2008 Woodie Awards
Hemp Prohibition Does Nothing But Harm
Greg Pivarnik
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Commentary
In order to fully understand the opposition to marijuana reform, it is important to investigate who already benefits from the status quo prohibition. Besides recreation, there are many other uses for marijuana. Many people benefit, while many others suffer negative consequences of prohibition. In most cases it is the corporations who benefit, while the individual citizens are the ones left out in the cold.
There are three different degrees of possible marijuana reform, all of which have different ramifications for society. They are the legalization of hemp, the medicalization of marijuana and finally the legalization of marijuana. Only the last step is a full repeal of marijuana prohibition. With hemp and medical marijuana, it is still possible for prohibition of marijuana as a recreational drug. This column will discuss the asinine policy of hemp prohibition, while medicalization and legalization will be discussed in their own subsequent columns.
When most people think of hemp, they inaccurately think of marijuana. Specifically, they do not recognize the difference between hemp and the mind-altering affects of the demonized marijuana plants. The lack of education has led hemp to be banned by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 as a Schedule I drug.
Hemp is not marijuana. Yes, it does come from the Cannabis plant, like marijuana, but it cannot get a person high, which is the main difference between the two. Hemp bred for industrial purposes usually has very low THC content, which is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. In many cases, the THC content is so low that is near impossible to use as a recreational drug. This is because many of the species and subspecies of Cannabis used in hemp production do not yield high amounts of THC.
Hemp itself is harvested from the stalks and parts of the plants other the bud in which the marijuana is located. There are many benefits to producing hemp which include the speed and ease at which it grows combine with the environmentally friendly benefits of the products that can be made from it.
There are three different degrees of possible marijuana reform, all of which have different ramifications for society. They are the legalization of hemp, the medicalization of marijuana and finally the legalization of marijuana. Only the last step is a full repeal of marijuana prohibition. With hemp and medical marijuana, it is still possible for prohibition of marijuana as a recreational drug. This column will discuss the asinine policy of hemp prohibition, while medicalization and legalization will be discussed in their own subsequent columns.
When most people think of hemp, they inaccurately think of marijuana. Specifically, they do not recognize the difference between hemp and the mind-altering affects of the demonized marijuana plants. The lack of education has led hemp to be banned by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 as a Schedule I drug.
Hemp is not marijuana. Yes, it does come from the Cannabis plant, like marijuana, but it cannot get a person high, which is the main difference between the two. Hemp bred for industrial purposes usually has very low THC content, which is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. In many cases, the THC content is so low that is near impossible to use as a recreational drug. This is because many of the species and subspecies of Cannabis used in hemp production do not yield high amounts of THC.
Hemp itself is harvested from the stalks and parts of the plants other the bud in which the marijuana is located. There are many benefits to producing hemp which include the speed and ease at which it grows combine with the environmentally friendly benefits of the products that can be made from it.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Tom Murphy
posted 2/26/08 @ 10:03 AM EST
More information on this amazing plant is available at Vote Hemp http://www.votehemp.com and the Hemp Industries Association http://www.thehia.org
Robert Robinson/ModernHemp
posted 2/26/08 @ 11:49 AM EST
I dispute this statement.
"The only hemp products that are allowed in this country are ones that are manufactured outside of it."
Although it is currently illegal to "grow" hemp, in the US, Many companies are manufacturing hemp products here. (Continued…)
Rob/ModernHemp
Robert Robinson/ModernHemp
posted 2/26/08 @ 11:52 AM EST
I dispute this statement.
"The only hemp products that are allowed in this country are ones that are manufactured outside of it."
Although it is currently illegal to "grow" hemp, in the US, Many companies are manufacturing hemp products here. (Continued…)
Mark Candaras
posted 2/26/08 @ 12:48 PM EST
Great article, Greg!! Keep spreading the news!
Kim O'Brien
posted 2/26/08 @ 12:58 PM EST
The Drug laws are very punitive in this country and others. While I oppose these harch laws. I advise anyone who is thinking of using marijuana not to. (Continued…)
wingtip
posted 3/01/08 @ 10:39 AM EST
Initiatives
Attorney Gen. File #: 2007-064
California Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative 2008
Legalization of Marijuana-Related Activities. The initiative provides that no per-son, individual, or corporate entity could be prosecuted for the possession, cultivation, transportation, distribution, or consumption of cannabis hemp, including hemp industrial products, hemp medicinal preparations, hemp nutritional products, and hemp religious or recreational products. (Continued…)
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