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Hemp Is Not Pot: It's the Economic Stimulus and Green Jobs Solution We Need

Submitted by Michael Nystrom on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 09:31
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From Alternet

While Uncle Sam's scramble for new revenue sources has recently kicked up the marijuana debate -- to legalize and tax, or not? -- hemp's feasibility as a stimulus plan has received less airtime.

But with a North American market that exceeds $300 million in annual retail sales and continued rising demand, industrial hemp could generate thousands of sustainable new jobs, helping America to get back on track.

"We're in the midst of a dark economic transition, but I believe hemp is an important facet and has tremendous economic potential," says Patrick Goggin, a board member on the California Council for Vote Hemp, the nation's leading industrial hemp-farming advocacy group. "Economically and environmentally, industrial hemp is an important part of the sustainability pie."

With 25,000 known applications from paper, clothing and food products -- which, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal this January, is the fastest growing new food category in North America -- to construction and automotive materials, hemp could be just the crop to jump-start America's green economy.

But growing hemp remains illegal in the U.S. The Drug Enforcement Administration has lumped the low-THC plant together with its psychoactive cousin, marijuana, making America the planet's only industrialized nation to ban hemp production. We can import it from Canada, which legalized it in 1997. But we can't grow it.

Continue at Alternet...

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HEMP IS POT

Submitted by MMJ Ministry on Sun, 03/29/2009 - 22:37.

“Speaking generally, the Commission are of the opinion that the moderate use of hemp drugs appears to cause no appreciable physical injury of any kind.” - Indian Hemp Drugs Commission 1893-1894

"Make the most of the Indian Hemp Seed and sow it everywhere." George Washington
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“A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement” - Thomas Jefferson

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“We have allowed our nation to be over taxed and over regulated and overrun by bureaucrats, the founders would be ashamed of us for what we're putting up with.” Ron Paul

a lotta shows about on POT

Submitted by RicheyG on Sun, 03/29/2009 - 21:42.

a lotta shows about on POT recently...

most recent being DL Hughley's last nite.

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The slogan press on has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.

- Calvin Coolidge

We certainly cant have

Submitted by grumpy on Sun, 03/29/2009 - 20:26.

young folks walking around smoking those "telephone pole" sized joints.

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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
woo hoo!

Can someone tell me of any

Submitted by gottago on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 22:12.

other natural growing digestible/consumable plant/herb that's illegal in the U.S.?

bitter almond tree

Submitted by grumpy on Sun, 03/29/2009 - 20:41.

The most potent form of B-17

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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
woo hoo!

salvia

Submitted by SolidGold on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:23.

they recently made salvia illegal. but it doesnt really have any purpose than making people trip, however short it may be 3-5mins

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I've given you a republic; and its your job to keep it.

peyote

Submitted by The Granger on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 23:00.

psilocybin fungi

opium poppies...

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WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
___.---.___
.' ( ) '.
) /)' '( )
',_( ';-;'\_,'
|-|
(")

Rockefeller's Pot Laws Unravel in New York!

Submitted by SimpleSam on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 22:10.

New York has finally decriminalized hemp!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/nyregion/26rockefeller.html

Rockefeller and the CFR are not even hiding any longer, they better realize their Globalist plans do not have the support of America!

And I want to say this about that

Submitted by The Granger on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 22:06.

Right now, CA is celebrating the news from Obama and Eric Holder DEA, that there would be no more busts for legal grows. TODAY, there was a bust in SF, by the DEA to a dispensary.. there were no arrests, but something is up. Meanwhile, Hillary has been in Mexico looking for an armed border war with those who have capitalized off illegal drugs (but the only drug they show is marijuana).

The word is, Arnold (everyone knows Arnold is a RINO and so in the name of the GOP he is not going to sign for legalization, meanwhile, he is backing Secretary Clinton in putting troops on the border, not to stop illegal immigration, but to stop drug trafficking. So if Arnold does not sign, then what? Will CA marijuana growers be the next target?

Bush said we are over there to keep the war over there.. are we about to see a border war? That is what I fear is about to happen.

Patrick, should be encouraging people to write to Arnold and tell him to sign for legalization. Instead he tells them what they already know, and that is why Vote Hemp and etc, have not helped get legalization.. gee, what would Pat do if it became legal, eh?

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WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
___.---.___
.' ( ) '.
) /)' '( )
',_( ';-;'\_,'
|-|
(")

When you've got a funded war on drugs . .

Submitted by RawfoodLiberty on Sun, 03/29/2009 - 21:15.

