. Even after the inquiry which has been conducted, it cannot be denied that in some of the cases at least the connection between hemp drugs and insanity has not been conclusively established.”
Even in the field of physical effects the results were uncertain. No doctor could claim without a doubt that dysentery was caused by the herb, because there were so many other factors that attributed to the afflictions of people in India. Today, we know marijuana does not have that effect on the digestive system. We also know that unclean water sources are the major cause of most dysentery cases. In the case of asthma, most doctors were against the notion that cannabis was a cause. Although many agreed that smoking preparations could lead to asthma inflammation as well as other bronchial troubles. That is still a valid concern on the part of physicians today, and a logical point of debate in the field of medical marijuana. Doctors of the time relied heavily on cannabis preparations for medical benefits; even Queen Victoria was known to medicate with cannabis for relief from cramping and other menstrual discomforts.
In two of the three fields of the investigation, marijuana turned out to be beneficial, or at the least non-malignant. The final inquiries turned toward the effects of cannabis on the moral health of an individual. Is this plant responsible for turning otherwise healthy members of society into criminals? The report’s conclusion, “In respect to this relation to society, however, even the excessive consumer of hemp drugs is ordinarily inoffensive. His excesses may indeed bring him to degraded poverty which may lead him to dishonest practices; and occasionally, but apparently very rarely indeed, excessive indulgence in hemp drugs may lead to violent crime. But for all practical purposes it may be laid down that there is little or no connection between the use of hemp drugs and crime.”
Overall, many of the report’s authors were somewhat dissatisfied, not with the positive results (in our eyes) but with the lack of concreteness to the results. “Viewing the subject generally, it may be added that the moderate use of these drugs is the rule, and that the excessive use is comparatively exceptional. The moderate use practically produces no ill effects. In all but the most exceptional cases, the injury from habitual moderate use is not appreciable. The excessive use may certainly be accepted as very injurious, though it must be admitted that in many excessive consumers the injury is not clearly marked. The injury done by the excessive use is, however, confined almost exclusively to the consumer himself; the effect on society is rarely appreciable. It has been the most striking feature in this inquiry to find how little the effects of hemp drugs have obtruded themselves on observation. The large number of witnesses of all classes who professed never to have seen these effects, the vague statements made by many who professed to have observed them, the very few witnesses who could so recall a case as to give any definite account of it, and the manner in which a large proportion of these cases broke down on the first attempt to examine them, are facts which combine to show most clearly how little injury society has hitherto sustained from hemp drugs.” After a sustained effort, it was shown that most of the negative stories that pertained to cannabis use were the result of opinion, superstition and exaggeration. Anecdotal evidence rarely held up to scrutiny.
A more thorough scientific inquiry into the nature and effects of cannabis would have been a logical next step, but the science of the time was greatly lacking. Even with modern resources, doctors and scientists still are woefully ignorant of the scope of this plant. It would be beneficial to the medical marijuana cause if the results of this study were more widely known by today’s critics. This report has been buried, mostly by time. As opposed the Nixon-Shafer report of the 1970’s, which was deliberately hidden away because its results were exactly opposite to the political ends of its commissioners. It is most interesting that these studies are undertaken and then forgotten. As Winston Churchill said, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Here stands the world, more than 100 years after this commission’s report and still without any clear answers to the questions they asked.
Hashish
The cannabis plant is consumable in many forms. One of the most storied and controversial preparations of marijuana is hashish. Hashish is a compressed and purified form of the resin that grows in the trichomes of the cannabis plant. Historically, bud harvests were pressed between palms or other plant leaves until all excess plant matter, save the resin, was rubbed away. This left a much finer substance, varying in consistency from fine powder to a paste of oily substance. The final product has a much higher cannabinoid content than regular bud clippings. Today, there are numerous ways of preparing hash, from mechanical tumblers, to ice baths, chemical separation treatments, and even vacuum distillation. This can result in powdered hash, hard blocks, nuggets of goo (for lack of a better description), or even a resiny oil, often called “honey oil”. These preparations can range from 30-90% in THC content, as opposed to untreated buds (up 27% THC). Although, as marijuana research and development has progressed, growers are now using high CBD strains to produce hashish that offers medical benefits to a greater diversity of patients.
