Marijuana: Dispelling the Myths, Misconceptions and Lies about Cannabis and Industrial Hemp

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Doug Michael

For literally millennia, Cannabis Sativa was the companion plant of humanity and its use in woven fabrics dates back to as early as 8,000 BC.[1] From 1,000 BC, all the way up to 1883, hemp was the world’s largest agricultural crop and was used to produce thousands of products, most significantly, in my opinion, the oils were extracted for the high protein content for humans and animals alike. Cannabis is unquestioningly the most versatile crop on the face of the Earth. So why does this extremely beneficial plant remain illegal in so many places? A renewable plant, that can eliminate the need for the massive deforestation that is occurring, greatly diminish the need for the use of fossil fuels, create building materials, fabrics, paper and textile products, dietary supplements and highly effective medications, among many other uses, remains outlawed. How did the use of this gift of nature that stretches back into antiquity, come to be regarded as a useless, even dangerous substance? Why is it insisted that there is no medicinal value in the use of cannabis, when mountains of evidence suggest otherwise? This article will briefly explore the history of the use of cannabis, how it came to be outlawed, the many uses of industrial hemp and the outright propaganda that stretches back over a century that has demonized this amazingly versatile plant, primarily to eliminate competition of huge, corporate interests.

Cannabis is a very advanced plant that can grow in virtually any condition on Earth. It has a quick growing cycle and remains perhaps the planet’s most important, renewable, natural resource. Hemp fiber is durable and so much of the world’s textiles were made of Hemp fiber for centuries. Sailors’ riggings, sails, fishing nets, clothing, maps etc. were all produced from Hemp.

Clothing produced from hemp is more rugged, warmer, softer and more absorbent than clothing produced from cotton. The Declaration of Independence was written on Hemp paper and in fact, many of the founders maintained Hemp farms and grew and cultivated this crop. Thomas Jefferson claimed:

“Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country.”[2]

George Washington stated:

“Make the most you can of the Indian hemp seed and sow it everywhere.”[3]

One acre of Hemp is equivalent to approximately four acres of trees. It needs no pesticides and grows very easily with little maintenance required to cultivate it. The uses are virtually endless and perhaps one of the greatest potentialities of this widely misunderstood crop would be in the use of biomass fuels. Through processes called charcoalizing or biochemical composting, Cannabis could replace or seriously diminish our reliance on fossil fuels. This would also reduce the risk of oil spills and the destruction of water and farmland through the gas mining practice known as hydrofracking. Hemp is more renewable and sustainable than other plants used for biomass such as corn, sugarcane, trees etc. Biomass fuels are non-polluting because the Co2 released into the environment is offset by atmospheric Co2, through photosynthesis.

I knew that hemp had many fantastic uses but I had no idea just how long that list is until I really started looking into the matter. This plant could literally save the planet by ending deforestation, diminishing the use of fossil fuels, seriously lessening the reliance on dangerous and destructive pharmaceutical medications, stimulating massive economic growth and ending wars fought for lands rich in natural resources. So the question remains. Why is this amazingly versatile crop illegal? Think of how the widespread cultivation and production of hemp into useful goods could seriously undermine the oil industry, the hydrofracking industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the timber industry, and other huge multiconglomerates and you will have your answer. Greed. While America teeters on the brink of economic collapse, the solution lies right before us, in an easily cultivated weed that has been mankind’s companion plant since the beginning of recorded history and beyond.

America’s once strong manufacturing base is all but completely gone and the introduction of hemp farms and industry designed to create products made from hemp could absolutely stimulate economic growth and recovery, create wealth and abundance, and usher in a whole new era of productivity creating entirely new industries based on sane, environmentally friendly and practical uses of this amazing plant. The only way this new paradigm can manifest is if enough people become aware and simply stop complying with an insane system that mercilessly plunders the environment and places profits before people. To me, education and unity are the two driving forces that will turn the tide on this issue.

Hemp’s many uses

This extremely beneficial plant has so many positive uses. Huge corporate interests have fought incessantly to keep it banned and outlawed in the US. Like it or not, the global environment hangs on the precipice of total collapse and if humanity does not start to do things differently, the planet may not be able to sustain life for much more than a few generations, and I think that’s being optimistic. Among the many incredible uses of hemp are:

Hemp seeds can be ingested either raw or in teas, hemp milk, protein powders and many other consumable products. The seeds and leaves are very high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, protein (almost as high a concentration as meat, eggs and milk), amino acids, and roughly 80% essential fatty acids.
Fiber: throughout history, hemp was used to produce rope, canvas, linen, fabric, clothing, and many other textiles.
Paper produced from hemp is much cheaper, environmentally friendly, more durable and longer lasting than paper produced from timber. Its use dates back thousands of years.
Hemp can be used to purify soil and water and is actually being used to clean contaminants in the environment left over from the Chernobyl nuclear accident site.[4]
Biofuels can be created from hemp seed oil.
Hemp can be used to produce cordage and rope that is far stronger than synthetic, nylon rope.
Hemp fiber mixed with fiberglass, flax and kenaf is used to produce composite materials, which many automobile manufacturers are now using as panels on their cars. It is durable and rugged.
Hemp and lime are utilized to produce a building material known as hempcrete. Hemp can also be used to produce fiber board, insulation, and many other building materials.

One misconception maintained by many people is that Hemp and Cannabis are the same plant; they are not. Although they are in the same plant genus, they’re more like distant cousins. Hemp has many positive uses, particularly in industry, but also in medicine, as the plant contains high levels of a cannabinoid known as Canibidiol, or CBD.

Cannabinoids are defined thusly:

“Organic substances present in Cannabis sativa, having a variety of pharmacologic properties.” [5]

It has been discovered that the human body contains what is called the endocannabinoid system. The human body contains receptors that welcome cannabinoids which have been scientifically shown to provide homeostasis to the body, which means that they help to regulate balance within the body. Humans have evolved to be highly receptive to these compounds contained within the Cannabis and Hemp plants.

“The endogenous cannabinoid system, named after the plant that led to its discovery, is perhaps the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human health. Endocannabinoids and their receptors are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. In each tissue, the cannabinoid system performs different tasks, but the goal is always the same: homeostasis, the maintenance of a stable internal environment despite fluctuations in the external environment.”[6]

Both Harvard and UCLA Universities have published scientific reports demonstrating how THC (the psychoactive ingredient contained within the Cannabis plant) actually causes Cancer cells to self destruct.[7] There have been numerous testimonials of patients who have been able to completely eliminate Cancer with the use of medicinal Cannabis.

The reason that Hemp and Cannabis remain illegal for the most part is that they threaten the profits of big industry and big medicine. There is no profit in the cure, and under the current paradigm; it’s profits before people.

The US government has maintained the patent on Cannabis as a medicine for a long time:

“Cannabinoids including THC and Canabibiol, promote the re-emergence of apoptosis so that tumors will stop dividing and die.” – US patent # 20130059018

There have been numerous reports from people who have healed many varying ailments due to the use of medicinal Cannabis. Many people have put Cancer into complete remission due to the use of Cannabis, and the bottom line is that the compounds found in this plant contain many healing properties and massive medicinal value.

In 1937, Cannabis was criminalized and demonized as a dangerous drug. William Randolph Hearst and the Du Pont Corporation stood to lose vast fortunes by hemp coming into widespread use. Hearst owned a chain of newspapers and began a propaganda campaign to categorize this most useful plant as a dangerous “narcotic.”

Perhaps the silliest anti-cannabis, propaganda stunt, was the production of a 1936 film called Refer Madness. This rather funny film depicts Marijuana as a dangerous drug that drives people crazy.

The propaganda of the early to mid 20th century was enormously effective as many of the misconceptions concerning this useful plant are still believed by many. The AMA (American Medical Association) jumped right on board the propaganda bandwagon, and I can remember as a kid in school, being sold all of the lies in “health” class about how dangerous a drug this plant was alleged to be.

Cannabis was mankind’s companion plant for millennia. It is long past the time to take the medicinal and the industrial potential of these plants seriously and to stop buying into all of the lies of big government and big industry. Many people have had amazing success treating serious illnesses with the use of Cannabis, including but not limited to:

Multiple Sclerosis
Cancer
Seizure disorders
Diabetes
ALS
Fibromyalgia
PTSD

This list could go on and on. Unfortunately, under the current paradigm, it’s profits before people and lies before truth. There is no profit in the cure! The information is readily available so I would recommend that people do some homework and get educated as to the many useful benefits of these extraordinary plants. What if everyone just started growing these plants and pushed to bring production into widespread use? It would be impossible to stop an overwhelming demand from the people, but then, far too many are still stuck in the lies and nonsense concerning these beneficial plants.

The paradigm is shifting as more and more is discovered in this matter. In my mind, a crucial beginning step is to understand that we have been lied to for our entire lives. Ask yourself: in whose interest is it to continue the lie that Cannabis is a dangerous substance and that Hemp has no industrial value? Big government, big industry and big pharma! Why should we tolerate for one more moment, these plants which could benefit humanity in so many ways, being outlawed? The answer is that we shouldn’t!