cannabisnews.com: The Long & Varied History of Marijuana





The Long & Varied History of Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on August 01, 2004 at 08:42:07 PT
Book details cannabis' uses, criminalization
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader 
Cannabis: A History is an outstanding treatment of the subject which should be required reading for every parent and legislator in the country concerned with America's failed "drug war."The book puts to shame any purported basis of the government for criminalizing the plant and everyone associated with it and does so in an entertaining and educational fashion. Most important, it does so by simply reporting the facts. From mankind's earliest discovery and primitive use of cannabis to the present-day effort to vilify the plant and everyone utilizing it, this handsome books covers it all in digestible detail.
The interaction between humans and cannabis is as old as mankind itself. From our earliest exploration of which plants would service our needs for fiber, food, fuel and medicine, we have selected and cultivated a variety of them over the past 10,000 years, with most of them specific to limited localities. Cannabis, however, has the unique ability to grow in most areas of the world and to furnish the best natural base for each of those necessities of life.Cannabis, referred to as hemp when grown for industrial-textile use, produces the longest and strongest natural fiber on earth and can be woven into cloth as fine as silk or as tough as canvas and rope. It makes the most durable paper in the world without wasting the forests. And hemp seed is one of nature's most nutritious foods.Perhaps most important, hemp as a biomass produces methanol, which could give farmers an opportunity to earn a living growing fuel for our automobiles just like the corn growers producing ethanol.Cannabis, when grown for ingestion as medicine, is today called marijuana. It has been in use as an analgesic and stress reliever for thousands of years, in hundreds of cultures.Before being made illegal in 1937, it was the basis of more than 50 percent of the medicines on earth. It is the safest, most therapeutic substance known to man and indicated for use in the treatment of cancer, nausea (especially as a result of chemotherapy or radiation therapy), migraine headaches, glaucoma, menstrual cramps, childbirth, muscle spasms, Tourette's syndrome, asthma and emphysema.In many of these cases, smoking is the preferred format of delivery because it provides immediate relief, but the plant also can be eaten or used as a topical lotion.Author Martin Booth explains in clear fashion how this remarkable plant, such a friend to man through the centuries, came to be illegal, and what a sordid tale it is.He traces the big money and special interests who engineered the Draconian anti-cannabis laws, which have resulted in the premature deaths of tens of thousands of Americans and the criminalization of millions more.Some law enforcement officials, protecting bloated budgets, will hate this book because it methodically annihilates their public rationale for the present laws, using facts drawn directly from government studies, paid for by taxpayer's dollars.Every other person who reads this book will appreciate its scope, its depth and that it is a reliable source for the truth about cannabis in a politically untrue world.Reviewed by Gatewood GalbraithGatewood Galbraith is a Lexington attorney who first ran for public office in 1983 on a platform of legalizing marijuana. Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)Published: Sunday, August 01, 2004Copyright: 2004 Lexington Herald-LeaderContact: hleditorial herald-leader.comWebsite: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on August 01, 2004 at 18:49:43 PT
BUDSNAXZ
That's great! That's activism!
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Comment #14 posted by BUDSNAXZ on August 01, 2004 at 18:07:08 PT
The Book
I just ordered it from Amazon. It should fit nicely with my copy of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" in my truth library. I love lending books like these out to friends and educating the masses. Most of them are astonished and disgusted when they read the truth about CP.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on August 01, 2004 at 13:27:25 PT
Richard Here You Go!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312322208/qid=1091391988/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-5801982-2999004?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
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Comment #12 posted by Richard Paul Zuckerm on August 01, 2004 at 13:22:50 PT:
WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THE BOOK?
My favorite article on the history of reefer is Shadow Of The Swastika, www.sumeria.net/politics/shadv3.html.I would like more information on obtaining this book, though?
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on August 01, 2004 at 13:22:08 PT
unkat27 
Thank You! That's a great link!
