...The World’s Most Understood Crop: Industrial Hemp and its Economic Benefits When most people hear the word hemp the first thing that comes to mind is marijuana. While hemp and marijuana are of the same plant species, Cannabis Sativa, they are different plants with their own chemical makeup. Hemp has been known as one of the world’s greatest agricultural crops of all time with a wide variety of uses. Unfortunately the United States still sees hemp as drug and the manufacturing of hemp is still illegal today. The United States is outlawing one of the most economically beneficial and functional crops of all times because of its cousin marijuana. Hemp was the world’s greatest agricultural crop for more than 1000 years before Christ until 1883 AD (Herer). The manufacturing and cultivation of hemp has been used for thousands of products and many different industries including producing a majority of the world’s fabric, fiber, oil, paper, and even food. The earliest known fabric was made of hemp around 8000 BC (Herer). Ninety percent of all ships' sails from at least the fifth century BC until long after the invention of the steam engines in the mid- to late-19th century were made from hemp (Herer). Many of the ships’ logs, maps, and charts were made on hemp paper from the time of Columbus to the early 1900s (Herer). In the first century AD, the Chinese found that hemp paper lasted 50 to 100 times longer than most preparations of papyrus and that it was 100 times easier and cheaper...
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...Hemp: The plant that can save America COM172 May 8, 2012 Hemp: The plant that can save America Marijuana, pot, weed, grass, smoke, hemp - these are just a few of the names given to the plant known as Cannabis Sativa. Lobbyists are currently trying to repeal the federal laws making the growth, production, and possession of medicinal cannabis illegal because of the benefits to people with cancer, glaucoma, and chronic pain. If successful this will also make it legal to grow industrial hemp. Industrial hemp can be used for clothing, nutritional supplements, and paper products; building supplies, automotive construction, and alternative fuel sources. With the legalization of hemp this nation conceivably could negate its dependence on foreign oil and reverse the failing economy. From the birth of this nation up to the 1950s, hemp was grown on large farms and in small family plots. Early settlers understood the necessity of growing hemp for rope and sails used on ships, for cloth to make clothes; even the original flag was made from hemp. In fact there were mandatory grow laws in place for years that made it a crime not to grow hemp. In 1937 the government passed a law (Title 21 U.S.C. Controlled Substance Act) that made it illegal to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. In doing so, they outlawed industrial hemp as well, even though it only contains trace amounts of the substance Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that gives Cannabis its effectiveness. Most proponents of...
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...Abstract: The prohibition of marijuana has been a heated debate for years. This paper will examine the question of whether or not it will be beneficial to the population as a whole, smokers and non-smokers to legalize marijuana. This paper will begin by giving a historical overview of marijuana and how it became illegal. Then, it will attempt to examine and illustrate the many valuable, and beneficial qualities that marijuana has. Relying on the facts found to ultimately come to a conclusion on whether or not legalization would positively effect our country. Introduction Background Information The legalizing of marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes will have significant benefits for smokers and non-smokers, the economy, and the population. Currently any production, sale, distribution, or consumption of the drug marijuana is illegal in forty-eight states in the nation. Legalizing marijuana in this situation would mean executing the same or similar laws as are imposed on to alcohol. “On November 6, 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the sale and possession of cannabis for recreational use since the Marijuana Tax act of 1937 when they passed Colorado Amendment 64 and Washington Initiative 502” (Szalavitz). The few states that have legalized marijuana are instituting practices to integrate the substance into society. To continue, consumption of marijuana would be illegal as well as the purchase of the substance by minors...
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...different cultures in various ways. Throughout the last decade Marijuana has been adapted to fit our lifestyles. Marijuana is now used for medicinal purposes and has the potential to be the plant that saves America. Unless the risks of marijuana overpower the many great benefits then we should not make a plant that comes from the earth illegal. Instead we should look at it from a logical point of view and use it to boost America out from the ditch it is in. Cannabis Sativa or Marijuana dates all the way back to 2900 BC. Emperor Fu His believed that marijuana was a popular medicine that contained both yin and yang. The Chinese used it to sooth the stressed people to make them peaceful. The Jamestown settlers brought cannabis to America in 1611. In the Jamestown civilization it was illegal to not grow a hemp plant because there was so many benefits it provided for the society. The Jamestown people created hemp fibers and they exported it to other civilizations, hemp was one of their biggest exports during the colonial period. Even our first president George Washington grew hemp for 30 years at his plantation in Mount Vernon. He records in his diary that he separated the male and female plants, and also produced a hemp plant with a high THC content (Procon.org). Recreational Marijuana use came into play back in the “olden” days when alcohol was scares. Marijuana is the most widely used controlled substance, and since it is used so often why not tax it and brew great amounts of...
