Proposal to legalize industrial-grade hemp.

[.Shane.]

Meaning, not the kind that gives you the munchies and makes you act funny.

The odd-bedfellows here are Ron Paul and Barney Frank.

Source

Yesterday, in fact.

Sponsored by Reps. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the bill would allow U.S. farmers to grow industrial, non-psychoactive hemp, which manufacturers use for everything from soap to shoes to car upholstery. Current law allows hemp to be imported, but not cultivated domestically.

Introducing the bill on the House floor yesterday, Paul said that prohibition is a mistake, particularly in a difficult economy.

It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has stood in the way of American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet, competing in the global industrial hemp market. Indeed, the founders of our Nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that Federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained Federal Government.

Aside from Paul and Frank, nine other House lawmakers have signed on their support, seven Democrats and two Republicans.

note: italics indicate a quote from Paul in the source...

Not all of you may know that hemp was legal up until post-WWII. Here's a 13-minute US government produced pro-hemp film (HEMP FOR VICTORY!).

Note: Originally found at Boing Boing...

Poll... why not, polls are always fun!

 

[GoodGame]

Meaning, not the kind that gives you the munchies and makes you act funny.

Ironically, I was just reading that ground hemp seed (THC free o'course) is an ideal protein supplement, having the additional benefit of fiber, and essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6). Good munchies.

WW2 soldier gear was made from hemp fiber.

 

[Mowque]

I'm confused. I'd legalize marijuana for personal use, but DAMMIT, I want my paper made from TREES!

This made my day....

 

[.Shane.]

WW2 soldier gear was made from hemp fiber.

This is exactly what the video I linked to is about.

This made my day....

I had to cover all 4 possibilities... even the irrational one.

 

[Godwynn]

What was the reason not to allow American farmers to grow it in the first place?

 

[holy king]

the cotton industry.

 

[Mowque]

I can't vote because I'm not sure weather I'm for recreational use or not.

 

[Shadylookin]

I'm for the legalization of industrial grade marijuana, but for banning hemp

I think both should be legal and I'm really confused as to why the government ever banned a harmless fiber.

 

[.Shane.]

What was the reason not to allow American farmers to grow it in the first place?

Here's some info...

More or less because of lobbying by competing industries.

 

[holy king]

Here's some info...

More or less because of lobbying by competing industries.

bribing the government to outlaw your competitors is called lobbying nowadays?

 

[Godwynn]

the cotton industry.

Here's some info...

More or less because of lobbying by competing industries.

Wow, that's actually very disturbing.

 

[.Shane.]

bribing the government to outlaw your competitors is called lobbying nowadays?

Hey, I hate it as much as the next guy (or so I hope) but that's what we have, to this day. Big industries (or unions or whatever institution has the $$ to spend) and get laws favorable to their interests passed ALL THE TIME.

You think this is any different?

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

I'm always against irrationally banning things. Guess how I voted.

 

[Ecofarm]

Ironically, I was just reading that ground hemp seed (THC free o'course) is an ideal protein supplement, having the additional benefit of fiber, and essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6).

And it's a legume (fixes nitrogen). Cotton is not.

 

[Berzerker]

What was the reason not to allow American farmers to grow it in the first place?

Competing interests wanted to remove it from the marketplace. Dupont invented Nylon in '35 I think and William Randolph Hearst had bought up a bunch of forest for wood pulp. Thats the two I know about... Anyway, Hearst ran bogus stories about pot causing people to become homicidal maniacs and the chair of the committee hearing the "testimony" on what to do about the evil menace was from the state of Dupont... I mean, Delaware. Harry Ainslinger read crappola from Heart's newspapers straight into the record. The AMA rep wasn't even allowed to contribute, they opposed the measure. As payback Harry Ainslinger went after doctors for violating prescription regulations etc, 13 were convicted from '37-39. The AMA reversed its position in '39 and Ainslinger convicted only 2 Docs from "39-52. The AMA was compromised long ago...

It was a tax, a prohibitory tax - unconstitutional. Congress may not use an existing constitutional power (taxes) to create a power not in the Constitution. They were using their taxing power to ban a plant... Then they refused to sell the tax stamps so even hemp farmers who would pay the tax couldn't buy them. The SCOTUS ruled that unconstitutional in the 60s and Congress did a song and dance to get around the decision and not enough people cared.

 

[Berzerker]

Gonzales v. Raich ruled in a 6-3 decision that the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution allowed the federal government to ban the use of cannabis, including medical use. The court found the federal law valid, although the cannabis in question had been grown and consumed within a single state, and had never entered interstate commerce.

They just make it up as they go... Interstate commerce becomes intrastate non-commerce. Frauds, but what can you expect? They're given those black robes by the same politicians who dont give a rat's ass about the Constitution.

 

[Agent327]

Meaning, not the kind that gives you the munchies and makes you act funny.

The odd-bedfellows here are Ron Paul and Barney Frank.

Source


note: italics indicate a quote from Paul in the source...

Not all of you may know that hemp was legal up until post-WWII. Here's a 13-minute US government produced pro-hemp film (HEMP FOR VICTORY!).

Note: Originally found at Boing Boing...

Poll... why not, polls are always fun!

I'm not following... all industrialized nations produce hemp already. Quite legally too. (Just try googling for it.)

 

[Cutlass]

It was a stupid thing to do to drive hemp out in the first place. Never should have been done.

 

[.Shane.]

I'm not following... all industrialized nations produce hemp already. Quite legally too. (Just try googling for it.)

Not in the US. A few states allow it, but that is trumped by threats from the federal govt.

OMG GOOGLE IT

 

[LuckyAC]

If CFC ran the world, it would be a utopia, unanimous sanity in these poll results.