TheSchwarts
Well-Known Member
Bob Says Hello!
Sitting here bored out of my skull, I've decided to write up a little something I support greatly. The legalization of recreational and productional use of the marijuana plant.
"I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?
-Willie Nelson
So, over the years you may of been led to believe that marijuana is this horrible demonic plant. You may have been told that it is evil and vile, frown upon anybody who enjoys it. Well I'm sorry to say it, but you been misinformed greatly! HOLD ON JUST A SECOND! Before you jump the gun, relax. Take the time to go over some of the information below, once you have, then go ahead and make your choice.
Now, before I go any further I just want to make a few points clear.
1.) I'm not trying to convert everybody to smoke or use marijuana, that is a personal choice. I simply want to educate.
2.) I'm not encourageing anybody to break their local laws!
3.) These are my opinions along with actual facts, I will state between the two.
Alright, so lets start off with some stats here.
FACT.
In the year 2006, 43.9 percent of the 1,889,810 total arrests for drug violations were for marijuana- a total of 829,627. Out of that 829k, 738,916 people were arrested for just marijuana possession alone.
In the recent news report about the jail rates it said on average a state spends 25k per inmate a year. Thats around 18,472,900 dollars!!
Oh, yes. Dont forget the cost of fighting Marijuana States spent $42.89 billion on Corrections in 2005 alone.
Now if you ask me, wouldn't it be cheaper to let us smoke our joint?
I'll let the data speak for itself...Anywho, lets continue!
To compare, states only spent $24.69 billion on public assistance.
How sad is that? Next!
More than double the amount of cash is spent fighting marijuana than any other drug. Sad to think that a plant is considered more dangerious than drugs that are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths?
Here's a little picture I found that is very interesting...
This chart worries me, a substance that has been so demonized is directly responsible for zero accountable deaths? But cigarettes, booze, and fatty, cholestral filled, sugar coated toxins are sold by the millions? Who is the government actually trying to protect here? That's for you to decide I suppose!
Marijuana Myths!
Marijuana Overdose
There is no existing evidence of anyone dying of a marijuana overdose. Tests performed on mice have shown that the ratio of cannabinoids (the chemicals in marijuana that make you high) necessary for overdose to the amount necessary for intoxication is 40,000:1.
For comparison's sake, that ratio for alcohol is generally between 4:1 and 10:1.
Yet again, lets make it clear how dangerious alcohol is!
Brain Damage
Marijuana is psychoactive because it stimulates certain brain receptors, but it does not produce toxins that kill them (like alcohol, again!), and it does not wear them out as other drugs may. There is no evidence that marijuana use causes brain damage. Studies performed on actual human populations will confirm these results, even for chronic marijuana users (up to 18 joints per day) after many years of use.
In reality, marijuana has the effect of slightly increasing alpha-wave activity in your brain. Alpha waves are generally associated with meditative and relaxed states, which are, in turn, often associated with human creativity.
Hormones
Chronic marijuana use has not been found to alter testosterone or other sex hormone levels. In contrast, heavy alcohol use is known to lower these same testosterone levels. ((Man, alcohol really sucks huh?))
Cancer
Smoking marijuana has the potential to cause both bronchitis and cancer of the lungs, throat, and neck, but this is generally no different than inhaling any other burnt carbon-containing matter since they all increase the number of lesions (and therefore possible infections) in your airways. However, there are no toxins like that of cigarettes, also there is always the option of a vaporizer. Completely smoke free and safe on your lungs!
Okay, enough of that. Lets look at the benefits of this mysterious plant!
It can be harvested for hemp!
Hemp is the natural, durable soft fiber from the stalk of Cannabis sativa plants that grow upwards of 20 feet tall. Cannabis plants used for hemp production are not valued for recreational uses.
However, hemp is an amazing product!
-Hemp is fairly easy to grow and matures very fast compared to many crops, most notably trees used for paper. Compared to cotton for clothing, hemp cloth is known to be of superior strength and longer-lasting. The fibers may also be used to form cordage for industrial-strength ropes. Hemp plants also require little pesticides and herbicides due to its height, density and foliage. This also makes the hemp plant very environmentally-friendly. Also, unlike trees which takes decades to mature for harvest, hemp operations can take up very little land with high product output. Another note, in the right conditions (Location), you can produce two to three crops a year.
-Hemp producers sell hemp seeds as a health food, as they are rich in heart-healthy, essential fatty acids, amino acids (both essential and nonessential), vitamins and minerals. Hemp "milk" is a milk substitute also made from hemp seeds that is both dairy and gluten-free. (Which is much better than soy milk, which is actually worst for you than good. Soy bean is actually toxic with regular consumption in your diet! Yes this mean tofu is bad for you! hah.)
-Hemp can be utilized for 25,000 very durable textile products, ranging from paper and clothing to biofuels (from the oils found in the seeds), medicines and construction material. Hemp has been used by many civilizations, from China to Europe (and later North America) for the last 12,000 years of history.
ALSO! Little interesting facts I found out not too long ago!
-American production of hemp was encouraged by the government in the 17th century for the production of rope, sails, and clothing.
-In 1619 the Virginia Assembly passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. (What happened? T.T)
-In the late nineteenth century, marijuana became a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was sold openly in public pharmacies.
So let me get this straight, a plant that could possibly solve the global economic slump, feed people, cloth people, ease sickness, and build with is illegal?! I'm no sure, but I think we may have stumbled across something here...oh my, look it's the truth!
I think I've made my point Haha, I'm just going to leave you with a few quotes on Marijuana I think you'll enjoy!
To forbid or even seriously restrict the use of so holy and gracious a herb would cause widespread suffering and annoyance, and to large bands of worshipped ascetics, deep-seated anger. It would rob the people of a solace in discomfort, of a cure in sickness, of a guardian whose precious protection saves them from the attacks of evil influences Like his Hindu brother, the Musalman fakir reveres Bhang as the lengthener of life, the freer from the bonds of self. Bhang brings union with the Divine Spirit. We drank Bhang and the mystery I am, grew plain. So grand a result, so tiny a sin.
J.M. CampellNote on the Religion of Hemp British Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report 1839-1894
The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.
Thomas Jefferson
Make the most of the hemp seed, sow it everywhere.
George Washington
"one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man."Marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume
Francis Young American Federal Judge
"Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marihuana in private for personal use... Therefore, I support legislation amending Federal law to eliminate all Federal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce [28g] of marijuana."
Jimmy Carter
U.S. Presidents Message to congress 1977
The War on Drugs was never, ever about drugs, it's about bigotry. You can change the law, but changing the prejudice and fear of bigots who hide behind drug war rhetoric is a far more challenging task. It's time to expose the Drug War and the bigots who promote the ideology of "Zero Tolerance."
Steve Kubby
The biggest killer on the planet is stress and I still think the best medicine is and always has been cannabis.
Willie Nelson, High Times, January 1991
((Willie Fing rocks.))
Why is marijuana against the law? It grows naturally upon our planet. Doesn't the idea of making nature against the law seem to you a bit . . . unnatural?
-Bill Hicks ((One of my favorites! ^^ ))
Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.
-William F. Buckley, Jr.
And I'm spent, I hope you enjoyed it and learned something new!
Feel free to comment, I'll do my best to get back to you. ^^
Sitting here bored out of my skull, I've decided to write up a little something I support greatly. The legalization of recreational and productional use of the marijuana plant.
"I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?
-Willie Nelson
So, over the years you may of been led to believe that marijuana is this horrible demonic plant. You may have been told that it is evil and vile, frown upon anybody who enjoys it. Well I'm sorry to say it, but you been misinformed greatly! HOLD ON JUST A SECOND! Before you jump the gun, relax. Take the time to go over some of the information below, once you have, then go ahead and make your choice.
Now, before I go any further I just want to make a few points clear.
1.) I'm not trying to convert everybody to smoke or use marijuana, that is a personal choice. I simply want to educate.
2.) I'm not encourageing anybody to break their local laws!
3.) These are my opinions along with actual facts, I will state between the two.
Alright, so lets start off with some stats here.
FACT.
In the year 2006, 43.9 percent of the 1,889,810 total arrests for drug violations were for marijuana- a total of 829,627. Out of that 829k, 738,916 people were arrested for just marijuana possession alone.
In the recent news report about the jail rates it said on average a state spends 25k per inmate a year. Thats around 18,472,900 dollars!!
Oh, yes. Dont forget the cost of fighting Marijuana States spent $42.89 billion on Corrections in 2005 alone.
Now if you ask me, wouldn't it be cheaper to let us smoke our joint?
I'll let the data speak for itself...Anywho, lets continue!
To compare, states only spent $24.69 billion on public assistance.
How sad is that? Next!
More than double the amount of cash is spent fighting marijuana than any other drug. Sad to think that a plant is considered more dangerious than drugs that are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths?
Here's a little picture I found that is very interesting...
This chart worries me, a substance that has been so demonized is directly responsible for zero accountable deaths? But cigarettes, booze, and fatty, cholestral filled, sugar coated toxins are sold by the millions? Who is the government actually trying to protect here? That's for you to decide I suppose!
Marijuana Myths!
Marijuana Overdose
There is no existing evidence of anyone dying of a marijuana overdose. Tests performed on mice have shown that the ratio of cannabinoids (the chemicals in marijuana that make you high) necessary for overdose to the amount necessary for intoxication is 40,000:1.
For comparison's sake, that ratio for alcohol is generally between 4:1 and 10:1.
Yet again, lets make it clear how dangerious alcohol is!
