Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: CANNABIS vs BIG PHARMACEUTICALS
Written by T.D Moody
Recently, a situation occurred in which a short discussion on Cannabis was had with a relative. In that conversation I was told “smoking Cannabis is bad for you”, “that it’s not a good thing”, “It smells”, and “It’s illegal”. These are some of the typical arguments I hear from older generations who’ve been brainwashed and conditioned to accept and believe the “War on Drugs” propaganda.
First, I’ll ask a few questions here. Why is Cannabis so hated? Why is it so criticized whereas legal drugs from giant pharmaceuticals barely get any mention despite their laundry list of dangerous side effects (including death) and plethora of class action lawsuits? I am old enough to remember growing up during the Reagan Era and the War on Drugs Campaign. “This is your brain on drugs”commercial with the then Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey. Anyone who hasn’t seen the documentary American Drug War should. It can be found online most likely on Google video. A basic search for the documentary will turn it up. The arguments from back then are still the same today and the lies continue on.
I’m no great historian on Cannabis but from the research I’ve done on my own about this miracle wonder plant, I’ve found in almost every case in which I was told something negative about Cannabis that information was either false or the personal opinions of the person speaking against Cannabis and it’s use.
For a list of the industrial benefits and uses for Hemp check out http://www.azhemp.org/Archive/Package/Uses/uses.html
Also see http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/
Personally, I like to get the facts together to support my arguments before I just launch into a scripted list of dislikes which I find most people do. Information is the key to freeing minds and so I’m going to do my best in dispelling some of the arguments I hear. One thing I’ll agree with is the fact that when it is burned it does (depending on the strain and aromatic qualities) have a pungent odor. However, with technological advances almost all odor is eliminated when vaporizing Cannabis versus smoking it. Also if odor is a major turn off aroma therapy candles and waxes or even a myriad of household sprays can be used to mask odor or an ozone generator which kills odor.
“Long term use of Cannabis is bad for your brain and memory” According to http://www.drugpolicy.org under heading FACT #8 it states”
Marijuana has not been shown to cause long-term cognitive impairment.
The short-term effects of marijuana include immediate, temporary changes in thoughts, perceptions, and information processing. The cognitive process most clearly affected by marijuana is short-term memory. In laboratory studies, subjects under the influence of marijuana have no trouble remembering things they learned previously. However, they display diminished capacity to learn and recall new information. This diminishment only lasts for the duration of the intoxication. There is no convincing evidence that heavy long-term marijuana use permanently impairs memory or other cognitive functions.”
This is just basic information to educate those trapped in the 80’s rhetoric of Politicians then and now. It never ceases to amaze me how people justify the illegalization of Cannabis despite so much evidence to it’s vast medicinal and industrial benefits. I personally would much rather a slightly slower paced less frenetic and angry public in the City. Not to the point of the city being at a stand still in stoned traffic, but where ego, tensions, and attitudes were mellowed by the calm, relaxing vapors Cannabis produces.
One of the most amazing benefits of it’s use I’ve witnessed personally as it pertains to spasticity is undeniable. Even for myself I’ve had occasion to have muscle spasms in which the pain is unreal and after a few hits of Cannabis the muscles have relaxed and the pains subsided. That to me doesn’t sound like an evil plant that is going to kill off the world and is a gateway to illicit hard drugs like Meth, and Ecstasy.
I believe people who want to try harder drugs will try them whether they had used Cannabis prior or not. The so called “Gateway” drug is one of the biggest frauds and scary tales told to keep kids from trying it. It has the opposite effect intended when lying about something that is so good because what ends up happening is kids are told how bad it is and find out that it’s not and they’ve been lied to. Now they will tend to believe every other “drug” they were told is bad for them they were lied to about as well and so they may want to experiment with those drugs to see if what they were told was true.
Then socially look at the stigma attached to individuals arrested for simple possession of a plant. A PLANT!!!? Check out the statistics for arrests each year in New York City for Cannabis possession. Education is critical.
With all that said there still is the elephant in the room that mustn’t be ignored. That is the fact that early on in the nations beginnings, Cannabis generated more revenue and economy than Tobacco, Cotton, and Alcohol combined. If there is a product that has that many uses and is a naturally occurring plant and can be grown by any and everyone then there is no Tobacco, Cotton, Alcohol industry to the levels they are today.
The only way I see them being in favor of the legalization of Cannabis for all its potential uses is if those industries (Alcohol, Tobacco, Pharmaceuticals, Cotton, etc) had patents to be the only ones who could grow and/sell Cannabis in all it’s forms and potential products. It has even been mentioned that Cannabis is a natural cancer cell killer. Why even call it “Medical Marijuana”? The argument listed for it being on schedule I was that it has no medicinal benefit. Another lie told to dissuade the public from even considering its use.
In addition they can’t patent something that is naturally occurring. The lobbyists against Cannabis see it as most dangerous to their bottom line should it be made legal. Freedom for the masses from being locked into a BS healthcare system that’s run for profit and not for the benefit of mankind is also part of the agenda. And so Cannabis has to be vilified, labeled, propagandized, marginalized, and socially rejected as the epitome of wickedness and the opening of Pandora’s box when in reality the opposite is true.
To this day there hasn’t been one death linked to the smoking or imbibing of Cannabis in any of it’s intake methods. Not even a single case of an overdose from its use. The synthetic drugs produced by Big Pharma are created for profit and only serve to make those who take them dependent on them while giving the false impression of actually being helpful and healthful. Meanwhile the same drug companies list or announce their side effects with speed talkers and fine print in their ads. They gloss over the health risks associated with their FDA approved drugs and then lobby against the legalization of what they know would supplant them.
Carbon Foot Print
Cannabis has a zero carbon foot print as it’s a plant. Light weight composite materials produced from hemp fiber have been used in building cars that are lighter in weight and eco- friendly. The seeds are nutrition packed and oils extracted from the hemp can be used for fuel and other products like paper. Even cement blocks made from hemp fiber in building materials that are far cheaper and more resilient not to mention long lasting. Remember when the golden era of production was present and consumers could say that brand is a quality brand, you get value for your money. Nowadays, you here they don’t build em like they used to. Do you think that’s coincidence or by design?
When I think that all of that waste is 100% unnecessary it only adds to the maddening feeling I have when I think how ridiculous it is that Cannabis is illegal anywhere in the world. Clearly there are multiple wars being fought for our minds and souls on parallel fronts. Therefore it is essential that we as the average person learn what they are up against and the arguments of the opposition. Being proactive in educating ourselves and then acting to fight against the evils that are present and manipulating the institutions and structures of society that govern how we live is the next step.
In my mind the center of this whole thing is, are we people who want to benefit mankind? Or are we people who want to exploit, torture, enslave, and control mankind to the detriment of all?
What’s your opinion on Cannabis? We’d like to hear from you.