2/17/2004 12:12:00 PM|W|P|projectpeace|W|P|There has been debate and confusion for some time, around the various words used to describe the Cannabis plant. Historically, the word "hemp" has been used, for centuries, to refer to both the high- and low-THC varieties of the plant, which share the taxonomic name "Cannabis". Since 1937, the word 'marijuana' was used to instill prejudice and deflect cultural memory from what was once a revered agricultural and medicinal resource. These days, at least among the activists and journals I have been working with for more than thirteen years, "Cannabis" is still used to refer to both. That is why I use the word "Cannabis" in my writing, with the specific intention of referirng to both varieties. About ten years ago, some Cannabis ("low-THC", "industrial hemp") activists began selectively segregating their efforts, to introduce legislation excluding 'marijuana' from their arguements. They played into the warped and panicked mind-set of prohibtionists who sought to perpetuate misinformation about the "drug" they call "dope". Understandably, but unfortunately, the effort to end Cannabis prohibition was divided. People suddenly felt the need to make an easy, though historically inaccurate, distinction between advocating "legalization" of the low-THC strains for fuel, paper, cloth, etc. and NOT supporting the freedom to use high-THC varieties. Those people figured if they distanced themselves from 'marijuana', and ignored the high-THC controversy, they would have a better chance of attaining their low-THC objectives. I personally don't subscribe to this weak-kneed approach for several reasons which I feel are critically important -- especially to peaceful people sitting in prison right now, and their families.The fact is that prohibition of any Cannabis plant, whether high- or low- THC -- is a violation of fundamental human rights which I am not willing to just give up. Prohibition of anything creates a black market which is proven to be destructive, to the point of being treasonous. To confuse this issue even further, high-THC strains have many valuable "industrial" uses that have nothing to do with "getting loaded", and low-THC strains possess therapeutic benefit which differ from the well-known effectiveness of the high-THC strains. For the sake of brevity and convenience, most people are giving in to using the word "hemp" to identify the low-THC varieties ("industrial hemp", "fiber hemp", "seed hemp", etc.) and the word 'marijuana' to discuss the high-THC herbal therapeutic, entheogen and relaxant (a.k.a. "pot", "ganja", "Santa Maria", "Mary Jane", "herb", "reefer", "grass", "gage", "muggles",etc...). I personally think that the simplest solution is to be accurate by calling one type of Cannabis "high-THC Cannabis" (or 'marijuana', a name that has unmistakeable, affectionate, non-racist value, now that our culture has embraced the word, and lost much of the hysterical racial prejudice against our brothers and sisters south of the border); and call the other "low-THC Cannabis" and forget about convenient labels that don't convey the complexity and nuance of this remarkable plant. I also think it's important to make the distinctions between organic 'marijuana' and chemically grown 'pot', when talking about the effects of smoking. That's why it's a good idea for people to grow their own, so they become familiar with their own herb, and what goes into it, what to expect. Obviously, though it is commonly overlooked, the practice of mixing Cannabis with tobacco has significant effects on the "addictive" potential of smoking Cannabis, essentially making an addictive habit out of one that would not otherwise be physically addictive. While I understand the knee-jerk politics of this volatile issue only too well, I would caution Dennis about making generalized "political" statements concerning 'marijuana' and driving. For experienced smokers, such as myself, smoking a little bit of 'marijuana' can be beneficial, for staying awake at the wheel, improving night vision, and relieving muscle cramps. Clinical evidence of the effects of 'marijuana' on driving ability also supports the truth that smoking Cannabis does not have the same effect on reaction time and coordination, as does drinking alcohol. Generalized statements about Cannabis are almost always meaningless. It's about "set, setting and experience". Considered purely objectively and rationally, this makes Cannabis a wiser, more socially acceptable choice of euphoric for the using and non-using public, in our imperfect society where people will always drive while under the influence of something, be it caffeine, nicotine, Prozac, No-Doz, or whatever combination of stuff people choose to injest. In the end it is not possible to make laws to enforce individual responsibility. Only you (and maybe your Mom) can do that. Chances are that if you haven't learned the difference between right and wrong by the age of about fourteen, then there's not much anybody can do about it, except you. PvH |W|P|107704875385771372|W|P||W|P|projectpeace@gmail.com2/07/2004 10:45:00 PM|W|P|projectpeace|W|P|Forward, To The Here And Now In the past decade, undoubtedly, the greatest progress made in mankind's social evolution has been our ability to communicate globally, instantaneously, electronically, and affordably. Making the most of relatively recent technological fluidity is key to coordinating values on which to base sustainable economics, in harmony with the primarily significant, uncompromising and abiding Laws governing the dominant paradigm, which we call “The Natural Order.” The subsequent evolution of “self-evident” moral principles and unrealized ideals upon which the United Sates government was originally founded, continues to be predicated upon respect for Natural rights being routinely violated by perverse governments empowered by economic predation. It is this set of foundational, functional relationships, which our species still doesn’t fully understand or proportionately appreciate the long-term consequences of. Currently, mankind is basing global economics on toxic, unevenly distributed, finite resources, some of which play an essential role in the structural integrity of the planet. By moving so-called fossil fuels from beneath our feet and injecting them into the atmosphere, aquifer, and soil, we are obviously "fouling our own nest". This is reflected in the increasing incidence and severity of seismic and volcanic activity, which has paralleled the development of the oil and gas industry. A more obvious measure of the impact of our poor choices of fuels is the increase in diseases such as cancer. Currently, about one person in three, living in "developed" countries, dies of cancer. One hundred years ago that figure was about one-in--a-thousand (Erasmus). Obviously, several generations of disrespect for Nature have elicited a reaction that none of us would wish on anyone, least of all for our children and the other innocents with which we share this planet. Yet we continue to insult the functional integrity of the Natural Order by our collective addiction to fossil fuels, nuclear energy, unnecessarily dangerous genetic modification of biological organisms and a myriad of other anti-Natural behaviors, which are predictably "extinctionistic." Why is that? Is there a fundamental reason for mankind's pursuit of self-annihilation? I believe that it is a matter of intentional mis-coordination for purposes of revenue raising. The Bush administration is the master of “bait and switch” and many people are going for it based on patterns of behavior learned from their parents. The “drug war” is the perfect example of this. Read “The Economics of Prohibition” by Dr. Mark Thornton if you seek a thorough understanding of how corruption and violence are the only possible result of prohibition. Remember that “forbidden fruit is always sweeter” (and more expensive) for a more immediate reminder of what is, creating the “black market” in drugs, upon which the Economics of Punishment depends. Consider that young people are attracted to illegal substances out of an innate sense of youthful rebellion and a Natural desire to experiment. Someone really smart recently pointed out that the real relationship between ‘drugs and terrorism’ is the fact that if somebody wanted to spread biological agents throughout the United States all they’d have to do is inoculate the illegal drug supply. Prohibition facilitates uncontrolled drug distribution networks, which are already in place and as any high school kid will tell you illegal drugs are everywhere. Worse yet, as the Drug Enforcement Administration has already admitted, the internet makes it impossible for the DEA to control chemical pharmaceutical sales, as ten websites selling “legal drugs“ appear for every one that is busted for dispensing the truly deadly, concentrated chemical pharmaceuticals. We are a relatively young species, chronologically speaking. Our technological cleverness has exceeded our respect for the governing forces that allow the possibility of sustainable existence. We are manipulated by a warped system built on values that we do not understand the implications of, much like a child who discovers the unquestionable fascination of a book of matches. Mankind is "burning down the house" upon which we live because the economic inertia created by poor choices made several generations back, based on lies about the Cannabis plant. Essentially, mankind chose a toxic, unevenly distributed, inefficient hydrocarbon-based economy over a sustainable, agriculturally integrtaed carbohydrate-based economic system. This has carried us to the point of being governed by people, who, lacking moral integrity, have mastered perverse economics to prey upon populations too impoverished, confused or otherwise dis-empowered, to react quickly enough to a global threat. In Daniel Singer’s introduction to “Whose Millennium Is It?” (written just before his passing in December 2000), Mr. Singer pointed out that mankind’s inability to coordinate functional social structures contrasts with our impressive technological abilities of communication. I believe that resolving this disparity is the key to avoiding synergistic environmental, economic and social collapse, for which all three of those integrated operating systems are undoubtedly headed. Time-lags inherent to our activities preclude people’s awareness of our present position in the terminal paradigm which we are co-creating every day, obscuring mankind’s ability to understand and implement effective solutions to problems that often are not discernable until after the activities which cause undesirable effects have been initiated. Two alarming, immediate and unconscionable examples of this are the use of depleted uranium bombs and the spraying of glyphosate (to eradicate so-called “drug crops”), linked to the spread of Fusarium oxysporum. The obvious insanity and immorality of these two egregious practices - both being shamelessly inflicted by the Bush administration (which used chemically-based wealth to illegally usurp control of the United States government), is the most compelling, outrageous and immediate cause for initiating an on-going global conversation using every means of electronic technology available, to bring a halt to the destruction of this planet. "Wise Providence, move onward, at thine unnoted pace. But let me never, because I mark not, despair of thee, even when thy step seems to tend backwards. It is not true that the shortest line is always the straight one." -- Lessing Paul von Hartmann Project P.E.A.C.E. Planet Ecology Advancing Conscious Economics http://www.webspawner.com/users/projectpeace/ 7 February 2004 |W|P|107622276705262992|W|P||W|P|projectpeace@gmail.com