A New "Green" Economy
Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Michael Bloomberg might each agree that with heightened concerns about drought and warnings of worldwide crop shortages due to rising temperatures, we need to put science first when dealing with climate change.
And to that list we might also include fellow eco-activists equally concerned with rising crop shortages -- Sir Richard Branson, the high-flying tycoon who's trying to leave cleaner skies across the world; the president and founder of Farm Aid, Willie Nelson; Global Green USA's representative, Brad Pitt; the recipient of the Entertainment Industry Environmental Leadership Award, Woody Harrelson; and the Environmental Justice Foundation's "Save The Sea" spokesperson, "Mad Hatter" Johnny Depp.
But just what kinds of crops are causing such concern? Certainly there's corn, wheat, rice and soy, but add to that list the almighty, yet still illegal, "righteous bush," "giggle weed," "laughing grass," "catnip," "420," "ace," "diggidy," "hash," or "hydro." Ahhhh -- good old-fashioned marijuana.
Delivered as a bag, bowl or a bale and served up as a joint, spliff or roach, the above glitterati not only include a who's-who of dedicated politicians, multi-national moguls, Hollywood film stars, and global eco-activists, but also a list of confessed weed-whackers as well.
To that litany of the perma-fried or those simply compelled to either a toke, a drag or a hit, we can also add the illustrious former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill; the longest reigning monarch in English history, Queen Victoria; the thirty-fifth President of the United States, John F. Kennedy; the most lauded English poet and playwright, William Shakespeare; the brilliant American jazz trumpeter and singer, Louis Armstrong; the Spanish surrealist painter, Salvador Dali; the innovator of agricultural science himself, George Washington Carver; and -- the newest inductee -- the 14 career Olympic gold medalist, American swimmer and hero, Michael Phelps.
Sure, there are some who might think that allowing himself to be photographed while bingeing on a bong is a bit immature and probable cause for his particular brand of professional "no more brand endorsement" suicide. But cut the kid some slack!
From fellow herbal-enthusiast Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," we read, "The Caterpillar puffed [on his hookah] and said, 'So you think you're changed, do you?'" As if the insect were speaking directly to Phelps instead of Alice, Phelps fell through the looking-glass and was most certainly changed -- a three-month disqualification from official USA Swimming competitions, suspension of his training finances, and his "portrait on the box" contract from Kellogg's gone up in smoke. Kinda harsh. (Not the weed, the reaction.) One minute of videotaped indiscretion has automatically turned Phelps into a Frosted Flake.
But to all of the half-baked hypocritical inhalers our there (even some at Kellogg's, I'd venture to guess!), I submit the following:
"I inhaled frequently, that was the point!" (President Barack Obama).
"When I was in England, I experimented with marijuana a time or two." (Former US President, "I never inhaled" - Bill Clinton).
"You bet I did. And I enjoyed it!" (New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg).
In an economy quickly going down the toilet faster than a nickel bag when the police come a-knocking, decriminalized and government-sanctioned "ganja" could 'pot'-entially create more and literally 'green' jobs, add much needed tax revenues, and end the criminality and high-cost incarceration (inordinately of young black males) attached to its production, sale and consumption.
In an ideal world, the government's attitude towards marijuana should rise above blue-nosed public hysteria or so-called religious morality and rather, look to science, medicine and public health while pondering important lessons from history (like the great success of Prohibition -- not!). As the Administration develops strategic economic plans and "bale" outs -- they should consider including legalizing pot -- thereby removing the high stakes from our current reefer madness. But even though many throughout history have enjoyed it -- painters, playwrights, poets, Prime Ministers, Presidents, many a Joe the Plumber and his sidekick, Joe Six-Pack, or even just your ordinary, run-of-the-mill Olympic gold-medalist -- it seems that legalized "good times" are, at least for now, only a pipe dream.
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Legalize it- an entire (legal) untapped industry worth of jobs and sin tax money.
And let's not forget that the cotton industry was a reason marijuana is illegal anyway. Hemp is cheaper, easier to grow, softer and stronger than cotton. And can be used as paper.
Legalize marijuana. Save the trees.
BTW, I quit smoking when I was 18. I just still find no reason to keep the drug illegal.
Marijuana is the most human-friendly mind altering substance I know of. It's great for pain, nausea, depression, and all kinds of other medical problems. You can't OD from it. You will not have withdrawal symptoms if you quit smoking it suddenly. Best of all, if it were legal enough, you could grow it in your backyard. I'm sure the pharmaceutical companies aren't happy about this.
It's important, though, to decide whether we prefer decriminalization or legalization, because they're a big difference.
With decriminalization, we'd still buy and sell marijuana produced by innumerable grow operations through black markets at inflated prices, and we'd still have social problems related to the questionable activity that's often associated with the drug trade.
But with legalization, marijuana is a normalized market commodity we buy at volume retailers integrated with industrial-scale producers, whose low low prices force small producers and distributors out of the market.
