Hemp Facts

Hemp facts are Courtesy of The Kentucky Hemp Museum & Library, Versailles, KY

1. One acre of hemp produces twice as much oil as one acre of peanuts.
Agriculture, Papermakers have high hopes for Industrial Hemp.
Agri-View. ” Wisconsin’s largest farm newspaper” April 27, 1995.

2. America’s first hemp law was enacted in 1619 at Jamestown Colony, Virginia ordering all farmers to grow Indian hemp seed.
Clark. V.S., History of Manufacture in the United States, Mcgraw Hill. NY 1929. pg 34.

3. Cannabis hemp was legal tender in most of the Americas from 1631 until the early 1800′s. you could even pay your taxes with cannabis hemp.
Clark. V.S., History of Manufacture in the United States. Mcgraw Hill. NY 1929. pg. 34.

4. “The earliest known woven fabric was apparently of hemp which began to be worked in the eighth millennium (8,000-7,000) BC).
“The Columbia History of the World. 1981. pg. 54.

5. The original. Heavy-duty, famous Levi jeans were made for the California ’49ers out of hemp sailcloth and rivets so that the pockets would not rip when filled with gold.
Hemp and the Marijuana Conspiracy: The Emperor Wears No Clothes, Jack Herer, Revised and expanded 1995 edition: copyright March, 1995, HEMP Publishing. 5632 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys. CA 91401. pg. 6.

6. One acre of hemp produces as much cellulose fiber pulp as 4.1 acres of trees.
Dewey & Merrill. Bulletin #404. U.S. Dept. of Age. 1916.

7. Hemp paper is stronger and has greater folding endurance than wood pulp paper.
Dewey & Merrill. Bulletin #404, US Dept. of Ag., 1916.

8. Cannabis hemp seeds contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids, which are vital to the immune system necessary to maintain a healthy life.
Hempseed Nutrition. Osburn, Lynn, Access unlimited, P.O. Box 1900. Frazier Park. CA 93225.

9. Hemp seeds contain up to 24% protein. A handful of seed provides the minimum daily requirement of protein for adults.
Rosenthal. Ed. Hemp Today, pg. 101.

10. The first recorded hemp crop planted in Kentucky was planted on April 25, 1775 in Boyle County.
State Historic Sight Marker, Boyle County Kentucky.

11. In the 1800′s, Kentucky regularly accounted for one-half of the industrial hemp production in the United States.
Hopkins, James F., 1951. A History of the Hemp Industry in Kentucky. Lexington: University of Kentucky
Press.

12. In 1942, the US Army and Department of Agriculture released their “Hemp for Victory” film which encouraged farmers to grow hemp for the war effort. The war had cut off importation of fibers for textiles and rope, and by 1943, over 100,000 acres of hemp were growing in the US When W.W. II ended, the US Government canceled virtually all hemp farming permits.
Roulac, John, Industrial Hemp Practical Products – Paper to Fabric to Cosmetics, pg. 13. Hemptech.

13. In 1938, Popular Mechanics magazine stated, “Over 25,000 products can be manufactured from hemp, from cellophane to dynamite.”
Roulac, John. Industrial Hemp Practical Products – Paper to Fabric to Cosmetics, pg. 24. Hemptech.

14. August 13, 1941, Henry Ford first displayed his plastic car at Dearborn Days in Michigan. The car ran on fuels derived from hemp and other agricultural based sources, and the fenders were made of hemp, wheat, straw, and synthetic plastics. Ford said his vision was “to grow automobiles from the soil.”
The Kentucky Hemp Museum and Library. 1998 Historical Hemp Calendar, February. Roulac, John. Industrial Hemp Practical Products – Paper to fabric to Cosmetics, pg. 11. Hemptech

Medical Hypocrisy

How Do You Smoke Pot And Stay Out Of Jail?

How Do You Smoke Pot And Stay Out Of Jail? Seattle lawyer Jeff Steinborn tells us how through the miracle of illustration! Please visit his website http://www.potbust.com/

Top 10 Commonly Believed Marijuana Myths/Legends

Listed below are the top 10 most believed myths as compiled by http://www.MedicalCannabis.com:

1. There are hundreds of compounds/chemicals in marijuana-There are approximately 400, compared to a tomato that has roughly 330.

2. It is stronger today which makes it more dangerous- The marijuana has not become stronger.

3. As a plant the dosage cannot be controlled- Prior to the marijuana prohibition when pharmaceutical companies created extracts and tinctures of cannabis, they were able to provide fairly uniform preparations.

4. Smoking marijuana is what makes it dangerous- Higher potency of marijuana will also allow patients to smoke less to achieve a therapeutic dose without the risk of overdose.

5. Marijuana Destroys the immune system- There is no conclusive evidence that demonstrates harm to the immune system when used in therapeutic doses for humans.

