Uncle Cecil says:

"Getting back to the present, let's not pretend that hemp and marijuana are two different things. They come from the same plant, Cannabis sativa. The "industrial hemp" variety, which is useless for recreational purposes, is tall and spindly, where the stuff prized for high-potency smoke is short and bushy. While it's reasonably easy to tell the two apart when you're up close, they can't be readily distinguished during aerial surveillance. Federal drug officials are probably right when they say legalization of hemp cultivation would greatly complicate enforcement."

olddinosaur
Great post
If you've never read the book 1984 it correlates what you are saying nicely.

i live near the big muddy, & its true... the stuff grows everywhere. It will often get over 8 foot tall in the course of a few months.

While it is obvious to everyone around that this "ditch weed" is just that, a weed that grows in ditches, that doesnt stop the local police force from posing for pictures in front of it every summer & having a big bonfire for the media folks.

It's actually quite silly, as many local teenagers are steered away from drugs forever after they smoke some of this ditch weed & all it gives them is a nasty headache. If the police REALLY wanted to fight the drug war successfully, they would go planting this stuff everywhere as a *deterrant* to drug use.

But, as we all know, the war on drugs in America isnt so much about getting the drugs off the streets as it is looking like youre getting the drugs off the streets whenever the voters are looking.

one thing I want to know is among people who want marijuana kept illegal, who if any has Actually Tried It

I personally don't know anyone who has tried it and wants it kept illegal, (i'm not saying they still use, or think it's a good idea to use regularly) but if you try it you'll see that the effects are pleasant, transitory, and without lasting negative effect.

But there are really no serious problems caused by marijuana that outweigh the social cost of criminilazation.

By outlawing marijuana, all users are outlaws, and it is the very illegality of weed that makes it a gateway drug, if it were legal people wouldn't have to deal with a criminal element to procure it. So someone who wanted a bowl to relax after work could go to the local smoke shop (or their backyard) and pick some up, rather than going to a pusher who may have laced it, or offers harder drugs.

Also all the profits would be taxed, rather than going to drug cartels.

olddinosaur:

Navasky claimed that the purpose of the hoax had been "to provoke thinking about the unthinkablethe conversion to a peacetime economy and the absurdity of the arms race."

Let's discuss something that doesn't actually exist as though it did instead of discussing existing issues. That's the ticket.

Now you're on the trolley.

I can't wait until all the anti-drug fundies die off.

Hemp is a great source for making biodiesel as well, so it would reduce our dependance on foreign oil.

Yeah and Uncle Cecil is the final word on everything huh? I don't read a lot of his reports because frankly of the ones I have read I haven't seen an unslanted, unbiased, factual one yet.

Let's look at how objective he is in this one:

Our deforestation problems! Yes, absolutely, hemp is a perfect solution. I myself can recall thinking as a youth (puff) that we've got terrible deforestation problems these days (puff). What can we do about them? (Puff. Long pause.) What was I just talking about?

Yeah, no bias there. He's asked about hemp, which has THC concentrations of 3 parts per million, and he says 'puff' three times in the first paragraph and then pretends to be attacked by short-term memory loss.

'Uncle' Cecil, if he wasn't a party-toeing shill, would know you'd need to smoke a hemp blunt the size of a telephone pole to get high. Yet that doesn't stop him from drawing parallels right off the bat. By all means let's continue quoting him as though he's the final word.

Hemp oil/seeds are also almost perfectly balanced 3-1 ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 essential fatty acids

Mmmmm....Fatty acids....

YES it worked. Argue on.

One tendency I'm noting here is that the most staunch advocates of hemp seem to be the ones who automatically assume anyone that disagrees with them is ignorant, a 'slave to the corporations', etc.

My dentist is a corporation of one, guys. Chill out and just talk it over on its merits without this reactionary shiat :p

This is just the reason stoners use to make pot look like more than it is. A drug to get high off of. Don't get me wrong though, weed is pretty sweet :p

theflyingdutchman

What the poster meant was that deforestation also happens because of the need to make paper. Hemp fibers can easily be made into paper. Heck, the Constitution is on hemp paper. So yes, we like wood, and we cut down forrests to get it, and replant too. But some trees are cut just to make paper. And hemp can make more pulp per acre, over time (Hemp has a 100 day grow cycle, a "pulp" tree is 20 years) than any tree.

