Cannabis, a plant family (or genus,
to be exact), has had a variety of uses since before 2500 BC. For millennia,
cannabis plants have been cultivated (using various cultivation methods) for
medicinal purposes, as well as for the manufacturing of useful products made
from hemp (a fibrous material which is a derivative of a particular variety of
cannabis when cultivated in a particular way), including, but not limited to,
rope, paper, cloth, and oil. Throughout this time, cannabis was produced and
utilized legally and effectively in several ways.
Specifically concerning America, hemp was used to make the paper on which the Declaration of Independence was signed, the prototype of the American flag, and blue jeans in the 20th century (among a multitude of other things). In addition, cannabis, when grown for the consumption of marijuana, has been used (harmlessly) for medicinal and recreational purposes.
Over time, new companies in various industries emerged and engaged in the production of several main things which were already being made from hemp. One industry that grew (through slave labor, no doubt) and subsequently created competition for hemp producers was the cotton industry. Others that took off with the industrial revolution and other technological developments include the oil, paper, and pharmaceutical industries.
And here's where things went wrong.
When competing businesses caught drift that hemp was a much more viable resource than cotton and other substances that were not as easily obtained/used to manufacture goods, they found ways to secure their businesses through propaganda and manipulation of the government in the 1930's (look it up if you don't believe me).
In short, what I get from looking at the overall history of the legal status of cannabis, is that when corporate leaders felt their businesses would be threatened too much by hemp production, they took a shady route to eliminate the threat by initiating a federal ban on cannabis altogether in order to secure their businesses. This ban would not have been made possible if it weren't for the false propaganda campaigns against marijuana consumption in conjunction with the corruption of government authorities. The way I see it, those who wanted hemp taken off the market knew that they could not simply attempt to ban hemp (that would be like banning cotton), yet since hemp and marijuana are related in that they come from the same plant genus, people figured out that by first establishing a ban on marijuana (which was feasible considering marijuana was essentially a drug), a subsequent ban on hemp could be put in place due to the fact that hemp and marijuana are so closely related.
What we get from this is two major things relating to cannabis: a) Marijuana was essentially made illegal due to its relation to hemp along with corrupt political forces, and NOT due to the drug's actual potential for harm (which is extremely minimal, especially compared to what is legal these days) and b) hemp too has been unfairly outlawed, in a way that spits directly in the face of "free market capitalism" in America.
On our hands is a society that for decades has been governed by forces that appeal to special interests, the interests of the one over the interests of the many. We're a society that buckles under the selfishness of money grubbing entrepreneurs who want to cheat their way to success instead of earn it fairly while subject to the natural forces of a market that is truly free. We are not a society that is ruled by governing laws solely enacted for our general protection and welfare. We are ruled by those laws enacted for the well-being of the few, elite, corporate giants that no longer risk failure as every entrepreneur should, because they avoid it altogether by continuously investing money into population control through unfair wage labor, media messages, and political campaigns to put people in office who will directly carry out actions based on the selfish wills and desires of corporate billionaires to control consumer habits. And every accomplice allows it to happen because after all, they have themselves to look after too.
Focusing back on the hemp issue in particular, we have a very, very sad state of affairs that has risen from this unjust outlawing. Environmental damage (destruction of trees that take decades to grow, oil spills, air pollution, etc.) is just one example. Cultivation of hemp and the manufacturing of hemp-based goods has a much smaller impact on the environment than does the production of the leading non-hemp-based goods (such as paper and oil). Our health suffers in the sense that marijuana can no longer be used for its millennia-old (and newly discovered) health benefits, and now the American people must turn to lab-created prescription drugs for their ailments. Alcohol is now the main recreational "let's party" drug (because it's the only one legal), and it is highly dangerous (infinitely more dangerous than marijuana, in my opinion). The procurement of the nation's economic health could depend on the production of hemp and marijuana for the wide range of benefits associated with these two things, but will we ever live to see the day this idea is tested?
