From hight times mag. HEMP ON THE FOURTH OF JULY Back on July 4, 1776, had you told the signers of the Declaration of Independence that two centuries later, the nation they were creating would ban the cultivation of hemp, they would have thought you were “of unsound mind.” George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers grew hemp; Betsy Ross stitched the first American flag with it; the signers of the Declaration of Independence inked their John Hancocks on hemp paper; and Colonial Americans used hemp as lamp oil and as canvas for covered wagons. Did you also know that, in Ben Franklin’s famous electricity experiment, the kite string that he hung the key on was made of hemp? The farmers among the signers were intelligent, educated men, who studied plants closely and were surely aware of the various breeds of cannabis sativa that were not suited to agriculture, but had other beneficial uses to humankind. But the cannabis plant has been vilified, demonized, and finally outlawed on the basis of propaganda and outright lies. Our own government is responsible – the same government that was created 237 years ago. Making cannabis cultivation a crime implies that the signers were well meaning but, ultimately, ignorant of its dangers. It’s time for lawmakers to look back at our history. Our signers were brave men who risked everything to create America – and many did lose everything. But they didn’t take those risks so that Americans could be persecuted needlessly. Intelligent individuals can be persuaded of the lies and are capable of changing their minds. Unfortunately, the lies live on – officially sanctioned lies – and more are spouted every day. Lies are what we fight every day. They’re our burden. But the load lightens, as long as we challenge them.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 06:31:21 +0000