Brain Damage
Marijuana is psychoactive because it stimulates certain brain receptors, but it does not produce toxins that kill them (like alcohol, again!), and it does not wear them out as other drugs may. There is no evidence that marijuana use causes brain damage. Studies performed on actual human populations will confirm these results, even for chronic marijuana users (up to 18 joints per day) after many years of use.
In reality, marijuana has the effect of slightly increasing alpha-wave activity in your brain. Alpha waves are generally associated with meditative and relaxed states, which are, in turn, often associated with human creativity.
Hormones
Chronic marijuana use has not been found to alter testosterone or other sex hormone levels. In contrast, heavy alcohol use is known to lower these same testosterone levels. ((Man, alcohol really sucks huh?))
Cancer
Smoking marijuana has the potential to cause both bronchitis and cancer of the lungs, throat, and neck, but this is generally no different than inhaling any other burnt carbon-containing matter since they all increase the number of lesions (and therefore possible infections) in your airways. However, there are no toxins like that of cigarettes, also there is always the option of a vaporizer. Completely smoke free and safe on your lungs!
Okay, enough of that. Lets look at the benefits of this mysterious plant!
It can be harvested for hemp!
Hemp is the natural, durable soft fiber from the stalk of Cannabis sativa plants that grow upwards of 20 feet tall. Cannabis plants used for hemp production are not valued for recreational uses.
However, hemp is an amazing product!
-Hemp is fairly easy to grow and matures very fast compared to many crops, most notably trees used for paper. Compared to cotton for clothing, hemp cloth is known to be of superior strength and longer-lasting. The fibers may also be used to form cordage for industrial-strength ropes. Hemp plants also require little pesticides and herbicides due to its height, density and foliage. This also makes the hemp plant very environmentally-friendly. Also, unlike trees which takes decades to mature for harvest, hemp operations can take up very little land with high product output. Another note, in the right conditions (Location), you can produce two to three crops a year.
-Hemp producers sell hemp seeds as a health food, as they are rich in heart-healthy, essential fatty acids, amino acids (both essential and nonessential), vitamins and minerals. Hemp "milk" is a milk substitute also made from hemp seeds that is both dairy and gluten-free. (Which is much better than soy milk, which is actually worst for you than good. Soy bean is actually toxic with regular consumption in your diet! Yes this mean tofu is bad for you! hah.)
-Hemp can be utilized for 25,000 very durable textile products, ranging from paper and clothing to biofuels (from the oils found in the seeds), medicines and construction material. Hemp has been used by many civilizations, from China to Europe (and later North America) for the last 12,000 years of history.
ALSO! Little interesting facts I found out not too long ago!
-American production of hemp was encouraged by the government in the 17th century for the production of rope, sails, and clothing.
-In 1619 the Virginia Assembly passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. (What happened? T.T)
-In the late nineteenth century, marijuana became a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was sold openly in public pharmacies.
So let me get this straight, a plant that could possibly solve the global economic slump, feed people, cloth people, ease sickness, and build with is illegal?! I'm no sure, but I think we may have stumbled across something here...oh my, look it's the truth!
I think I've made my point Haha, I'm just going to leave you with a few quotes on Marijuana I think you'll enjoy!
To forbid or even seriously restrict the use of so holy and gracious a herb would cause widespread suffering and annoyance, and to large bands of worshipped ascetics, deep-seated anger. It would rob the people of a solace in discomfort, of a cure in sickness, of a guardian whose precious protection saves them from the attacks of evil influences Like his Hindu brother, the Musalman fakir reveres Bhang as the lengthener of life, the freer from the bonds of self. Bhang brings union with the Divine Spirit. We drank Bhang and the mystery I am, grew plain. So grand a result, so tiny a sin.
J.M. CampellNote on the Religion of Hemp British Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report 1839-1894
The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.
Thomas Jefferson
Make the most of the hemp seed, sow it everywhere.
George Washington
"one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man."Marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume
Francis Young American Federal Judge
"Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marihuana in private for personal use... Therefore, I support legislation amending Federal law to eliminate all Federal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce [28g] of marijuana."
Jimmy Carter
U.S. Presidents Message to congress 1977
The War on Drugs was never, ever about drugs, it's about bigotry. You can change the law, but changing the prejudice and fear of bigots who hide behind drug war rhetoric is a far more challenging task. It's time to expose the Drug War and the bigots who promote the ideology of "Zero Tolerance."
Steve Kubby
The biggest killer on the planet is stress and I still think the best medicine is and always has been cannabis.
Willie Nelson, High Times, January 1991
((Willie Fing rocks.))
Why is marijuana against the law? It grows naturally upon our planet. Doesn't the idea of making nature against the law seem to you a bit . . . unnatural?
-Bill Hicks ((One of my favorites! ^^ ))
Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.
-William F. Buckley, Jr.
And I'm spent, I hope you enjoyed it and learned something new!
Feel free to comment, I'll do my best to get back to you. ^^