Light Up Or Leave Me Alone

I was reading a comment elsewhere on another post on why marijuana is so vilified and illegal and alcohol is something that one can buy just about anywhere.

The main answer is to follow the money. Here in the states, it has been in use since the 1800's. Unfortunately it fell under the same heading as opium and hashish.

However one wants to argue it, it is no more addictive then alcohol or standing in front of an all you can eat buffet eating supposedly good food laden with chemicals designed to get you to eat more while you try to juggle two plates in each hand back to your table. But I digress.

You see, Hemp is the real problem for people with money. Hemp is a wonderful versatile product, better then wood and much better then cotton.

Back in 1936 the Hearst and his newspaper empire vilified hemp and all products associated with it, such as marijuana because it might damage the value of his tree and lumber holdings. He set out to destroy the hemp industry.

About this time, the Dupont family started production of Nylon. Many people had huge investments in the production of this product. The Duponts had huge contracts with defense department. Hemp made better rope then nylon, so hemp had to be eliminated at all costs.

At one point though, the government ramped up production on hemp because of the war and oil shortages, oil being used in nylon production. So what is it, bad or not so bad?

There are many types of weed to smoke. There are different degrees of potency amongst them not unlike different types of drinks and beer and so on.

A question might be raised. Did I ever try smoking marijuana? Yep. Last time about thirty years ago. So much for the addictive tendencies.  Downside of smoking, you get stinky!

Remember, there is no money to be made from a natural product. Drug companies and the FDA can't make money. Always follow the $$$$$.

The title of this post was taken from the album "The Lightspark of High Heeled Boys" by Traffic, an all time classic. If you never listened to it, you owe it to yourself to sit down, grab a bud, light up...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp