420

( – promoted by buhdydharma )

Celebrate it. I know, I know, everyday is 420, but today it is, uh, like, really 4/20, man. And it’s a full moon too. So light ’em up, listen to this tune and join me after the jump.

Let’s legalize it. For medicinal purposes. For recreational use. The war on drugs is just social control and a windfall for the prison industry:

“…in the federal system, about one out of every six federal inmates is in federal prison for marijuana. That’s a very large number. There are more people now in federal prison for marijuana offenses than for violent offenses.”

Eric Schlosser, author of Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market in the great Frontline presentation: Busted: America’s War on Marijuana

Today, especially, props to our favorite resident cannabis culture/war on drugs blogger, xxdr zombiexx.

Did you know:

• Marijuana is the focus of the war on drugs. Why?
• An American is now arrested for violating cannabis laws every 38 seconds.
• Marijuana is likely the nation’s top cash crop.

It is hard to find reliable figures of marijuana use in the U.S. but estimates place regular users in the 10s of millions.

Prohibition does not work.

Legalize it. And let’s spend all the money wasted on the marijuana drug war on healthcare, education, and rebuilding our decaying infrastructure.

Learn more about marijuana and the history of its repression.

Learn more about activism to reform marijuana laws at NORML.

The drug war against marijuana not only prevents its widespread medicinal use, but also affects the widespread production of industrial hemp.

Learn about hemp here and here:

Hemp is cannabis grown specifically for industrial use and thus contains very low levels of cannabinoids (THC). The use of hemp dates back many thousands of years. Properly grown hemp has virtually no psychoactive (intoxicating) effects when consumed. With a relatively short growth cycle of 120 days, hemp is an efficient and economical crop for farmers to grow. Not only that, but health products containing CBD Rich Hemp Oil are thought to have some great health effects for the body.

Hemp is among one of the most productive and useful plants and is also very safe. The following materials can be made from hemp: paper, textiles, building materials, food, medicine, paint, detergent, varnish, oil, ink, and fuel. Unlike many crops, hemp can be grown in most locations and climates with only moderate water and fertilizer requirements. Where hemp is grown, it has become a valuable and environmentally friendly crop. Additionally, although all waste from growing cannabis must be disposed of sensibly, not all cannabis waste is hazardous and some of the waste product can be used as compost. Furthermore it is important to remember that different strains of the hemp plant have unique applications and uses. For example, some cannabis strains such as Wedding Crasher (you can Read more about Wedding Crasher at budbuddies.ca) are more well suited to people who are looking to feel uplifted. Other strains of marijuana can have a more relaxing effect.

Marijuana culture is mainstreaming. Let’s end the farcical and destructive prohibition of this weed.

I’m not, of course, advocating marijuana use for teens, but whether you’re a smoker or not, the draconian drug laws are not the way to help teens make better choices. Plus, for those who could get a great use out of the products for easing chronic pain and other ailments, allowing access by dispensaries (physical and online) would have great benefit. In fast in other countries like Canada this is already available – Read more here – and has helped many people live better lives.

Here endeth this little 420 diary.

Oh, and if I could only find it up north, I’d love to have one of my favorite beers, from an Atlanta, Georgia microbrewery, Sweetwater 420. Clink and puff. Peace.