This thread seems to be afflicted by a problem that hasn't plagued Fark for a long time- HTML trouble. Someone forgot a close tag for italics, and the whole rest of the thread has been italicized. So, I've inserted one. You're welcome. Have fun talking about hemp. :)

Thanks Greek. I didn't have that problem, but I don't doubt you either.

I think that we should finish making laws about things that we actually create before we start making laws about plants that were still growing before we had established a government. Besides, everything in nature has its purpose- fits into the cycle in it's own way, so why would be feel the need to remove the hemp plant from nature? It clearly has it's uses, such as paper and clothing and removing polutants from sewage. Complain about how the colors run off of your hemp shirt all you like, but don't wreck the environment just because you think that some kids are going to get high and not invite you.

jw1776:

I understand. My point is more generally about this wonder plant that is hemp. Or at least how some people see it. In reality, right now hemp could be useful, but like electric or hydrogen autos it doesn't solve the whole problem and is not going to save the earth. Hemp is not the answer. It may be part of it, but we can't just say hemp and be done with it.

And so you know: the constitution in whatever building houses it (I saw it once, I think it's in the National Archive) is actually a sheepskin parchment, as are most old style official documents. Back then papers were cloth, so they lasted long time. This acid paper isn't great, but it's cheap to make and plentiful.

theflyingdutchman

When I heard about the constitution thing, it was when it was traveling around the US last year. One of those State copies, that now Norman Lear owns. I was told by the muesuem gal it was hemp.

In reality, right now hemp could be useful, but like electric or hydrogen autos it doesn't solve the whole problem and is not going to save the earth. Hemp is not the answer. It may be part of it, but we can't just say hemp and be done with it.

How do you know? It's estimated hemp would have over 50,000 industrial uses today. Once production begins and more research is done, even more uses and applications could be found. You can't adopt an insular view and denounce it as 'not the answer' when you don't really know.

The problem is we can't 'say hemp and be done' because for some inane reason it's illegal.

don't you anti-pot folk have something more important to care about.....i bet your the same people that drive slow in the fast lane

legalize everything.

hemp is also high in protein. the problem with some oils people use for their omega's is that the ratio of omega 6:omega 3 is off from what our bodies need so over a long period of time they can actually screw up the balance in our bodies which is no good.

hemp oil/seeds used for cooking and food have 0 THC in them and thankfully you can legally buy the stuff.

chewd

Just sitting here considering all of the ways the `hawser hooter' stuff has been used to generate income in the mid-mo area, over the years; besides the usual sheriff/rep. puffery.

1. Locals selling `treasure' maps, to university students, to local stands/then calling the cop shop to alert them to the out-of-towners fleecing the green (small cash reward for successful prosecution).

2. Selling hundreds of pounds of the trash, behind an Indicaed sample.

3. Using neatly wrapped, large quantities, stashed on enemy's/competition's property (then call the cops).

Since the stuff possesses absolutely no value outside of being used as fiber, the only reason the above corruption/business is possible is due to the illegality.

I would think that once voters become aware of how easy it is to set up just about anyone who's subjected to drug screens (someone powders the office coffee) that the rush to overturn the current laws couldn't be staunched.

Crazy Lee, I would never want to get on your bad side. You're a crafty one.

i bet your the same people that drive slow in the fast lane

That's because I'm an asshole.

And I drive a hot pink 1967 Cadillac El Dorado convertible, with whale skin hub caps, all leather cow interior, and big brown baby seal eyes for headlights.


_yeah!

"And some of that shiat....we used to eat it all the time back in the day....what's it called again...oh yeah, pussy"

raindown, no malice aforethought on my part, just careful attention to local news over the years, and Thirty years of experience in the psych/drug treatment conglomerate.

The Poison Control Centers in both St. Louis and Kansas City have had calls regarding marijuana - but they're always quality control questions, e.g., urine/feces contamination, PCP/embalming fluid adulteration. Local E.R.'s when asked, specifically, `How many individuals treated/admitted for conditions attributable to marijuana alone?' the totals are Zero/nada/not a one.

So, Joe Citizen Slave goes to work. He has a tiny amount of high THC, powdered boo, blown onto his keyboard - he is then tested and comes up positive. So, this poor schmoe is going to get, at the least, more tests and scrutiny - for what? A substance that is a `danger' by fiat alone... And, the asshole will probably vote for the baby kissingest, reefer strangler on the ticket... Again, go figure.