6. It is highly addictive- Compared to other commonly used psychoactive drugs, marijuana is not highly addictive and has a low abuse potential.

7. Marijuana is a gateway drug-The 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine finds that, “There is no evidence that marijuana serves as a stepping stone on the basis of its particular drug effect.”

8. Use during pregnancy can cause damage to the fetus- Studies by Melanie Dreher, PhD, RN conducted in Jamaica and Dr. Peter Fried in Canada show minimal effects on the fetus during pregnancy.

9. A marijuana pill is available and completely legal- MarinolÒ is a synthetic form of THC, the pure psychoactive chemical in marijuana.

10. Medical use send the message to teens that it is not dangerous and encourages usage- Reports from teens have indicated that it is easier for them to obtain illegal marijuana than it is to obtain regulated alcohol or prescription drug.

Status Of Laws Regarding Cannabis Usage In Europe

New Updated Map Of Medical Marijuana And Decriminalization Laws

Here is a updated list of laws state by state of ongoing initiatives and in-place laws regarding medical marijuana, hemp and decriminalization. NORML (National Organization For Reform Of Marijuana Laws) puts out the map each year and this year the map seems a whole lot greener. More reform in more states is changing the landscape of the on going drug war to concentrate on harder criminals and cut expenditures. A good sign of things to come.

Massachusetts Decriminalizes Marijuana

In the recent November election here in Massachusetts was given a choice in the form of question #2. This was one of 3 questions posed. This was an amendment to state laws ending the decades old law of jailing people for possessing marijuana in favor a deliverance of a $100 fine instead and confiscation of the substance under an ounce. In a much surprising fashion the question was passed with a 65% majority. The law will be instated sometime between December 4th-late December. During this time the always vigilant “state” will have the ability to “fine tune” it.

This was a victory for both the people of Massachusetts and the advancement of forward thinking in this state.The state has been largely Democratic since the legacy of the Kennedy’s. An annual festival is held on Boston Common every third week in September termed “The Hempfest” or “Freedom Fest”, a strange mix of horseback police and freely smoking citizens. Its people en-masse at its finest. A true power of the people. More liberal policies are being adapted with Gov. Duval Patrick and my forecast is for it not to be changing anytime soon. Massachusetts is well on the way to cracking down on real drug users and criminal and leave ordinary citizens alone.

There have been many victories recently in line with Massachusetts happening all around the country at this moment. Michigan had a similar law passed as well as other states with laws in legislation. Even our President- Elect Obama has a forward thinking policy on cannabis and i believe will himself change federal laws regarding it. Atleast its the best chance of it there has been in a long time. Hard headed Bush would never see fit to install any of these policies in his “Christian America” The change has been coming for a long time.  Soon everyone in our country wont have to go to jail simply for possesing a plant that god himself made and is far safer than alcohol. As the plant is regaining new found popularity more research is being done everyday. More uses and benefits are discovered and the general stigma of the “harmful reefer” is erased.

I myself have consumed marijuana from time to time in my life and have found it to be a far more useful experience than that of alcohol. I have given up drinking alcohol for about 4 years now and not for any addiction or missuse, just the ill effects it induces. I cannot bear to drink and feel, tired, headache, groggy, disspondent, nauseus..etc… I trully cannot understand people who drink or drink excessively. I enjoy a nice whisky on the rocks just like any guy, my favorite was always Crown Royal. I just weigh the effects and make the obvious choice to cannabis over alcohol. Cannabis gives none of these feelings. In fact the only major side effect is a large appetite.

In my life anyway things have changed and me and my family are homesteading in Maine, another forward thinking state with a similar policy towars marijuana. Actually its neighbor to the north Canada has a very liberal policy ans their goverment for many years have been ending the prohibition of marijuana. As I said before I only hope that the United States can follow suit. The money from a future tax and commercialization of marijuana as cigarettes are now or the Amsterdam Coffee- Shop  model would pay for the real drug war against hardened drug dealers of crack, methamphetimines and opiates. I only hope this country is ready to take this big step in the right direction towards a policy against marijuana that is far outdated.

Pot joins the fight against Alzheimer’s, memory loss

Following article was posted on Scientific American’s website “60 Second Science”, full credit goes to them.

A large-scale study released this week showed that the herb gingko biloba has no effect in preventing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. But alternative medicine aficionados may find hope in a new research touting the bennies of another “herb” in preserving memory.

Scientists from Ohio State University report that marijuana, contrary to the conventional wisdom,  may help ward off Alzheimer’s and keep recall sharp. Their findings, released today at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington D.C.:  chemical components  of marijuana reduce inflammation and stimulate the production of new brain cells, thereby enhancing memory.

The team suggested that a  drug could be formulated that would resemble tetrahydroannibol, or THC, the psychoactive  ingredient in pot sans making the user high. But the research  may ultimately drive those who fear impending dementia to roll their own solution to the problem.

Study co-author Gary Wenk, a professor of psychology, had already devised a preliminary version of a THC-like synthetic drug that improves memory in lab animals. His team at the meeting said that it works by activating at least three receptors in the brain targeted by THC—proteins on the surface of nerve cells  that then trigger cellular processes resulting in reduced inflammation and production of new brain cells that can boost recall. Understanding how the compounds work  may pave the way for a pharmaceutical company to prepare its own  med for human clinical trials.

The researchers ducked the obvious question of whether it might be simpler, faster and cheaper to simply light up a joint. “Could people smoke marijuana to prevent Alzheimer’s disease if the disease is in their family?” Wenk said in a statement. “We’re not saying that, but it might actually work.”

Aspirin vs. Marijuana

What follows is an article that was re posted on http://www.nunya.com. I found it to be so good I posted it here. Obviously this is the stuff that aspirin-making companies don’t want us to know. Enjoy!

References: http://www.onmarijuana.com/2007/03/24/marijuana-is-safer-than-aspirin/

and http://www.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/32/

This is a repost with a few edits…

When Bayer introduced aspirin in 1899, cannabis was America’s number one painkiller. Until marijuana prohibition began in 1937, the US Pharmacopoeia listed cannabis as the primary medicine for over 100 diseases. Cannabis was such an effective analgesic that the American Medical Association (AMA) argued against prohibition on behalf of medical progress. Since the herb is extremely potent and essentially non-toxic, the AMA considered it a potential wonder drug.

Instead, the invention of aspirin gave birth to the modern pharmaceutical industry and Americans switched away from cannabis in the name of “progress.” But was it really progress? There can be no doubt that aspirin has a long history as the drug of choice for the self-treatment of migraines, arthritis, and other chronic pain. It is cheap and effective. But is it as safe as cannabis?

History:

Marijuana has been used for over 5,000 years.
No one has ever overdosed on marijuana.
Aspirin has been used for 108 years.
Approximately 500 people die every year by taking aspirin
The Law:

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, meaning the US government believes it is extremely dangerous, highly addictive, and of no medical value.
Aspirin is available for pennies and can be purchased by children at any drug, grocery, or convenience store. Often they are just handed out free by people with no medical education.
Marijuana side effects and dangers:

The dangers of marijuana include possible respiratory problems caused by the deposition of burnt plant material on the lungs. This danger can be eliminated with alternate forms of consumption such as eating or vaporizing the medicine.
For two to four hours, marijuana causes short-term memory loss, a slight reduction in reaction time, and a reduction in cognitive ability. (It makes you stupid for a little while.)These conditions DO NOT persist after the herb wears off.

Hunger
Paranoia
Depression
Laughter
Introspection
Creative Impulse
Euphoria
Tiredness
Forgetfulness
Aspirin side effects and dangers:

When taken with alcohol, aspirin can cause stomach bleeding.
Reye Syndrome in children: fat begins to develop around the liver and other organs of the child, eventually putting severe pressure on the brain. Death is common within a few days.
People with hemophilia can die.
People with hyperthyroidism suffer elevated T4 levels.
Stomach problems include dyspepsia, heartburn, upset stomach, stomach ulcers with gross bleeding, and internal bleeding leading to anemia.
Dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, vertigo, vision disturbances, and headaches.
Heavy sweating
Irreversible liver damage
Inflamation and gradual destruction of the kidneys
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Lethargy
Hyperthermia
Dyspepsia: a gnawing or burning stomach pain accompanied by bloating, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and burping.
Tachypnea: Abnormally fast breathing
Respiratory Alkalosis: a condition where the amount of carbon dioxide found in the blood drops to a level below normal range brought on by abnormally fast breathing.
Cerebral Edema: Water accumulates on the brain. Symptoms include headaches, decreased level of consciousness, loss of eyesight, hallucinations, psychotic behavior, memory loss and coma. If left untreated, it can lead to death.
Hallucinations, confusion, and seizure.
Prolonged bleeding after operations or post-trauma for up to 10 days after last aspirin.
Aspirin can interact with some other drugs, such as diabetes medication. Aspirin changes the way the body handles these drugs and can lead to a drug overdose and death.
If you think that cannabis is actually safer than aspirin, you are not alone. In October 2000, Dr. Leslie Iversen of the Oxford University Department of Pharmacology said the same thing.

In her book, ‘The Science of Marijuana,’ Dr. Iversen presents the scientific evidence that cannabis is, by-and-large, a safe drug. Dr. Iversen found cannabis had “an impressive record” when compared to tobacco, alcohol, or even aspirin.

“Tetrahydrocannabinol is a very safe drug,” she said. “Even such apparently innocuous medicines as aspirin and related steroidal anti-inflammatory compunds are not safe.”

So if safety is your concern, cannabis is clearly a much better choice than aspirin. If you eat it or vaporize it, it just might be the safest painkiller the world has ever known.