Cannabis should be a medicinal ally, but we’ve put it on the wrong side of the drug war

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We have a drug problem. Its victims include the very young, the very old and everyone in between.

According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of babies born addicted to opiates has nearly tripled in the last decade. Overdose death rates for the elderly increased twofold from 1999 to 2006. In 2009, drug-induced deaths exceeded deaths from motor vehicle accidents. The culprit: legal prescription painkillers.

In many people, it starts innocently: A fall, an accident or a surgery begets unbearable pain, treated with an opiate painkiller. As useful as these drugs are, they can also be deadly. Their tragedy ripples through a network of family and friends whose lives are also torn apart and forever altered. We can do better.

What if there was a medication that acted on its own endogenous bodily system to relieve pain, as documented in clinical studies, while never resulting in one overdose death? There is. It’s called cannabis.

The real drug problem in this country lies in the war we have waged on this medicinal plant, while ever increasing numbers of young and old suffer and die from legal prescription drugs. It shouldn’t be. It needn’t be. People should have a choice.

We can do better for our families.

Theresa Daniello Auburn Township

 

Hemp Bill Passes Senate, On To Gov. Hickenlooper

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On May 9th Mr. Lauve’s bill, HB12-1099, the Phytoremediation Hemp Remediation Pilot Program, passed the Colorado Senate with an overwhelming supportive vote of 32-2.

(read more here) Check out the comments too.

Chamber

 House

Title

 Phytoremediation Hemp Remediation Pilot Program

House Sponsors

 W. McKinley (D)

Senate Sponsors

 S. Williams (D)
L. Tochtrop (D)

Description

 The chair of the agriculture, livestock, and natural resources committee in the house of representatives and the chair of the agriculture, natural resources, and energy committee in the senate will appoint 7 members to the industrial hemp remediation pilot program committee (committee). The committee will establish an industrial hemp remediation pilot program (pilot program) to study how soils and water may be made more pristine and healthy by phytoremediation, removal of contaminants, and rejuvenation through the growth of industrial hemp. The committee consists of members with various scientific backgrounds and with knowledge about the growth of industrial hemp. The growth of industrial hemp is prohibited until the commissioner of agriculture (commissioner) approves the site chosen by the committee, the security measures that have been put in place by the committee at the pilot program location, and the cleanup plan for the site at the conclusion of the pilot program. The committee will make a final report of its findings and submit the report to the commissioner. The committee may accept gifts, grants, and donations for the pilot program. The pilot program is repealed on July 1, 2022.

Amendments out of Committee

Bill News

 None

House Committee

 Local Government

Senate Committee

 Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy

Status

 Senate ThirdReadingPassed (05/09/2012)

Link to Full Text

 Full Text of Bill (05/09/2012)

Link to Lobbyists

 Lobbyists

Link to Bill Versions

 Bill Versions

Link to Fiscal Notes

 Fiscal Notes (04/16/2012)

Link to History

 History

House Votes

 House Votes

Senate Votes

 Senate Votes

Vote Totals

 Vote Totals by Party

01/18/2012 Introduced In House – Assigned to Local Government
02/13/2012 House Committee on Local Government Refer Unamended to Appropriations
Vote of 11-0 a unanimous approval

04/10/2012 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Vote of 10-3 in favor of the bill

04/12/2012 House Second Reading Laid Over Daily
04/17/2012 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
04/18/2012 House Third Reading Laid Over Daily
04/24/2012 House Third Reading Passed
Vote of 56-8-1 in favor of the bill (for-against-absent)

04/25/2012 Introduced In Senate – Assigned to Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy
05/02/2012 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Refer Unamended to Legislative Council
Vote of 6-0-1 a unanimous approval (for-against-absent)

05/04/2012 Senate Committee on Legislative Council Refer Unamended to Finance
05/04/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
05/04/2012 Senate Committee on Finance Re-Refer Unamended to Appropriations
05/07/2012 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
Vote of 8-1 in favor of the bill

05/08/2012 Senate Second Reading Special Order – Passed
05/09/2012 Senate Third Reading Reconsidered
05/09/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed
05/09/2012 Senate Third Reading Passed
Vote of 32-2 in favor of the bill

Final Votes by Party for Bill: HB12-1099

Party

Yes

No

Excused
Democrats 51 0 1
Republicans 38 10 0

 

Lobbyists for HB12-1099

#

Lobbyist Name

Date

Position

Principal

 

1 BERRY, TRAVIS DAVID 01/2012 Monitoring THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
2 BOYDSTON, BRENT 01/2012 Supporting COLORADO FARM BUREAU
3 CHASE, SCOTT M 03/2012 Monitoring THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
4 COLE, JAMES J. 02/2012 Supporting COUNTY OF WELD, COLORADO
5 Colglazier, Nicholas 01/2012 Supporting Colorado Farm Bureau
6 COLORADO LEGISLATIVE SERVICES,
LLC		 02/2012 Supporting COUNTY OF WELD, COLORADO
7 ERBERT LEE, RACHEL 03/2012 Monitoring THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
8 JENSEN PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
ANNMARIE JENSEN		 02/2012 Monitoring COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE
9 LAYTON, MELANIE M. 01/2012 Supporting COUNTY OF WELD, COLORADO
10 MILLER, KARA DIANNE 02/2012 Monitoring MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY GROUP
11 OKEEFE, MARGARET-MARY S 02/2012 Monitoring CBA
12 POLITICALWORKS, LLC 03/2012 Monitoring THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
13 TOMLINSON, DANNY L 03/2012 Monitoring COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
14 VORTHMANN, GARIN 02/2012 Supporting COUNTY OF WELD, COLORADO

 

Happy Mothers Day and Muddy Hole Days, May 12-13th

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Hemp was, and can be, an integral crop to the survival and growth of the United States for medical, industrial and food uses.

In 1762, “Virginia awarded bounties for hempculture and manufacture, and imposed penalties upon those who did not produce it.”

Three years later, from George Washington’s Diary…

May 12-13 1765: “Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole by Swamp.”
August 7, 1765: “–began to separate (sic) the Male from the Female Hemp at Do-rather too late.”

 

Handcuffed, alone and forgotten in a windowless, 5×10′ cell without food or water

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“I didn’t care if I died – I was completely insane.”

That’s what 23-year-old Daniel Chong told reporters after he was abandoned in his cell for 5 days after a 4/20 Drug Enforcement Agency raid at UC San Diego.1 Handcuffed, alone and forgotten in a windowless, 5×10′ room without food or water, (Read More and DO Something about this)

US Should Allow Hemp Farming

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To the Editor:
In a recent press release opposing legislation to allow farmers to grow industrial hemp, the White House drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, has shown a stunning ignorance about the plant, stating ”all parts of the plant, including hemp, can contain THC (a psychoactive ingredient in marijuana), a Schedule I controlled substance.” In the world of scientific reality, the amounts of THC found in industrial hemp – even in the flowers – are so minute as to be meaningless. But the amounts of THC found in hemp fiber are so low as to be undetectable, which is why hemp fiber products are legal in the United States.

A few examples of the usefulness of industrial hemp are in order. Because of its resistance to degrading, American hemp was the best product for ship’s ropes and rigging during our American Revolution and financed a large part of it. The oil from pressed hemp seeds is both nutritious (highest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids) and can be used as a diesel biofuel. The resultant seed cake rivals soy as a protein source and has essential amino acids. The long fibers from the plant make an excellent source for fabric and high-grade paper (the original drafts of our Constitution were made from hemp paper). The rest of the biomass can be used as a nutritious animal feedstock. It has a thick root system with a taproot over three feet long, markedly lessening desertification (soil loss/runoff). Finally, since the biochemistry of the plant kingdom differs, the hemp plant does better with increasing ultraviolet radiation (think ozone hole), the rice plant does not, making hemp seed cakes a much more valuable nutrition source as we advance into the 21st century.

However, Kerelikowske also said ”America’s farmers deserve our nation’s help and support to ensure rural America’s prosperity and vitality.”

Every other industrial nation allows hemp farming. In a time of economic recession, we should be promoting industrial hemp for its economic potential, especially since the American climate is very suitable for producing high quality hemp and the world market is growing.