You may invade any country, in any house and look for a bong.
We are fools to allow the war on drugs.
It is a war on everything.
. . . . . convenient too, the cauldren is always stirring.

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And never forget, “Humans, despite our artistic pretensions, our sophistication and many accomplishments, owe the fact of our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”

After the CNN Campbell Brown crappy interview tonight

Submitted by Marilyn in Lake... on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 21:22.

Marilyn in Lake Jackson

with Ron Paul, she need a copy of this help article. She was the rudest I've seen, but then she is married to a CFR big wheel.

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MarilynInLakeJackson

Marilyn in Lake

Submitted by Marilyn in Lake... on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 21:31.

Marilyn in Lake Jackson
That's "hemp" not "help" and "needs" not "need". You can tell I'm mad.

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MarilynInLakeJackson

great article!

Submitted by trembo slice on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 19:25.

it is difficult for me to grasp why marijuana is illegal; but, it is dumbfounding that hemp is prohibited from being grown here legally! i mean how is the government this stupid? it is incredible the lack understanding (or lack of character) there is in washington.

i mean ending the hemp prohibition would be such an economic boom! next time i hear a college professor tell me the united states is a capitalist nation, i am going to kick him in the nuts.

Hemp looks like marijuana?

Submitted by 1440 minutes on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:56.

Didn't they say that law enforcement couldn't tell the difference between hemp and marijuana? If so, then it would be impractical to legalize hemp without legalizing marijuana.

Don't you hate it when there are laws on the books that few people respect or obey? Marijuana is one of them.

If the vast majority has tried marijuana, and few people respect that law, then wouldn't people support legalization?

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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
-- Thomas Jefferson

Hemp is Cannabis Sativa

Submitted by TheWayofPeace on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 19:23.

Marijuana is Cannabis Sativa.

Same plant. is a Gala apple not the same fruit as a Granny smith? Fighting lies with different lies just makes you a liar.

Obama is in the pocket of Big Pharma, Big Oil, and Big Ag Chemical companies.

The Rape and Pillage of earth continues. After 100 years earth is about to fight back.

There is one Lord of Creation and it isn't Obama.

The unveiling has arrived!

Submitted by RawfoodLiberty on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 19:42.

The silent screams of nature are being heard.

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And never forget, “Humans, despite our artistic pretensions, our sophistication and many accomplishments, owe the fact of our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”

I've always been a strong

Submitted by defe07Ω™ on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 19:22.

I've always been a strong pro-Hemp guy. I still am. Hemp solves so many problems and it's so useful. A good source for clothes and food, for example. During WWII, hemp helped our country out. Please look for a video called Hemp 4 Victory and you'll see why hemp is our solution! Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne9UF-pFhJY

it went front page on digg

Submitted by legalizeliberty on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 16:31.

here
http://digg.com/politics/Hemp_Is_Not_Pot_It_s_the_Economic_S...

Thanks everyone!

peace patriots*)

"(Better) to be confused in the search for truth than fully confident and sound asleep in a dream of lies." ~ Michael Nystrom
http://www.votenader.org/blog/2008/09/10/statement-to-ron-pa...

—

Website:
http://www.libertypoet.com/
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/LibertyPoet
"How can we justify to the unemployed and underemployed in the United States the incredible cost of maintaining a global empire?" - Dr. Ron Paul

dugg #744

Submitted by MMJ Ministry on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 19:04.

---------------
“A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement” - Thomas Jefferson

—

“We have allowed our nation to be over taxed and over regulated and overrun by bureaucrats, the founders would be ashamed of us for what we're putting up with.” Ron Paul

for freedom!

Submitted by legalizeliberty on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 19:07.

"When robbery is done in open daylight by sanction of the law, as it is done today, then any act of honor or restitution has to be hidden underground." Dagnar Rannerskjord
"(Better) to be confused in the search for truth than fully confident and sound as

—

Website:
http://www.libertypoet.com/
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/LibertyPoet
"How can we justify to the unemployed and underemployed in the United States the incredible cost of maintaining a global empire?" - Dr. Ron Paul

welp, you can throw this

Submitted by NeoConned on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 16:25.

welp, you can throw this whole idea away. Obama has said that NO, legalization is not a good idea.

"Doesn't need pesticides"

Submitted by Calgary4Paul on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 11:47.

That single phrase tells you why it will stay illegal, it threatens too many interests in the Agro-Industrial complex.

I agree

Submitted by Ralph Waldo on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 11:34.

The oil, food and chemical companies are trying to block it!

bad link michael.

Submitted by NeoConned on Thu, 03/26/2009 - 10:17.

bad link michael.