Each approach has its potential advantages and disadvantages, and the end states look very different. Most people involved in the marijuana trade adamantly oppose legalization and decry the economic hardships already suffered due to the pseudo-legalized dispensaries in California.
Boycott Kellogg's!
The biggest obstacle to decriminalization is the entrenched corruption at every level that resulted from this fruitless prohibition against drug use.
We have intelligence agencies and others who are financially supported by the proceeds from illegal trafficking, who continue to benefit from it being illegal. They could care less how many lives are ruined as a result of these failed policies. There has been a blurring of the line between organized crime and government. The victims are the working class, poor, and minorities.
This is becoming a humanitarian crisis in our own country now, with nearly a million people in prison for smoking cannabis.
There will be a march on DC on Aril 20th, everyone should go.
Two Million incarcerated. Bush8t had a great two terms of locking up minorities.
Marijuana legalization is long overdue. All the propaganda has been proven wrong- It has no physically addictive properties. It's not a "gateway" drug. Those drugs are already legal. They're called alcohol and tobacco. The main problem is industry. Agri-business opposes it, you can get somewhere between 5 to 12 times the paper pulp per acre from hemp than wood (depending on the acre in question). Cotton producers don't want it legalized, hemp is better than cotton. And all this for hemp, something not even worth smoking. The pharmaceutical industry opposes it, they can't make any money from their addictive, less effective medical marijuana substitutes if folks can just grow their own. Then there's the prison building industry, how can the good friends of people like Cheney continue to suck at the govt teet if laws are passed that reduce the number of people incarcerated? Or worse in their view- make room for violent criminals by releasing non-violent marijuana related prisoners from existing prisons? And, of course, the liquor industry probably assumes that their sales will go down with legalization. And there's much more. The argument for legalization is strong. It's the ignorant and the greedy which have kept it illegal.
great post waltintexas, thanks!
Well put. I'm 100% behind you.
you forgot tyhe big one Dupont and plastics thats where it all started imagine if we had used hemp instaed of plastic
So we spend around 60 Billion to lock up non-violent drug users, another 14 Billion to find and arrest them. All to prohibit the United States #1 cash crop, Marijuana. a Dangerous and Deadly drug that has been shown time and time again by everyone from the FDA to our current president says is non-harmful.
Time to pull our heads out of the sand, and make this right.
#1cash crop that at this time produces no tax revenue!
They should at least leave it up to the states. Out here in Cali we would have no problem reaping the benefits.
they just busted 4 medial marijuana dispenceries in cali. they are an easy bust they keep records they put the money in the bank. Those companies paid over a million dollars in federal income tax and they lost their business their homes all of their money and their freedom.
almost, the DEA tends to only smash and grab, rather than a full on arrest and investigation
while deplorable the raids in Cali included 0 arrests. not that uncle sam can't come by in 2 years and arrest everyone involved with evidence seized in the raid. .
All it would take is the Eric Holder to direct the DEA not waste resources on marijuana raids and some new legislation - a new green stimulus bill. I say goferit.
Pipe dream indeed. There is no way on earth the War on Drugs Warriors are going to give up on a cash crop like that. "They're dug in deeper then an Alabama tic" Jessie Ventura, From the film Predator.
Rising temps? After record low temps all across the US and the world (hail/ice/sleet storm in Africa comes to mind) we're still saying the earth is warming up? Well, I mean, yes it warms and cools cyclically, everyone knows that.
It's no surprise that every time a global warming (or is it climate change?) alarmist comes out with new "data", it is always shown to be somehow skewed or even incorrect. As is with the latest case of the recent Steig data: www.climateaudit.org
I love when people think global warming means it'll never get cold again. Bwaahahahaha For goodness sake, read a science book before you go spouting rushsheyawn but. flatuations!
Global warming, can trigger another ice age. It has to do with the salt content of....Oh scrooit.
Don't even bother to try to explain it, willful ignorance of what global warming will actually do to our planet can't be fixed. Let them wallow, eventually they'll freeze to death.
Whether you believe it or not, it is true. Not only that but our Poles N and S have shifted and the midwest snow storms are now hitting the East mid west regions that rarely saw snow. It is shortening our growing seasons for ripe harvest. We have officially lost six weeks of warm weather. Spring in VA starts weatherwise in April. I used to plant late February, 19 years ago. How many more growing season weeks, must we lose?
Also, the ground is droughty and sandy from high burn of grasses, during the higher temperatures of 105 and unless we have a canopy to cover the plant from the heat, or frequently water the crop, cost more, we are in danger of not being able to feed the future populace. Not to mention the tons and tons of chemical pesticides that are destroying the bee population that pollinates the crops for ripeness.
Get back to me for more, when you have something substantive. These are known facts around the world. Bush kept this from you. Fox doesn't do green energy.
So deep in denial or so severely misinformed...does it hurt?
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