Though hashish has been found frequently in historic sites throughout the Near East, Middle East and Indian subcontinent, many historical sources tie the name “hashish” to the word assassin and the story of al-Hassan bin al-Sabbah, a warlord from the mountainous region south of the Caspian Sea. In a nutshell, Hassan used hashish preparations in training and maintaining the loyalty of his warriors, often sent out to kill (assassinate) his enemies. This story came to the West, compliments of Marco Polo’s travels in the late 13th Century. This is the most accepted tale, but many scholars refute this story’s accuracy. From the 13th through 18th centuries, the use and spread of hashish stayed mostly in the East. But in the late 1700’s it began to spread West as Napoleon’s conquests into Egypt exposed his troops to it. Despite his prohibition, use of hashish continued and expanded, finding its way to the New World.
By the start of the 20th century hashish production and trade was widespread, with centers in the Middle East, Chinese Turkestan, and on the Greek/Turkish borders. However, as time marched on, many laws prohibiting hashish production and trade were passed across the world. As quickly as it had risen to prominence, it was quickly blacklisted. Today it can be found, in many places but is still castigated in others. In Amsterdam (home of the Ice-olater production method), many kinds of hash can be found, or in India and Nepal as “charas.” In California, Colorado, and other compassionate use states, it can be found at dispensaries. And these cultivators are some of the pioneers pushing the strains in new directions to help benefit patients whose afflictions leave them with few treatments.
On the other end of the spectrum, Oklahoma recently passed a bill including sentencing for anywhere from two years to life for production, sales or distribution of hashish. House Bill 1798 names a mandatory 2-year minimum sentence, as a felony, for first time convictions. Subsequent offenders face sentences without leniency or parole to a lifetime sentence. This is a newly-minted law for a cannabis-based product, not heroin, crack or cocaine (although those laws are just as strict). By the way, Oklahoma and Colorado share approximately 100 miles of border. At the same time, Colorado is looking into DUI laws for cannabis. This may not be welcome news to most patients, but it is a key part of regulation and acceptance. Most people rail against sobriety check points (for alcohol), but they deter drunk driving and therefore save lives. Hopefully Colorado’s legislators will spend time to review the science behind the detection of cannabis in the body. It is not as simple as a test as for alcohol inebriation.
History of the Cups
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It is finally time for the Denver Medical Cannabis cup. If you are in Denver this weekend, please come and visit us as we will be one of the sponsors of the event! We are sure patients will gather for another safe event as they have in the past. But first, a quick look on how we got here…
The first Cannabis cup was organized by Steven Hager, of High Times Magazine. In 1987 Amsterdam was the most famous of cities for legalized consumption of marijuana. So it was held there, in a great smoke-off to find the finest marijuana that a person could smoke. In 25 years the contest has matured; there are multiple categories, seeking the best strains, hybrids, consumables, seeds and so forth. It has also developed into a massive trade show, where builders of bongs can showcase their latest pipes, vaporizers, and novelty papers. Vendors also bring in t-shirts and other apparel and all other kinds of accessories. As the Cup has grown, it has incorporated other elements that have accompanied marijuana use. It has embraced spirituality and the counterculture ideas of the late 60’s and 70’s. Also, as politics have shifted across the world, so have the ideas espoused by the Cup’s sponsors and attendees.
Today, the United States is host to four of High Times’s Medical Marijuana Cups. In Detroit, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The First one was the San Francisco Cup in 2010. Last year saw the inaugural events for Denver and Los Angeles also. These are not just pothead toke-fests as conservative demagogues would paint them; they’re not dens of sin, iniquity and crime, or doorways to destruction. These are modern affairs, full of people with honorable agendas seeking to help people who are suffering from various ailments. For many of these patients, cannabis holds the best treatments they can hope to receive. New categories include judging for high CBD (cannabidiol) strains, which the medical community now agrees hold the key to treating many neuromuscular disorders. One of the largest growing segments of the Cup community is for political activism. Most major events now have devoted sections to increasing political awareness. On a national stage most politicians won’t touch the topic of marijuana; there are few candidates, like Ron Paul and Gary Johnson, who are willing to discuss it. But on state and local levels, many politicians are eagerly discussing with their constituents. Also, there are many active groups like NORML, LEAP and ASA who attend these gatherings and try to increase awareness and activism. For years the pro-marijuana lobby was small and quietly ignored. Now attitudes are turning from universal recreational use (like alcohol and tobacco) to a focus more on compassionate care and medical use, at least in enough cases now to be taken more seriously. Also, by highlighting the many failures of the 40 year-old “War on Drugs” people have realized that change, on a federal level, is necessary for the health of the Union and its people. All of this has helped the Cups to grow from crowds of hundreds to tens of thousands of supporters.
The Seattle HempFest is another event that has grown from very humble roots. The first one was held in Seattle in 1991, with only 500 people in attendance; last year’s event estimated close to 300,000 attendees! At each of these events people have gathered peacefully for several days. Recently, Cannabis use, in public, has been tolerated with no ill effects. Alcohol sales are banned at Hemp Fest, too. And in that wake, there have been no riots, no fights, no dangerous crimes committed. This is a far cry from the mighty fears that Henry J Anslinger stirred up when he pushed to have marijuana made illegal in the 1930’s. In 1991, there were no laws anywhere for compassionate use. Then, in 1998 Washington State passed their medical marijuana legislation. In 2003, Seattle made marijuana its lowest police priority and in 2008 the city stated it “would no longer prosecute simple possession cases.” This year, the state legislation approved patient cannabis gardens and an ordinance for cannabis collectives. With perseverance and patience, even the smallest of groups can hope to accomplish great deeds.
Hemp for Victory!
In 1943 the US was embroiled in World War II. The Japanese had been invading islands in the Pacific, going after the Philippines. Their fleet had cut off access to Manila and many supplies that the US war effort relied upon. One of those supplies was hemp. Hemp was widely used by the US Navy. But, thanks to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, Cannabis was no longer legal to grow on domestic soil. Once we were cut off from those precious hemp supplies, the government realized that they needed to supply their own hemp. Afterward the Department of Agriculture put together a piece of wartime propaganda called “Hemp for Victory.” This short film was distributed and shown to American farmers as an instructional guide for growing and preparing cannabis crops for industrial use.
“Hemp For Victory” outlines the proper way to pick seeds, and proper soil types for optimum growing conditions. It then goes on to discuss harvesting techniques and how it gets turned from a plant into the many items the Navy uses. In 1942 the US harvested 36,000 acres of hemp and for 1943, with the help of some patriotic farmers, they were looking to yield upwards of 50,000. They needed it for the war effort; a battleship required 34,000 feet of hemp rope for mooring lines, tows, anchor lines, tackle and gear. The army used hemp for parachute webbing, light duty fire hoses, threads in shoes and clothing, twine and more. Of course to plant all these crops, American farmers needed a special permit from the Internal Revenue Service, or else they would be criminals, instead of patriotic planters.
It’s amazing how the US government is willing to turn a blind eye against their own laws, when it suits their purposes. Marijuana the medical herb is the scion of this plant yet it was completely banned. Suddenly America needed it again and it was legal for a special few to grow it. However, after the war the film was mothballed and the official word from the USDA was that it did not exist. The government denied its existence until two copies of it surfaced and were donated to the Library of Congress in May 1989, by Mia Farrow, Carl Packard and Jack Herer. On one hand marijuana is evil, but on the other it is the most useful plants Americans needed to win the war.
