Bill to Legalize Hemp in Kentucky Approved By State Committee
Last Monday the Kentucky state Senate Agriculture Committee voted in favor of t approval of a legislation that could lead to the legalization of a hemp industry..
The legalization of hemp would allow farmers to grow hemp, provided the federal government passes a bill to remove the crop from a list of illegal drugs. I personally can’t believe hemp is listed under an illegal drug category, given its tremendous potential to change our world, as well as its various medical benefits. It is also important to note that hemp contains less than .3% THC which means a person cannot get high from smoking it. Hemp is legal but controlled in many parts of the world. In the United States however, it is illegal to protect corporate interests. If this goes through, Kentucky farmers would be among the first in the United States to grow hemp, something that could lead to thousands of job opportunities in the state. Keep in mind that it is still up to the federal government as several members of Kentucky’s congressional delegation have filed legislation to legalize industrial hemp at the federal level. If it does not pass, they will ask the Obama administration for a Kentucky waiver. Many members of state, legal personnel and citizens of the state still have their doubts, arguing that lifting the ban on hemp would complicate efforts to crack down on marijuana. You wouldn’t know it today but hemp was once a major crop in the United States.
The first US flag was made from it and it was used for the paper on which the Declaration of Independence was printed. This is just naming a few uses of course, as hemp was used for countless everyday items.
The crop was banned because it was a sizeable threat to many industries at the time, and those who had voting power did not want to see their business get hurt. Tactics to make hemp out to be a very dangerous drug began in order to shape public opinion. What many did not know was that hemp and marijuana (containing much more THC) were two different plant strains and hemp could not get someone high. More on Hemp becoming illegal here. Although hemp has been illegal for many years, is it possible that change is in the air? Will the US make it legal once again like many other countries? Those who recognize the power of this plant are very large advocates of hemp becoming legal once again and it is also very popular amongst the public. A recent 2012 report by the Congressional Research Service estimated that the annual US retail hemp market could exceed $300M in value. While money is not what’s important here when it comes to using this plant, the stat demonstrates the versatility of it. Before we get into it, I always like to remind everyone that the push to make this legal is not for psychoactive purposes. While anyone should be able to smoke what they choose, hemp does not boast enough THC to get someone high very easily. One would have to smoke incredibly large amounts in a short period of time to get high. As of right now, states such as Oregon, North Dakota, Vermont, Montana, West Virginia and now Kentucky have backed the idea of hemp becoming legal once again. In Congress, a coalition of lawmakers has formed containing right-wing Republicans and liberal Democrats who are all pushing for hemps legalization. It further goes to show the support behind hemp isn’t based on what political party you come from but instead realizing the importance this plant has for humanity. Could this be the start of the motion to legalize hemp? At the same time we have to remember, that our entire monetary system is not needed on the planet. Earth provides us with enough resources to really do whatever it is we want. We have evolved so much, we have technology available that could supersede all technologies we use today, and still be green. One example of this is free energy technology, you can see this Here. If we are constantly governed by a monetary system we do not need, then everything we do will be for profit and gain. Hemp should be included in the list of resources that could provide abundance for all. Our current system is set up to keep us enslaved, how can we live in a world where we die if we cannot pay for our life? The world is waking up, we are making a transition and more people are becoming aware of what is really happening on our planet. A group of people and the multinational corporations they run put a lot of time, effort and resources in concealing information, new technologies and things like hemp in order to keep their current system going. Things are changing, and in the end it all starts with you. Be the change you want to see in the world, find your place of peace and operate from there. By doing this you will create ripple effects, and great change simply through your daily interactions. From this place, we can begin to use new ideas, concepts and ideas to change the world, or at least let the world know that it is possible and it doesn’t have to be this way. Sources: http://kentuckyhempcoalition.blogspot.ca http://www.hemp.org/news/category/cannabis/kentucky http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/15/industrial-hemp-bill_n_2695980.html .
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