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...drug that will make you crazy, has no benefits, and will cause you to hurt the people around you. Before this time for over 200 years cannabis has been used to make everything from paper to cars. Legalizing marijuana will help our nation expand its economy and allow us to provide more from within rather than import from outside sources. Even though marijuana is seen as gateway drug that will lead to the use of harder drugs like heroin or LSD, I believe it should be legalized because medical marijuana has helped sick people where no other pharmaceutical drug could. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years. The oldest known uses have been recorded as far back as 2737 B.C. as medicine by Emperor Shen Neng of China (Advanced Holistich Health, 2013). The Chinese would later use hemp as to make clothes, shoes and rope and even paper. By the sixteenth century hemp was widely distributed in Europe where it was cultivated for fiber and the seeds were cooked with barley or other grains and eaten. In 1537 Discorides named the plant Cannabis sativa and wrote of its use for cordage as well as its medicinal properties [ (Ehrensing, 1998) ]. Back in 1619, the King of England ordered famers to grow cannabis to meet the obligations of a growing economy that used hemp as a product. This was the first law that incorporated cannabis and it was for the good of it. There were several other laws allowing the growth of cannabis over the next 200 years. Hemp was introduced to the United States...
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...legalize cannabis after all the facts of this topic have been completely laid out. It’s time we take this industry into our country’s hands and not let it go unregulated and untaxed. State Thesis & Main Points: The legalization of cannabis would be another step closer to the way out of this economic crisis our country is in today. the regulation of this product would bring economic improvement, new-found resources, and medical aid. however, we must establish both the positive and the negative sides to truly comprehend this movement. Body (3-5 MAIN POINTS PREFERRED (USE ONLY COMPLETE SENTENCES I. MAIN POINT (state as a single declarative sentence): A major upside in the legalization of cannabis is the benefit of economic improvement. A. SUBPOINT: Legalizing this drug would bring about millions to billions of dollars in tax revenue. 1. Marijuana growers account for 14 billion dollars a year in sales in CA, making it the states most valuable cash crop which is a perfect reason to tax it. a. Economist Stephen Easton estimated in 2012 that legal marijuana could be a 45-100 billion dollar industry b. Adding the tax to this industry would bring substantial growth to the already massive amount of money that the product makes on it’s own 2. Government legalization of marijuana could bring 7.7 billion dollars annually by not having the current...
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...Should marijuana be legalized for medicinal use? Cierra Cook Medical Ethics April 12, 2014 Marijuana has been hailed as a prescription for many ills and physicians once used it to stimulate appetite, relieve chronic pain, and treat asthma and migraines. But is marijuana really a medical miracle? If so, do its clinical benefits outweigh its drawbacks? Should we legalize marijuana? Is medical marijuana really worth the risks? These are the issues one needs to think about before making the decision to legalize marijuana. Marijuana is a drug that is derived from the dried and cut leaves of the hemp plant known as "cannabis sativa". Marijuana has a variety of street names such as "grass", "Mary Jane", "pot", "smoke", "reefer", "herb", and "weed". The active ingredient in marijuana is delta tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (3). Marijuana has been used throughout history and in many different cultures to change mood, perception, and consciousness (to get "high"). Its effects range from increasing creativity to provoking mystical experiences, to heightening the capacity to feel, sense and share. After alcohol, it is the most popular of what are called "recreational drugs." It has been used around the world for other purposes. In some primitive tribes of South America, Africa, and India, "cannabis" is used in religious ceremonies and for medical purposes. African mine workers have used it to ease the drudgery of their work and many Jamaicans use it at the end of the day to relieve...
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...Do you all believe that marijuana should be legalised? Good afternoon all year 11 English students, today I will be presenting an oral to you all on the legalisation of marijuana and I will change any negative thoughts you have towards the legalisation of this substance. Marijuana is an illegal “drug” in Australia but not in all parts of the world. Marijuana is a product that is grown from our earth that can benefit as all in many different aspects, for example, marijuana is used for medicinal purposes, helps produce useful resources that are needed in our modern society and also is used for the social enjoyment of a relaxing and exciting buzz. The plant that is grown from the grounds of our earth can replace the occasional drink of alcohol or smoke of a cigarette to relieve our day-to-day stresses. Also when hanging around friends or family smoking marijuana in a social sense can benefit our relationships with the others around us. The negative betrayal of marijuana by the government is all a lie. The statistics and facts clearly show that marijuana is safer then alcohol and all other drugs because no body as ever died from a over dose of this so called drug marijuana and nor has anybody died from stupid behave like alcohol. Alcohol is legal and statistics show that it makes people aggressive and takes away their ability to make sensible decisions and yet it is legal. So why isn’t marijuana legal if alcohol is, when facts show that marijuana is a...
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...THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA Kristina Brown Ashford University POL 201 American National Government Instructor: Tracy Trunnell When it comes to marijuana there is a great debate. While there are still many who oppose it, there are just that many more that will be for it. There is more than just the bud that can make you high. The entire plant has many uses. But the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) within the female part of the plant is all that anyone can seem to focus on. With there being many medical benefits that have been proven, they are still worried on the criminalization of it that has been created. Many feel that it has proven that it doesn't belong here as it made a major appearance in the 50's and 60's. There are many faces to the making Marijuana debate, but I see nothing wrong with it being fully legalzied. In the birth of this nation, even a few of our founding fathers grew hemp. Hemp is related to the marijuana plant. Hemp can be useful for many things, such as paper, rope, clothing, etc... Marijuana first made an appearance in the United States after the civil war, were it was encouraged to be grown. It was then found and used for many medicinal aspects. At the turn of the century, the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed that in short required the lableing of canibus that was in any over-the-counter remidies. From the turn of the century through the roaring twenties, the Mexican's introduced the use of the recreational proerpties of marijuana. As it soon...
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...legalization is possible and even necessary in today’s world of free morality. It is obvious that the advantages of legal marijuana overweight its harm. 1. The short story of marijuana prohibition Since early times people cultivated marijuana, or cannabis, or hemp, and used it for food. The fiber of young plants was the good raw material for clothes and paper. Cannabis also has a long history of medicinal usage, with evidence dating back to 4,000 B.C. In 19th century tincture of cannabis was the popular medicine. After the prohibition of alcohol beverages in 1919 young people in the USA began to smoke marijuana instead of liquor. In 1937 Harry J. Anslinger, the first Commissioner of the Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), inspired the “Marihuana Tax Act”. This act made possession or transfer of hemp illegal. At the USA hemp could be used for medical and industrial purposes only. However some critics noticed that Anslinger’s activity was supported by paper and plastic manufacturers who wanted to exclude hemp from the market. It is interesting, that due to Anslinger’s campaign many people believed that marijuana and hemp are different plants. “Mr. Dingell: I want to be certain what this is. Is this (Indian hemp) the same weed that grows wild in some of our Western States which is sometimes called the loco weed? Mr. Anslinger: No, sir, that is another family.” (Anslinger, 1937) However if we look in the “GRIN Taxonomy for Plants” by the United States...
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...Should Marijuana smoking be legalized? In human history, psychoactive consumption is one of the most ancient practices. Even in our society it is considered an illegal practice, although it is a common habit for some social groups. There have been several attempts to prevent the consumption of drugs. Despite the effort, so far all the policies raised have failed. The war on drugs primarily aimed the controversial drug marijuana, which is still the most used illegal drug throughout. Due to the consumption of this drug, our generation faces the challenge of deciding whether marijuana should remain illegal or must become legal. Usually, people do not know much about marijuana. Everyone thinks it is as harmful as heroin and cocaine. However, marijuana it is fully comparable with legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco, in terms of their impact and damage. I believe that marijuana should be legalized for the reasons I will explain in the following paragraphs. First, marijuana can be used for medical purposes. The use of marijuana for medical purposes is not a recent finding. The use of medical marijuana dates back around 5000 years. There are several writings from Western culture recommending the use of this substance for a variety of health problems and disorders. Today, many doctors agree on the use of marijuana as an alternative medicine because it can reduce the pain of many diseases. Marijuana is useful to relieve pain, nausea, glaucoma, and muscular problems. It is also...
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...Release the Green! Marijuana is a very noticeable and scandalous issue in the world today. Although many malicious entitlements have been said about cannabis in current history, the certainties are slowly starting to reappear. Unluckily, these facts are being very heavily criticized because of the clichéd view of what people see as the classic “weed smoker.” This twisted observation of a lazy and unenthusiastic America is the consequence of over seventy years of information and deception spread by private interests who needed weed illegal for their own particular gains. As just a regular citizen and someone that doesn’t even use marijuana, I think that the drug should be legalized for all uses. Consuming marijuana for pharmaceutical purposes is not a new discovery. Actually, written references to consume medical marijuana go back to almost 5,000 years ago (herer, 167). Western treatment included marijuana’s medical properties in the mid-1800s, and by the start of the 20th century, doctors had issued more than 150 credentials in the Western medical literature recommending its use for a variety of disorders (Miron, 117). These conditions include relief from pain, glaucoma, nausea and movement disorders. It can also be used to help patients that have or had HIV/AIDS or cancer patients that have to go through chemotherapy because it motivates their appetites. In our day, thousands of patients are capable of use marijuana as an effective technique of cure for their illnesses. This...
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...The Beneficial Uses of Hemp Following my father's death, I felt there was some unfinished business that we had not discussed. I searched to find some of my father's thoughts and feeling that I could justify our relationship through. Ironically, I came across a manila envelope, which had contained some of his prized possessions. As I searched through it, I developed a new opinion of the bio mass plant called "Hemp." There were articles showing a hemp bills being passed and farmers wanting to cultivate it within Delta County. There was also a book called "The Emperor Wears No Clothes." It was a book stating compelling facts about the miracle crop Hemp." An article struck me. It told of, Woody Harrison, a well-known actor stating, "He would pick up the tab for Colorado's first hemp crop if state legislators approve the crop." He also stated that you could smoke a pound of it and not get high. (Rice)" In addition 4.6 million members of the American Farm Bureau Federation support Hemp 100 percent. Hemp could be the most abundant natural resource, it can replace 80% of our fossil fuels, and be used for many major medicinal purposes (Kriho). It is essential that we stop the use of all fossil fuels, and deforestation to save Mother Earth. This can be accomplished with the cannabis plant hemp seizing pollution and provide the world with more than enough of its energy needs. According to Jack Herer, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, we're not only the founders of our...
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...Hemp: A Truly Green Solution By Dave Evans One of the biggest and longest-running debates amongst the people of the United States has been related to marijuana. In the eyes of some, the plant is a harmful drug that belongs on the controlled substances list, being responsible for not only general teenage laziness and apathy, but also found in correlation with car accidents and deaths across the nation. To others, the plant is as sane a recreational substance as alcohol, made illegal due to political leaders’ interests in the lumber industry, and also a taxable commodity that can add exponential revenue to our economy. The outlawed drug is finding its way into hospitals and head shops in numerous states, some citing medicinal purposes, while others continue pushing for blanket legalization of the substance. However, catching a buzz isn’t the only thing the cannabis sativa plant has to offer our economy. According to the North American Industrial Hemp Council, hemp, the natural fiber product of the cannabis sativa plant, is a renewable and eco-friendly crop. It grows quickly, and doesn’t need herbicides or pesticides to develop. Hemp is not psychoactive; that is, you can’t get high off of it. The NAIHC cites that in order to induce even mild intoxication from hemp, one would have to ingest an amount equal to 2 or 3 doses of a high-fiber laxative. However, the United States remains to be the only industrialized nation in which growing industrial hemp is illegal, as are all...
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...lethal you could die with a single use. Why is it socially acceptable to use substances, which kill thousands a year while a plant that is practically a miracle drug remains portrayed as one of the most dangerous substances, known to man? In this paper, we will look at the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana the financial impact as well as the effects it would have on industry. We will also look at social impact caused by legalizing marijuana can it be socially acceptable. Alcohol and tobacco continually kill people by the thousands and yet remain legal, why then is marijuana, a drug that has never killed a single person still illegal. The declaration of independence and the constitution of the United States of America are written on hemp paper there were even laws on the subject of marijuana before that. America’s first marijuana law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Virginia in 1619 it ordered all farmers to grow Indian hempseed there were several other must grow laws over the next 200 years. You would be imprisoned for not...
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