The simplest and most effective way to start this economic progress is to completely remove hemp from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration drug Schedule I, which prohibits it. This change could be made immediately by a presidential order to the DEA drug czar.

I remember President Obama campaigning on effective change. The time to start is now.

Gene Tinelli
Jamesville

The Drug Czar’s False Statement About Marijuana and Hemp Should Be a Bigger Scandal

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Scott MorganAssociate Editor, StoptheDrugWar.org

In response to an online petition sponsored by the White House, which I signed seven months ago, I’ve finally received a response from Obama’s Drug Czar, Gil Kerlikowske, explaining why we can’t let American farmers grow industrial hemp. It’s written in rather plain language, but nonetheless betrays either appalling ignorance or rank dishonesty on the part of our nation’s top drug policy official.

Unfortunately, while President Obama’s misleading claims about medical marijuana policy have generated considerable attention, the drug czar’s recent comments about hemp have gone almost entirely unnoticed and unreported. This is his entire response right here (which apparently took many months to prepare):

OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE TO Allow Industrial Hemp to be Grown in the U.S. Once AgainWhat We Have to Say About Marijuana and Hemp Production
By Gil Kerlikowske

America’s farmers deserve our Nation’s help and support to ensure rural America’s prosperity and vitality. Federal law prohibits human consumption, distribution, and possession of Schedule I controlled substances. Hemp and marijuana are part of the same species of cannabis plant. While most of the THC in cannabis plants is concentrated in the marijuana, all parts of the plant, including hemp, can contain THC, a Schedule I controlled substance. The Administration will continue looking for innovative ways to support farmers across the country while balancing the need to protect public health and safety. [WhiteHouse.gov]

The drug czar oddly begins by declaring that, “federal law prohibits human consumption, distribution, and possession of Schedule I controlled substances,” which is simply irrelevant in the context of hemp. Hemp isn’t a Schedule I controlled substance and it can legally be consumed, distributed and possessed in a variety of forms. The soap I use every day is made of it, and you can buy hemp foods at any grocery store without fear of arrest. The drug czar’s failure to even acknowledge this basic fact makes his statement terribly confusing in its entirety, but it actually gets worse.

The central issue here, and the whole point of the petition, is that the DEA won’t let American farmers grow hemp for the purpose of manufacturing the various legal products that are made from it. As a result, all hemp products in the U.S. are made from imported hemp, eliminating a lucrative economic opportunity for American farmers. Instead of explaining why that is, the drug czar persists in blurring the distinction between hemp and pot, even implying that hemp can get you high:

While most of the THC in cannabis plants is concentrated in the marijuana, all parts of the plant, including hemp, can contain THC, a Schedule I controlled substance.

Here, the drug czar implies that hemp and marijuana are separate parts of the same individual plant, as if to suggest that allowing hemp cultivation would require that psychoactive marijuana be produced as a byproduct. This is false. Though both are types of cannabis, the hemp plant is genetically different from marijuana plants that produce the drug. In other words, the plant that’s used to make soap won’t get you high, and the plant that gets you high isn’t used to make soap. This is basic stuff, but the drug czar’s statement mischaracterizes it to the point of complete incoherence.

READ MORE HERE

Follow Scott Morgan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drugblogger

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-morgan/the-drug-czars-false-stat_b_1463271.html

Replace ignorant prosecutors and judges By educated and rational people

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The law is wrong to not “allow” Mr. Forchion a medical defense, the fact still hangs over everyone’s head, that Cannabis (marijuana) is a plant and has healing properties,which can not be denied by an ignorant prosecutor or judge, this is ridiculous.  Cannabis is a G*D given plant, get these ignorant prosecutors and judges replaced by educated and rational people.  Mr. Forchion is one of the last of the true Americans who stand up for their rights!  GO WEEDMAN!

Prosecutor: NJWeedman is a “charlatan … a wolf in hemp clothing”
(want to guess the Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano is a racist.)

Swallows fly higher on hemp

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A recent study by leading wildlife research charity the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), has identified that hemp, commonly associated with marijuana, is not only becoming a profitable crop for growers as it has many commercial applications such as the manufacture of car body panels and eco housing; it is also a highly prized crop for swallows and whitethroat.

(Read more here)