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Comment #10 posted by unkat27 on August 01, 2004 at 13:13:06 PT
drug war carol
Spreading the truth about cannabis is an important mission and its true history is the best place to begin. With that in mind, there is simply no way to avoid exposing the truth about the WoD and how the US govt has demonized cannabis since the early 20th century. A friend passed this link on to me and I think it's really a great way of informing the public and children through cartoons, and I hope to see it evolve into an animation in the near future. If you like cartoons and the true historical facts about the US govt misguided WoD, check it out.  http://adrugwarcarol.com
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on August 01, 2004 at 11:15:01 PT
breeze 
Thank you. That was very kind. I really appreciate your concern. It made me smile. 
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Comment #8 posted by breeze on August 01, 2004 at 11:06:20 PT
I maybe a little late in the day on this comment-
But I have said it months ago before now, and I will say it once again having reviewed the past few days posts on things happening in the news. I may even say something like I am about to say again tommorow- if I don't, then one of YOU put it into your own words and pass it on.
If you want to do something about the current avenue our nation is taking, concerning cannabis- then you will do the following: Tell the voting public where the issue of cannabis prohibition effects them in the most harmful of ways. I saw an article on this web site about waiting for granny to die before even considering legalization of cannabis. Well, that is exactly what SOME people want the majority who desire for cannabis to be legalized to believe, that we have to wait for the next two or three generations to die off before some sensibility comes about. Thats just not going to happen, do you think our nation can wait that long financially, governmentally, constitutionally? As good citizens, we need to act now- NOW!!I just read how there are people who can get by on half of their pain medications if they use one joint- they sell the rest for profit. Now isn't that just dandy, the elderly are proffiting from another persons drug addiction.http://www.counterpunch.org/gardner07312004.htmlDo you think that all of the elderly are doing this? No, they aren't. But they aren't exactly all that eager to start smoking cannabis either, since they have been told that smoking PERIOD causes death. So, the pharmaceutical companies PREY on that fear, realizing the potential for a new revenue, and OBVIOUSLY hiding the benefits that marijuana in effective pain reduction- they seek to make a pill that works just like a good old fashioned joint, only , they can't. Replicating nature is the hardest thing to accomplish in a lab, by any standard- too many vaiables, too many circumstances, too many levels of accountability, too much "mother nature" to contend with.So, they make a spray, a pill- whatever, and it has all of the benefits of pot-without the harmful effects of tar in the lungs. The cancer society is DAMNED if their going to tell people to smoke marijuana, when they have spent so much money, time, effort in telling people to NOT smoke. So, they just tell people to swallow a pill and make due.Well- little is ever stated about vaporizers when confronting these people- yes, it can be smoked, but it can also be cooked, and vaporizing delivers the same medication to the body where it needs it. That said, confront the different approach of being recieved by the people who are in pain most of the time just because their bodies are waring out- the elderly, the semi-elderly, and those baby boomers who are approaching their pains "oh so gracefully" with the aid of an army of pharmaceuticals on the market today. Its not going to easy, but the folks within the range of fifty to eighty might just be the greatest asset to end the war on marijuana once and for all. The aging hippies are of course on one side of the argument, but not everyone over fifty was a hippie. You have to alert them to the need for such medication, and legalization, because it is such an effective substitute for chemicals. Chemicals that cost BIG BUCKS to manufacture, ship, and control. Tell the people what they want to hear- and they will listen- but you have to tell them what they want to hear, and that is, legalizing cannabis will reduce their monthly medical bills- and can reduce those bills even more if they have a green thumb. Most elderly people like to grow at least one fern, flower, something along that line- cannabis is tough like a weed, and is easy to maintain- so it can even become a hobby for them. I know this sounds borderline insane- but I try to say things that make sense, especially when there is so much bullshit in the realm of society today. I know a number of liqour stores that would be out of buisness if it weren't for their elderly customers, some who drink in order to avoid the expense of having to pay for pain meds. Once the older generations realize that legalized marijuana holds potential for lower priced medications that deal specifically with pain reduction, they might just realize that having marijuana legal is ON their side. One less bill for a pill is better than having one MORE additional bill for another pill- no rhyme intended. If cutting healthcare costs is of a concern to anyone, cannabis is the answer. Some people think that medicinal cannabis should be legal, but recreational cannabis shouldn't be. Ask these people if they know the difference between the two, and you might hear that "medical cannabis has medicine in it." Good to know!! But facts are, its all the same- except one costs more because it was prescribed by a doctor. The elderly is just one generation that should be for legalizng cannabis- the other generations, 50 and under, should be looking at alternative fuel sources. A loaf of bread still costs about 23 cents to make, but it costs $1.25 to deliver it. Most of you know what cannabis is capable of- especially