HEMP - Legalize It

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Let farmers grow it!

http://wweek.com/editorial/3632/14164/

 

[Colonel Ronan]

One of the most versatile materials on this planet.

 

[BlazerWookee]

"Willamette Week" lol...

 

[Mediocre Man]

I am all for the legalization of pot too.

As someone who has literally never tried it in my life, and never will, I can't think of anything bad about legalizing it the way California is. Having less than an oz. of marijuana on you is a fine of a couple of hundred bucks. Big deal!!!!! I'd like to see it legalized and taxed the shit out of. California will get out of their debt in the first year of legalization of pot just from taxes. Just in case you are keeping score at home, I also think prostitution should be legalized for the same reasons and more.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

I am all for the legalization of pot too.

As someone who has literally never tried it in my life, and never will, I can't think of anything bad about legalizing it the way California is. Having less than an oz. of marijuana on you is a fine of a couple of hundred bucks. Big deal!!!!! I'd like to see it legalized and taxed the shit out of. California will get out of their debt in the first year of legalization of pot just from taxes. Just in case you are keeping score at home, I also think prostitution should be legalized for the same reasons and more.

Thank you! Someone with some intelligence.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I am all for the legalization of pot too.

As someone who has literally never tried it in my life, and never will, I can't think of anything bad about legalizing it the way California is. Having less than an oz. of marijuana on you is a fine of a couple of hundred bucks. Big deal!!!!! I'd like to see it legalized and taxed the shit out of. California will get out of their debt in the first year of legalization of pot just from taxes. Just in case you are keeping score at home, I also think prostitution should be legalized for the same reasons and more.

Agree.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Never smoked weed. But isn't one of the knocks on it that it's a "Gateway Drug" to harder, much worse stuff? I mean, drinking Jack Daniels' doesn't get people on the track of snorting coke (that I know of), but the education provided by public schools stated that weed did. I'm sure many of you will swear that there's nothing to that, but are there actual studies and stuff that say it's "harmless"?

 

[BrianFromWA]

and, logistically speaking, how do you "tax the $hit out of it"? I mean, if there are bunches of people that users already get their product from, won't they just keep going to them? And I'm not fully convinced that drug dealers-turned-legit businesspeople will be as scrupulous about filing their state weed taxes as public liquor boards. Why would you go to ,say, Safeway or the Oregon Weed Store to get it if it's a $#it-tax more expensive and the same danger as getting it from Smokey at the YMCA?

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Never smoked weed. But isn't one of the knocks on it that it's a "Gateway Drug" to harder, much worse stuff? I mean, drinking Jack Daniels' doesn't get people on the track of snorting coke (that I know of), but the education provided by public schools stated that weed did. I'm sure many of you will swear that there's nothing to that, but are there actual studies and stuff that say it's "harmless"?

It is because of the black market you buy weed from. Drug dealers don't tend to just sell weed. One time you might buy from him (or her, I'm sure drug dealers aren't sexist) and he or she will say, "Check out this ecstasy I got. Much better high than weed." Or whatever. There isn't a chemical in weed that is making you want to try harder drugs. I've always thought that people with weak minds or will power will go on to harder things. I've never had any inclination to try anything else.

 

[Shapecity]

Weed is not a gateway drug. I've smoked plenty of it and have never had the urge to try any other drugs.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Weed is not a gateway drug. I've smoked plenty of it and have never had the urge to try any other drugs.

This guy rips bongs like a champ.

 

[Mediocre Man]

and, logistically speaking, how do you "tax the $hit out of it"? I mean, if there are bunches of people that users already get their product from, won't they just keep going to them? And I'm not fully convinced that drug dealers-turned-legit businesspeople will be as scrupulous about filing their state weed taxes as public liquor boards. Why would you go to ,say, Safeway or the Oregon Weed Store to get it if it's a $#it-tax more expensive and the same danger as getting it from Smokey at the YMCA?

I would assume the powers that be would have some sort of reciept system for the first several years of this. That would force the unauthorized growers out by issuing huge fines and jail time to anyone that couldn't provide a receipt

 

[Blazerfan22]

Never smoked weed. But isn't one of the knocks on it that it's a "Gateway Drug" to harder, much worse stuff? I mean, drinking Jack Daniels' doesn't get people on the track of snorting coke (that I know of), but the education provided by public schools stated that weed did. I'm sure many of you will swear that there's nothing to that, but are there actual studies and stuff that say it's "harmless"?

Here is a link to marijuana and cancer risks Link

Marijuana and the brain Link

Heres a couple links to normls website.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Why is it that a discussion about hemp inevitably turns into a discussion about marijuana? Yes, I understand that the similarity between the two is the reason that hemp is not legal, but seriously, can't the industrial merits of hemp be separated from the recreational merits of it's cousin?

 

[BrianFromWA]

I was unaware that hemp production is economically viable for industrial purposes. What do you do with it that's not done cheaper and more effectively than other stuff?