In conclusion, I'm writing in "Ron Paul" on my ballot this election, because he's the only one running for office who has explicitly expressed interest in legalizing hemp and marijuana, and for good reason. Not to mention, he is a strong advocate of free market capitalism. Unfortunately, it can be argued that if his policies were to be put in place today, all hell would break loose, but for me, it's worth the risk, because let's face it, no matter who we choose to elect, America is in for a raging shit-storm.
Specifically concerning America, hemp was used to make the paper on which the Declaration of Independence was signed, the prototype of the American flag, and blue jeans in the 20th century (among a multitude of other things). In addition, cannabis, when grown for the consumption of marijuana, has been used (harmlessly) for medicinal and recreational purposes.
Over time, new companies in various industries emerged and engaged in the production of several main things which were already being made from hemp. One industry that grew (through slave labor, no doubt) and subsequently created competition for hemp producers was the cotton industry. Others that took off with the industrial revolution and other technological developments include the oil, paper, and pharmaceutical industries.
And here's where things went wrong.
When competing businesses caught drift that hemp was a much more viable resource than cotton and other substances that were not as easily obtained/used to manufacture goods, they found ways to secure their businesses through propaganda and manipulation of the government in the 1930's (look it up if you don't believe me).
In short, what I get from looking at the overall history of the legal status of cannabis, is that when corporate leaders felt their businesses would be threatened too much by hemp production, they took a shady route to eliminate the threat by initiating a federal ban on cannabis altogether in order to secure their businesses. This ban would not have been made possible if it weren't for the false propaganda campaigns against marijuana consumption in conjunction with the corruption of government authorities. The way I see it, those who wanted hemp taken off the market knew that they could not simply attempt to ban hemp (that would be like banning cotton), yet since hemp and marijuana are related in that they come from the same plant genus, people figured out that by first establishing a ban on marijuana (which was feasible considering marijuana was essentially a drug), a subsequent ban on hemp could be put in place due to the fact that hemp and marijuana are so closely related.
What we get from this is two major things relating to cannabis: a) Marijuana was essentially made illegal due to its relation to hemp along with corrupt political forces, and NOT due to the drug's actual potential for harm (which is extremely minimal, especially compared to what is legal these days) and b) hemp too has been unfairly outlawed, in a way that spits directly in the face of "free market capitalism" in America.
On our hands is a society that for decades has been governed by forces that appeal to special interests, the interests of the one over the interests of the many. We're a society that buckles under the selfishness of money grubbing entrepreneurs who want to cheat their way to success instead of earn it fairly while subject to the natural forces of a market that is truly free. We are not a society that is ruled by governing laws solely enacted for our general protection and welfare. We are ruled by those laws enacted for the well-being of the few, elite, corporate giants that no longer risk failure as every entrepreneur should, because they avoid it altogether by continuously investing money into population control through unfair wage labor, media messages, and political campaigns to put people in office who will directly carry out actions based on the selfish wills and desires of corporate billionaires to control consumer habits. And every accomplice allows it to happen because after all, they have themselves to look after too.
Focusing back on the hemp issue in particular, we have a very, very sad state of affairs that has risen from this unjust outlawing. Environmental damage (destruction of trees that take decades to grow, oil spills, air pollution, etc.) is just one example. Cultivation of hemp and the manufacturing of hemp-based goods has a much smaller impact on the environment than does the production of the leading non-hemp-based goods (such as paper and oil). Our health suffers in the sense that marijuana can no longer be used for its millennia-old (and newly discovered) health benefits, and now the American people must turn to lab-created prescription drugs for their ailments. Alcohol is now the main recreational "let's party" drug (because it's the only one legal), and it is highly dangerous (infinitely more dangerous than marijuana, in my opinion). The procurement of the nation's economic health could depend on the production of hemp and marijuana for the wide range of benefits associated with these two things, but will we ever live to see the day this idea is tested?
In conclusion, I'm writing in "Ron Paul" on my ballot this election, because he's the only one running for office who has explicitly expressed interest in legalizing hemp and marijuana, and for good reason. Not to mention, he is a strong advocate of free market capitalism. Unfortunately, it can be argued that if his policies were to be put in place today, all hell would break loose, but for me, it's worth the risk, because let's face it, no matter who we choose to elect, America is in for a raging shit-storm.
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