hemp, so I shouldn't have to go there when talking about how cannabis can reduce the inflation rate within our economy concerning clothing, heating (hemp can be made into oil which can be burned to heat a home during cold months), building materials, plastics- etc. I truly believe the voting public has NO IDEA what we are presenting to them when we say we want cannabis to be made legal. They are merely looking at the party community of the issue, when in fact, that is not even a fifth of the issue. There are so many other things that circumvent the need for legalization of cannabis- on SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS. It is a win/win situation, but people don't know the facts, and until they see a financial benefit for their behalf- they tend to ignore major truths and ideas. Everyone in the nation sees a major problem with our government, and everyone is blaming/seeing bush as the root of that problem. Of course, he has had a major hand in the current mess we are in, but it is also those who continue to be just as blind to this issue who are in the sections of power where they could make a difference. One president is not going to legalize marijuana, even if he ran on that platform alone, and had a population that were by majority marijuana smokers. It takes more than just one leader to make that change- and to many, a sudden outright legalization of marijuana would be just too much for them to consider. So, instead of admitting failure, conceeding reform, using their authourity to steer our country back in the direction of being the best of everything in the world, they would rather see the machine grind to a halt. A good captain goes down with his ship, and if his men are loyal, so do they. Watch Disneys "20,000 Leagues beneath the sea" sometime, you will understand exactly what I mean.The fault here, with our entire populous, is that we have forgotten what it means to have to toil for change. Our citizens have grown lazy, if not weak, from their labors to improve our society. Food, clothing, fuel, housing need not be as expensive as it is- due to a simple design of nature that holds many cures, and unknown inventions- the cannabis plant. Mankind has accomplished so many great feats of invention within the past two hundred years, and yet they ignore that which is capable of doing so much by its own design- it is truly an example that idiots are ruling the masses, and in turn, selling us all out to poverty. If you haven't noticed, the price of everything has gone up, and it still going up. Are wages meeting that rate of inflation? Are elderly people living in a better world than they were forty years ago? Are people in general safer than they were even ten years ago- despite the fear mongers spreading word of "posible" terrorist attacks? Are you living better today than yesterday? Most likely the answer is no, but you ARE better informed, and wizer for it- my next question, simply- have you used your wizdom to make the world a better place for others? I would like to think that yes, you have- by posting here in this modern form of graffiti you certainly have- but think of all of the people who would rather spend their minutes of life looking at porn, playing games, or whatever on the web. With so many venues of venting, so many places on the web to spend my time- I chose the one thing that I know would make the world a better place to live in for everyone, in so many ways. It is only logical to think of the global community when thinking of answers to problems that directly effect peoples livlihood, but we are but a few of those great thinkers. I will give one example- Stephen Hawking changed his mind about how black holes operate- and it made headlines for days. I grant that the man is a genius, but he is also an idiot- for what has he done to make peoples lives better by giving the scientists who actually invent things a useful source of information that can be used here and now? Sure, if we are ever to reach distant stars that information is helpful, but how does it help us NOW- while we are alive and still in need of _____{fill in the blank}? It doesn't- it becomes useless information to me, to you, and just about everyone you know. Simply because he changed his mind about a THEORY, it made national headlines. Does this say anything about mankinds priorities? It does, certainly- it states clearly that people in control of the media are just plain stupid. What our WORLD needs is efficient power, cost effective substances that can be used for medication, housing, clothing- you name it. And the answer is right here, right now- and being sold as a recreational herbal high on street corners by people who have never even thought about the subject of making people's lives better, or if they have, they haven't said a lot about it- and why should they? They are just trying to survive in a world gone mad. Mother was right- its wrong to be greedy, selfish, and arrogant. Because a society that has these qualities is destined to fail- and as the nation watches the race for the white house, they see these factors in how the characters play out their fantasies of being in charge. What good does it do to be in charge and not do anything of a benefit to others when that was SPECIFICALLY the reason the post was created in the first place? It merely proves a simple formula, that history is doomed to repeat itself. If you are one of the five people who have read this, and grasped one-tenth of what I was trying to say, I commend you. I just wish others could see the light, and do something about the need for cannabis legalization in ALL parts of the world, not just the USA. It could end famine in some parts of the world, bring heat to others during the freezing months, and even bring us a little closer to being able to KNOW if Hawking is finally right about black holes. As an alternative fuel, it would definetly be a step in the right direction- but alas- it remains illegal. And duly, I remain numbed by the sheer ignorance of all who hold power and don't know how to use it properly for the benefit of others. 
