Pubdate: Fri, 4 Apr 2008
Source: Red Bluff Daily News (CA)
Copyright: 2008 Red Bluff Daily News
Contact:  http://redbluffdailynews.com/
Author: Orval Strong
Note: Orval Strong, of Gerber, is a 100-percent disabled combat 
veteran from the Vietnam War era.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/industrial+hemp
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE NOT FOUND IN FOOD

The Twin Towers in New York were the first high-rises in history to 
collapse upon themselves because of a fire. 9/11 was the first time a 
private airplane was able to get within 10 miles of the Pentagon, 
and, oh yes, the Twin Towers' steel, like that of the Oklahoma 
disaster, was hauled away before anyone could inspect it.

Well, if Willie Nelson has some suspicions about the official line I 
for one can understand why. Willie has indeed spent some time inside 
flying saucers, that is, the popular Flying Saucers nightclub in 
Memphis Tennessee.

Now that gas is pushing $5 per, wouldn't it be nice to have a car 
that got a lot more than 20 miles per gallon? Well a recent Popular 
Mechanics article carried the headline, "100 MPG Available Now." In 
it, it told of a professor from Ontario by the name of Steve Lapp 
that claimed to have gotten over 100 mpg on some trips in his 01 Toyota Prius.

Another solution to the energy problem is the electric car. There are 
some misconceptions about those cars but rather than taking more 
space on that subject here I'll just refer you to 
www.pluginamerica.com if that should be of any interest to you. The 
technology is out there, and has been for several years. It's just 
that oil lobbyists spend more money on politicians and major auto 
company executives than any of us peons do.

One solution to our foreign oil addiction is Ethanol but turning food 
crops like corn into gasoline is stupid. Do you really want to choose 
between eating and driving?

Ethanol made from industrial hemp makes a lot more sense. It can be 
grown anywhere so it doesn't;have to interfere with food production. 
The problem is that hemp, even the industrial variety is illegal even 
though it has very little in common with marijuana. I.H. (Industrial 
hemp) has a very insignificant amount of THC (the stuff that makes 
you feel good). As a matter of fact if a crop of I.H. were grown 
close to marijuana plants it would dilute the THC in the marijuana plant.

So, if you're really serious about eradicating marijuana use or 
making it harder to come by you should encourage Rep. Herger to vote 
to legalize industrial hemp. Of course ethanol is just one of 
thousands of ways hemp can be beneficial to us.

Did you know there were 830,000 marijuana related arrests in 2006 and 
of those 89 percent were for possession-only. Why is it a crime to 
use or even have marijuana on your property? Well they say it impairs 
short-term memory and the ability to concentrate, doesn't alcohol do 
the same thing? They also say it slows reflexes and coordination, it 
seems they also said that about alcohol.

Well the real biggie is that it leads to harder and more dangerous 
drugs, that's like saying eating potatoes leads to obesity or any 
other non-sensible statement. I don't believe children should be 
exposed to the drug or allowed to use it just as they shouldn't smoke 
regular cigarettes or drink alcoholic beverages. But to ban all use 
of marijuana is moronic.

As lies and distortions led us into this never ending war so also 
lies and distortions criminalized one of the most beneficial plants 
mankind has ever known. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake