Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske has a response(ish) to a petition sent to the White House supporting the legalization of hemp. In his "response," Gil reveals either a stunning ignorance about hemp, or a shocking propensity to tell a whopper.
What We Have to Say About Marijuana and Hemp Production By Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
America's farmers deserve our Nation's help and support to ensure rural America's prosperity and vitality. Federal law prohibits human consumption, distribution, and possession of Schedule I controlled substances. Hemp and marijuana are part of the same species of cannabis plant. While most of the THC in cannabis plants is concentrated in the marijuana, all parts of the plant, including hemp, can contain THC, a Schedule I controlled substance. The Administration will continue looking for innovative ways to support farmers across the country while balancing the need to protect public health and safety.
The amounts of THC found in industrial hemp -- even in the flowers -- are so minute as to be meaningless, since the trichomes contain a preponderance of CBD instead. But the amounts of THC found in hemp fiber are so low as to be undetectable -- that's why hemp fiber products are legal in the United States.
"Extracting THC from industrial hemp and further refining it to eliminate the preponderance of CBD would require such an expensive, hazardous, and time-consuming process that it is extremely unlikely anyone would ever attempt it, rather than simply obtaining high-THC marijuana instead," according to Dr. David P. West, Ph.D., for the North American Industrial Hemp Council.
"I did a lot of work on this and I can't believe the response that the White House gave," said petition author Tom Murphy of Vote Hemp.
"I briefed the guy at ONDCP who wrote the response and I'd bet money and give you odds that this response is not what he wrote," Murphy told Toke of the Town Tuesday afternoon. "He knew the difference!"
So... Seems Gil is either quite misinformed about hemp, or is still lying his ass off.
The latter's actually not unlikely, since, as head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Kerlikowske is forbidden by law from supporting cannabis legalization.
That's right: there are actually laws in place to prevent the implementation of better and saner policies, at least when it comes to the War On Marijuana.
The language of the original petition is as follows:
WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
Allow Industrial Hemp to be Grown in the U.S. Once Again
Lost opportunities for farmers and businesses have real consequences. With over $419 million in estimated U.S. retail sales, American companies making hemp products have no choice but to import their raw materials because American farmers continue to fear they will be prosecuted due to an outdated federal policy which confuses non-drug industrial hemp with drug varieties of Cannabis.
Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil are already used in nutritious food, textiles, body care and even auto-parts. Many American companies are using imported hemp in their products today.
We urge you to allow U.S. farmers to follow in the footsteps of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, all who were hemp farmers, and once again grow this sustainable and profitable non-drug crop.
America’s farmers deserve our Nation’s help and support to ensure rural America’s prosperity and vitality. Federal law prohibits human consumption, distribution, and possession of Schedule I controlled substances. Hemp and marijuana are part of the same species of cannabis plant. While most of the THC in cannabis plants is concentrated in the marijuana, all parts of the plant, including hemp, can contain THC, a Schedule I controlled substance. The Administration will continue looking for innovative ways to support farmers across the country while balancing the need to protect public health and safety.
Many brave men and women who have risked their lives in service to our country are now suffering from physical, mental health, and substance abuse problems. We have an obligation to care for our military families and veterans and to improve their lives by increasing access to vital treatment services specifically geared toward our military heroes. While the Administration continues to support research on what parts of the marijuana plant may be used as medicine, neither the Food and Drug Administration nor the Institute of Medicine has found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard of safe or effective medicine. We will continue working with our partners in the medical community to ensure that veterans have access to science-based medical treatments and get the help they and their families need.
Ah, this one’s answered by Deputy Director Benjamin B. Tucker, so it’s much longer, but it still doesn’t answer the question – merely restates all the government’s positions.
Dr. Ed Gogek is an addiction psychiatrist and board member of KeepAZDrugFree, the committee opposing Arizona's "medical" marijuana law. San Francisco Chronicle (CA) 2012 Hearst Communications Inc.
Nuff said...
Quote:
►Since California passed the country's first "medical" marijuana law in 1996,
Not true, there have been medicinal cannabis laws continually in most states. Prop 215 is more to keep people out of political prisons for using cannabis. Especially the sick and dying who no person with a conscious would ever dream of putting into a cage. Or forcing expensive $4500 a month Dr. Ed Gogek Rehabs plus $50 urine samples plus supervision. The only drug worriers left are the DEAth Merchants like Dr. Ed Gogek and his hideous profits on the misery of Americans.
The majority of prohibitionists profit on the drug war, and that is their only motive. POLICING FOR PROFIT
►15 other states have passed similar laws. However, many in these same states are now fighting to repeal or restrict these laws.
Lies are your science, you should be discredited. Sabotage is common place. Politicians stalling. Judges legislating, gag rules and mandatory sentencing putting fear into citizens if they dare attempt a jury trial. You are pathetic.
►Citing increased crime and decreased property values, cities in California are fighting for the right to ban dispensaries.
Totally caused by prohibition, although most of what you spew is bogus unsubstantiated cop gossip. By profiteers like yourself fear mongering nonsense hobgoblins causing zoning laws to spring up herding apothecaries into clumps. Still it has no bearing on the medicinal value of cannabis and what prop 215 designates. Under federal jurisdiction covered by the 10th amendment for individuals and their primary caregivers to grow reasonable amounts. No one has the right to stop them. If it is humanly impossible to grow their own then some means has to be provided. The vacuum has filled with a mix but by all counts even the most recreational is safer than the streets. The quality assurance and safety of society is better with an open market. There has never been a prohibitionist argument that stood up to reason and now time has proven even the last strings of dung worriers drool is rejected by 70% of the population.
All of the medicinal laws are desperate pleas ignored by so called physicians as yourself. Do no harm? You whine about buyers clubs without an infrastructure for the patient to obtain it. You would rather they suffer and submit to your treatment and chemical remedies with side effects to sell more chemicals. Cage someone for profit. Same un-American activity let alone immoral. Every state who's citizens have tried to legalize cannabis have been met by the same prohibitionists. Wall St. and their cronies in office. Rehab warehousing including urine testing, Private prisons, police and fossil fools, plastic, lumber, cotton, poison pesticides, booze, meat, fish and the Military not having to guard oil wells. Greed and treasonous acts on your own country and it's citizens.
Wary of liars with mandates to lie and gossip and silly attempts such as this to discredit degrade derail and stop anyone from taking away the harmful status quo. By self appointed moralists with ulterior motives, doing harm on the most vulnerable. Sickening. You perpetuate the war on some plants not to win or lose, just to perpetuate the war to sell war toys. To both sides. No regard or taking no responsibility for your lies. Hide behind lies legislated preaching about laws. Hypocrites try to make us believe its for our own good. You don't care and laws and cages and an uninformed corporate media allow you to get away with it. But your stats are wrong and more are figuring it out for themselves. Gathering facts and seeing that you have no victims. Just statistics that don't add up. Bullies and coercion and big bloated budgets stealing from hungry kids. Enough of your treachery, stop it!
The Drug Czar is Required by Law to Lie Most people know that the “drug czar” — the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) — is an advocate for the government position regarding the drug war. But not everyone knows that he and his office are mandated to tell lies as part of their Congressional authorization.
Calvina Fay Prohibition Inc Drug Free America Foundation, formerly known as Straight, Inc. At least 10 children have lost their lives as a result of their participation in a wilderness therapy program (AKA "Brat Camps") who failed them in the worst way imaginable. These are their stories as told through media reports, opinion and commentary.
Anti-Drug Campaigns Dumb Down Vital Message Calvina Fay is the Executive Director of Drug Free America Foundation and Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.) From 1976-1985 it was known as Straight, Inc. and had a reputation for abusing kids as a drug rehabilitation program. Mel Sembler and his wife Betty founded Straight, Inc. In 1985 it changed its name to Straight Foundation, Inc. in order to protect its money and its principals from civil suits. In 1995 it was changed again to Drug Free America Foundation. DFAF is a national and international drug policy think tank and provider of services for drug free work places.
Al Capone and Watergate were red herrings to divert the countries attention from the Fascist acts of eliminating competition. Booze/Ethanol or Ganja//Hemp
Former DEA analyst Sean Dunagan agrees with the majority of Americans who say it is time to legalize marijuana. He debates former police officer Paul Chabot, who thinks even alcohol prohibition actually worked. Sean is a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
Previous Topic
Index