Hemp Seed Oil
Cannabis sativa L, that ever-so-helpful plant has been used for many thousands of years, for many thousands of reasons. Oil from hemp seeds is one of nature’s most beneficial oils that people enjoy. For a long time its popularity has waned, but it is making a comeback thanks to some progressive entrepreneurs and their dreams of a happier and healthier lifestyle for all of us. Why bother with the seed oil, when so many people seem to be happy enough with buds? Well, hemp seed oil has excellent nutritional value and none of the psychotropic properties of the buds and leaves. It is also legal to sell and consume in the USA (still working on legal to grow) so anybody can enjoy it at anytime.
Nutritionally speaking, hemp seed oil is about as perfect an oil as nature can provide for us. About 70-80% of the oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids (that’s the kind doctors say are good) and 9-11% is the saturated kind. It also contains numerous essential fatty acids that humans need to live, but cannot produce within our bodies. These acids are in perfect ratio of 3:1 Omega 6 to Omega 3 acids. According to nutrition experts, that is exactly the ratio that people should ingest on a daily basis. Doctors should recommend this in a diet because of its balance and how it can help our daily health. The nutrients in hemp seed oil can help maintain a healthy digestive system, strong immune system and keep skin healthy too. Hemp oil has long been used as a treatment for eczema. It contains antioxidants, such as vitamin E and carotene, numerous minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron and zinc and more.
Have we mentioned that hemp seed oil also tastes good? When fresh, it has a clear, to light green color and nutty flavor to it that many people enjoy. It goes great on salads as a dressing, can be used in mayonnaise and butters, and is great to marinated with as well. But it is not good for cooking/frying with. As an unsaturated oil, it becomes denatured above 150 degrees and produces unhealthy trans-fatty acids and has raised peroxide values. That increases the amount of free radicals in the oil, which can lead to rancidity of the oil and spoiling of food it is mixed with. Food experts agree that hemp seed oil should be stored cold, in sealed containers and out of sunlight.
Hemp seed oil is not so popular now, but that is changing and it can now be found in more stores now than in the last few years. Because hemp grows profusely and has few pests that attack it, it can be grown organically, pesticide and herbicide free. There are growers and distributors popping up around the country, in Ohio and Kentucky to name a few. Also, Canada’s hemp industry is growing rapidly thanks to companies like Hemp Oil Canada Inc, HOCI for short (pronounced “hockey”, duh). If you are yet to try it, we hope you will. Enjoy it in good health!
1956, a Grave Injustice
One of the more infamous events in drug law history was the passage of the Narcotic Control Act in July of 1956. One of its many effects was the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences for possession, distribution and trafficking of drugs, particularly Marijuana. At this time, Marijuana was still highly castigated by the majority of the US population, especially those eager-to-please, power-hungry politicians. Henry J Anslinger (the man behind the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937) was still the drug czar of the era, and although this bill was not his brain-child, he certainly championed it as it gave enormous power to his organization (the Federal Bureau of Narcotics). Interestingly enough, some members of the Federal bureaucracy (those in law enforcement) were against this because it gave so much power to a sub-department of the Treasury Department. Some of its provisions wanted bureau agents to carry firearms and serve warrants. It also allowed them to make arrests and obtain wiretaps without warrants.
In the 1950’s, “narcotic” drug use was ramping up in the United States. Also, it was a time where the first congressional hearings were broadcast on television. These Senate hearings discussed organized crime and its continued rise in power. Where was this stemming from? More money = more power, and the crime lords were making vast swaths of money in drug trafficking, specifically heroin, cocaine and marijuana. For a quick tutorial on this, take a few minutes to check out The Godfather. There’s a great scene where the Dons of the Five Families get together and discuss how they will make peace between themselves and carve out their empires by building on drug revenue. Some were against drug sales due to moral objections (although they had no problem with gambling, prostitution and protection rackets) while others saw an untapped market just waiting to explode. Well, the entrepreneurs were right and drugs were indeed the wave of the future. It only takes a little taste to get most users hooked. So, a lot of society’s members were legitimately worried about this rising tide. It was a pity that Marijuana got caught up with the much more dangerous drugs, but alcohol and tobacco were once again ignored.
Let’s get to the meat-and-potatoes of this bill. It “increased the minimum and maximum penalties for all drug offenses to 1-10 years, 5-25 years, and 10-40 years for succeeding convictions; increased the fine in an categories to $20,000; and imposed 5-20 years upon first conviction for any smuggling or sale violation, and 10-40 years thereafter, with a separate penalty of 10-40 years for any sale or distribution by a person over eighteen to a minor, and from ten years to life, or death when a jury so recommended, if the drug was heroin. All discretion to suspend sentences or grant probation, and all parole eligibility-generally available to anyone convicted under any other federal criminal law-were prohibited except for first offenders convicted of possession only.” By removing the chance for parole, inmates had no incentive to reform their behavior and become functional members of society. Furthermore, the law required that anyone convicted of drug crimes must register and receive special licenses to exit and enter any borders of the United States. Failure to comply with this provision led to fines and further imprisonment. There are a few more caveats to this piece of legislation; if there are any interested people, that information can be found here.
This law stood until it was thankfully overturned in 1970. It led to many thousands of arrests and incarcerations. Many of the convicted were young offenders and served the majority of their lives in jail, if they lived long enough to be released. There were a lucky few who were pardoned by President Kennedy in 1962, but there were very few.
Surprised, horrified, and/or upset by this tidbit of history? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. Luckily this law is gone, but the Marijuana community has many more battles to fight before they can declare victory.
Marijuana Worldwide
When people talk about legal developments in marijuana, they’re usually talking about the United States or the Netherlands. It’s also famous in Jamaica and a few other countries. But there is a whole world out there where cannabis is grown and consumed. What about those other places? From Canada to Peru, Australia, Korea, Thailand and more, what do they have going on? Most of the countries of the world have laws against growing, selling and possessing marijuana. Why is that? Well, thanks to dependence on foreign aid, and big countries throwing their weight around, it can be pretty difficult to find decent herb. In some countries it is illegal but overlooked, others have minimal policing efforts (read: bribes are OK) and in some countries the penalties include harsh jail times or even execution. All that for a weed that, if left unchecked, will grow just about anywhere.
How did this happen? Until the early 20th century, hemp and cannabis were grown throughout the world for industrial and medicinal purposes. Some countries even had laws requiring farmers to grow it so they could meet minimum requirements for many different industries. In the space of just a few decades all this changed. US and UK governments pulled a 180 on their stance for the plant and suddenly everyone was forced to go along for the ride. They were superpowers of their day; the British Empire was waning, as the United States’ strength was gaining. The influence these two countries wielded was enormous. The British government passed the Dangerous Drugs Act in 1927, and exported versions of it to all its colonies and territories such as New Zealand and Australia. This effectively ended growth and trade for many drugs like opium and coca, but also included cannabis. In 1925 the League of Nations (Failed precursor to the UN) added it to the list of controlled substances. The United States followed suit shortly afterward (at the prodding of HJ Anslinger and the Hearst Media empire). So, the UK, US and League of Nations were busy sticking their nose in other people’s business and making life less enjoyable. There was a slight turnaround during World War 2 because hemp was needed for war purposes. But once the war was done, right back to ILLEGAL!
After World War 2 ended, the USA was the big dog and started telling more countries what to do. They were sending troops to some countries and withholding aid from others until they passed laws that agreed with our own. Trade barriers were erected, international interdependence increased and the US was busy buying and selling raw materials and finished products. If Thailand or Uganda or Columbia wanted in on the action they had to play by American rules. So laws were set down, with varying degrees of punishment, and they could enter the global trade game. As things stand today, there is a majority global ban on growth and sale of cannabis. Yet, if one takes the time to tour the world and hit up backwater areas, or derelict buildings with brand new electrical systems, they will find grow-ops flourishing. In Hawaii, drug enforcement uses helicopters for flyovers to see who is growing in their backyard. In Burma there are military crackdown raids with seek-and-destroy orders. But in England, the company that produces Marinol has several massive and state-of-the-art technology Classified grow-op centers that any California cooperative would drool over.