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Comment #7 posted by breeze on August 01, 2004 at 11:04:47 PT
FOM-
No that is fine, I don't mind it being on the other page as well, I just didn't want to be guilty of duplicate posting or be presumed of deliberately doing so. I try to obey laws and courtesies when I can.;)
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 01, 2004 at 10:55:57 PT
breeze
Go ahead and post it here too. That's fine. I could remove it from the other article but that isn't necessary. Is that ok? If you want me to remove it I will.
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Comment #5 posted by breeze on August 01, 2004 at 10:51:34 PT
FOM-can you move a post for me?
I wrote a posting last night that quite frankly fits better under this page than the one it is under- can you move it? I would appreciate it if you can do so- comment 12, under "Oakland Cops Begin Weeding Out Pot Clubs"
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 01, 2004 at 10:18:06 PT
afterburner
Thank You! Sometimes I feel like I live in a world unique to me. The difference between Kerry and Bush is Kerry seems to have a heart. He is a deep thinker and Bush just can't think.
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Comment #3 posted by afterburner on August 01, 2004 at 10:12:34 PT
FoM, I Agree, Bush Has to Go
I offer the Kerry article merely as "grist for the mill" to use Baba Ram Dass's phrase. We know that Kerry is a drug warrior, but he may be more open to cannabis law reform than Bush's record shows, especially medical cannabis. "We can always vote him out in four years" if he doesn't perform satisfactorily.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on August 01, 2004 at 09:52:44 PT
afterburner
Reason Magazine has really disappointed me recently. They seem to have a republican agenda and that's not what I thought they represented. Kerry was a prosecutor but Bush took us to war for no reason. Bush for 4 more years bothers me much more then Kerry's past.
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Comment #1 posted by afterburner on August 01, 2004 at 09:43:01 PT
John Kerry's Monstrous Record on Civil Liberties
July 26, 2004John Kerry's Monstrous Record on Civil Liberties The Man from Beacon Hill's "New War" on the Constitution John Berlau examines John Kerry's civil liberties record in Reason magazine: 
http://www.reason.com/hod/jb072604.shtml Excerpt: ' Even a semi-sympathetic review in the liberal Washington Monthly called The New War "a kind of international edition of Reefer Madness," referring to the notoriously overwrought anti-drug movie of the 1930s. Kerry is a drug warrior, and after having discovered some genuine instances of bad guys' stashing their money at the $23 billion Bank of Credit and Commerce International, an international financial institution that was shut down in 1991 by various countries' bank regulators, he became a crusader against banks holding "dirty money." (BCCI had dealings with drug lords, Saddam Hussein, the PLO, and the KGB.) While it may be too much to ask a major-party presidential candidate to ponder drug prohibition's contribution to dirty money, Kerry's solution to money laundering was—and is—to deputize banks and force them to spy on all their customers. '
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