To answer your question, I think it devolves b/c a vast, vast majority of people interested in hemp are generally not thinking about cordage and biodiesel.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Never smoked weed. But isn't one of the knocks on it that it's a "Gateway Drug" to harder, much worse stuff? I mean, drinking Jack Daniels' doesn't get people on the track of snorting coke (that I know of), but the education provided by public schools stated that weed did. I'm sure many of you will swear that there's nothing to that, but are there actual studies and stuff that say it's "harmless"?

Did you read the article? It's about HEMP, not WEED. There is a difference.

 

[TripTango]

"Willamette Week" lol...

I know -- I didn't realize they were still in print...

 

[BrianFromWA]

Did you read the article? It's about HEMP, not WEED. There is a difference.

Response to MM's comment, not the OP. #15 was my first comment about the OP, which I've read now.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I was unaware that hemp production is economically viable for industrial purposes. What do you do with it that's not done cheaper and more effectively than other stuff?

I'm sure a Google search will return a few answers to that question (albeit the legitimacy of said answers may be questionable). This site says that hemp can be grown and harvested to produce paper using 1/4 the land and creating 1/5 the pollution. Also says that if used for fabric purposes, hemp produces 3 times more fiber per acre than cotton.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

from the article:

Hemp has no effect as a drug. But it does have exceptional properties as a food, fuel, building material and textile. It’s also ultra-sustainable, growing quickly in almost any climate, with little water and no pesticides.

Advocates say the simple act of letting Oregon farmers grow hemp could eventually bring millions of dollars into the state. Canadian farmers made more than $8 million on hemp last year, according to the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance. Advocates in Oregon say once a homegrown U.S. hemp industry gets started, the potential profits here are far greater.

Barker, who lives in West Linn, says he’s consumed “24/7” securing deals to commercialize the hemp fabric, called Crailar, for clothes and other products. He is now in the process of closing deals with Hanes for blending Crailar with the company’s cotton clothes and Georgia-Pacific for use in cleaning rags.

Hanes currently uses 2 million pounds of cotton per week in its socks alone. Yet cotton is one of the most destructive plants to farm, depleting soils wherever it’s grown and requiring massive amounts of pesticides and water. And its price is skyrocketing.

Hemp is one of the world’s most complete plant-based sources of protein, with all the essential amino acids. It also contains an ideal ratio of omega-3 and omega-6, essential fatty acids the body can’t produce on its own.


Hemp was one of the earliest plants cultivated in this country. Betsy Ross made the first U.S. flag out of hemp, and the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.

Hemp can be used to make concrete and the product is carbon negative, meaning more carbon is locked up in the process of growing and harvesting the plant than is expended in making it a building material. It’s waterproof, fireproof and seven times stronger than traditional concrete.

 

[Minstrel]

Why is it that a discussion about hemp inevitably turns into a discussion about marijuana? Yes, I understand that the similarity between the two is the reason that hemp is not legal, but seriously, can't the industrial merits of hemp be separated from the recreational merits of it's cousin?

My understanding is that it was the other way around. Hemp was outlawed first, as textile manufacturers using other fibers didn't want the competition from hemp in making textiles as it was supposedly cheaper to produce, so they lobbied to have hemp outlawed. As a result, the cannabis plant was made illegal to cultivate.

And yes, I think the two can and should be separated...personally, though, I'm in favour of both being legalized. I haven't seen anything compelling about it being particularly dangerous (at least, no more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco and likely less dangerous than either) as a recreational drug, and what I've read supports what Ronan says...that any "gateway" effect is due to having to buy marijuana from the same dealers that sell harder stuff, leading to exposure to the harder stuff. If hunting rifles could only be bought on the black market from people who also sold semi-automatic and machine guns, I think you'd see hunting rifles functioning as a "gateway" to bigger firearms.

I don't smoke marijuana myself and wouldn't even if it were legalized (since smoke from anything tends to be carcinogenic). This isn't an attempt to "justify" behaviour of my own, I just think it makes sense to legalize (and tax).

 

[PtldPlatypus]

My understanding is that it was the other way around. Hemp was outlawed first, as textile manufacturers using other fibers didn't want the competition from hemp in making textiles as it was supposedly cheaper to produce, so they lobbied to have hemp outlawed. As a result, the cannabis plant was made illegal to cultivate.

Fascinating. I had no idea.

And yes, I think the two can and should be separated...personally, though, I'm in favour of both being legalized. I haven't seen anything compelling about it being particularly dangerous (at least, no more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco and likely less dangerous than either) as a recreational drug, and what I've read supports what Ronan says...that any "gateway" effect is due to having to buy marijuana from the same dealers that sell harder stuff, leading to exposure to the harder stuff. If hunting rifles could only be bought on the black market from people who also sold semi-automatic and machine guns, I think you'd see hunting rifles functioning as a "gateway" to bigger firearms.

I don't smoke marijuana myself and wouldn't even if it were legalized (since smoke from anything tends to be carcinogenic). This isn't an attempt to "justify" behaviour of my own, I just think it makes sense to legalize (and tax).

Agreed on all points, especially the heavy taxation. I figure that if people want to harm their bodies recreationally, why shouldn't I benefit from it?

 

[HailBlazers]

Great Article, WW or not

Who know hemp could be used to make concrete? Not me

And the number one reason I would say Legalize it is to replace Cotton, as it is a horribly wasteful use of resources