Times they are a changing and it seems the cannabis plant will bear fruit once more. Hopefully the laws against this plant will decay as more and more people realize it poses no harm, and can only help humanity. We may even see a domino effect once the US government pulls its head out of the sand and ends the federal ban. Stay tuned for more updates on the status of marijuana worldwide.
Mary Jane and Mario Brothers make quite the team!
Video games are for kids, right? What happens when those kids grow up? Don’t they still love their games? Pong was released in 1972, so any kid who had it would be over 40 years old now. And in that time games have gone from a pixel bouncing between paddles to the realistic graphics and life-simulating action of games life Call of Duty and the latest Madden that looks almost as good as a real football game. So it can’t be just for kids, especially with so many games having mature content ratings. They are more than just games today. They are art made in motion; they are a social experience. As games have joined the internet they have brought people together from across the world.
The video game companies know they can sell more games if they make them for a wider market, so the adult gaming world exists. There are people who grew up with games, just as others had Legos. The adult gaming community is huge and it works hard to shed the old stigma that games are a waste of time, and for kids only. Nintendo has worked hard to dispel this image too. Their latest console, the Wii has been marketed as a family console. It’s as much fun for junior as it is for grandpa. The party games cater to multiplayer, and who can complain when Wii Bowling is so much fun. It is as good as real bowling, only your arm won’t fall off after 20 games because its a 4oz wiimote being wielded instead of a 16 pound bowling ball.
There are those who lay the blame for rising obesity epidemic at the feet of video games. If parents would put down the controller and send them out to play real sports they might lose some weight. But gaming does have its benefits. Research has shown that games can help cognitive development, spatial relations, and hand-eye coordination in ways that sports cannot. As with any pursuit, balance and moderation are needed. One study has shown that gamer-athletes show the best levels of coordination, with gamers-only just behind them, athletes ranking lower and those who play neither sports nor games as least coordinated. Sports give excellent balance and body control to athletes, but gamers excel at fine motor control, such as that needed while driving, or for doctors performing surgery, or for military snipers. A recent study has shown that doctors who play video games before performing arthro- and laproscopic surgery make 1/3 less mistakes and often complete procedures quicker. While speed does not always equal success, the less time a patient remains cut open the less likely they are to contract infections and suffer complications.
Where does this fit in with the marijuana community? The obvious answer, many many gamers smoke marijuana. But there’s more to it than that. It ties in with the social and community aspect. Friends separated by distance can bond over a game, or even discuss business during loading times. Just hit pause between waves of monster hordes and then a few friends can take a moment to re-medicate and enter a game. Xbox live is a great way to talk with a bud and discuss a new strain and how its effects may be more helpful for disease treatment than something previously taken. Many patients who medicate with marijuana are housebound. Internet gaming allows them social access that is otherwise denied by their limited mobility. For others, it provides sociability without alcohol. Bars are often loud, rowdy, expensive affairs (not all of them) that don’t appeal to some people. Video games let people relax in their own home and commune with friends more intimately. In multiplayer mode, players can compete against each other, or they can work together. It’s a great team-building exercise. Businesses could benefit from having their employees cooperating. A game night at the office is certainly cheaper than a paintball expedition and has less risk of injury.
Hemp Plastic
Hemp the wonder plant strikes again! This time it is here to upset the petroleum plastics industry. But how is that possible? How can a plant overturn one of the most environmentally unfriendly materials industries? Well, it turns out that hemp can be manufactured into plastic, a stronger better plastic. It can be molded, extruded, …continue reading