LOVEHATE
there are vechicles that run on hemp fuel. i know of one that was built in the early 90's that willie nelson drove around. there are many countries that grow hemp. for you anti-hempers watch the movie GRASS maybe you'll see the light.

Hemp is a phenominally useful plant, all pot-related arguments aside.

The problem is hemp is a jack of all trades, master of none.

We've all met the hemp nazi's, they are almost worse than vegetarians.

Sure its stronger than most natural fibers for clothing, but not as comfortable as cotton.

Its also not as strong as the synthetics (nylon) or as comfortable (rayon, lycra).

I had hemp cookies at an earth fair. Tasted like shiat. Give me tollhouse chocolate.

Hemp is a cure in search of a disease. For every one of the thousands of things it can do, there is something in that category the simply does it better.

This one might actually be useful though.

If everyone who used MJ were to join NORML they would become one of the biggest lobbying groups in Washington. If more people were to get involved in their country, and local community, they could make many changes for the better.

RugNug, you are what keeps hemp from being legalized.

Hemp proponents say there is no relationships between Hemp and regular old MJ, and they should be classified differently.

I agree.

Then the hard core stoners drop in, and people wonder why hemp is not legalized.

smoke weed everyday

Once Monsanto can control Cannabis like Corn, the argument will end. Until then the chances of seperating marijuana from hemp are vanishingly small.

sorry.....wasn't trying to threadjack. if the mods want to remove my post i wouldn't be upset. err....but i still think more people should get involved in their local and national governments though. a city council meeting can be pretty interesting.

uhhhh.....nuclear_asshat i could pass a urinalisys right this very moment. i also am active in my local community, and write my state and federal representatives whenever i feel strongly about issues. i am trying in my own little way to make my community and the world a better place. i am no hardcore stoner. i am however trying to make a difference.

Questioned earlier, to discuss whether the ban should be lifted, it's necessary to determine why it was outlawed to begin with.

As a drug, THC-rich hemp is generally harmless. Studies have found that people taking cold medication can be as slow to react and make decisions as someone "under the influence." This is the reason why those OTC medicines say to avoid operating a car or heavy machinery. The same should apply to THC users.

As a practical material, hemp is quite good in many ways, most of which have been mentioned. Sure, it may not be quite as good as cotton for clothes or nylon for rope, but it's still a viable, cheap, and abundant resource.

Finally, the US prison system is approaching a crisis in population, with a large number committing a crime that harms nobody but the users.

Since many have included me as a "stoner" who wants it legalized, here's my stand: It's not that I'm for legalizing it per se, it's because I think it should not have been outlawed to begin with. I am opposed to a government that legislates morality.

And for the record, I've never even tried pot. In fact, I gave up alcohol at the age of 26, and quit caffeine more than two months ago.

Do ya wanna ??

Do ya wanna what ??

Do ya wanna do some do ya wanna ??

Do I ever !!

puffpuffpuffpuffpuffpuffpuffpuffpuff


.

RugNug,

Not trying to pass you off as a hard core hi on. Not at all.

But there are two distinct arguments on any marijuana thread which always get lumped together.

Legalized weed, and legalize hemp.

The hemp folks dont want it associated with THC because they are simply not the same thing.

Unfortunately any attempts at making hemp available is hurt because the legalization of THC crowd comes out as well.

If they are seperate (and they are) then treat them as two distinct products.

By the way, i am not opposed to MJ at all. I am opposed to brainless habitual weed smokers making every good argument look stupid.

.

nuclear_asshat

hemp and marijuana are related in the respect that the government uses hemp's relation to marijuana to justify its illegality (obviously you know that). Part of what NORML does as an organization is educate mis-educated folks about marijuana and hemp. If as high a percentage of supporters of marijuana legalization supported NORML as say, old people to the AARP, hemp's legalization would be virtually guaranteed.

Look up an old film called "Hemp For Victory".
There you will learn how to grow hemp
the American way, and also learn that
hemp was used to aid the WW-2 effort.
Oh well, here is a link...

Click Me For 1940's Hemp Action!

point taken nuclear_asshat, but "what J.Garcia said." i know this isn't a pot thread anyway, so i'll leave it at that.

/kittens beware, Hemp Kills!

Hemp is our friend.....

philzone2001
Yes I'm sure there is one car somewhere someone figured out how to make run on refined hemp. But I asked why a whole country doesn't use cars that run on hemp. If no one else knows what I'm saying read my original post(1:06:19 if you don't know the "find" feature).

yay