What's KERRY's Position on HEMP?

[liberalpragmatist]

I'm not talking about pot decriminalization or legalization (not that that's not an important issue), but the hemp industry?

Kerry's a strong environmentalist, and maybe I've just been reading too many hemp-growers talking points, but based on what I've read, hemp is an effective material not only for clothing and whatnot, but could be good economically, replacing much of our dependence on petroleum-based materials and replacing our need for wood-based paper.

Anybody know what Kerry's position on Hemp is? If what I've read is correct, hemp could fit very well within Kerry's overall environmental and energy independence plans. Any thoughts?

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Probably not even a topic to make a stand on right now.

If he were to say he was for it, the spin would be he wants to legalize pot and get all kids hooked on drugs.

[SHRED]

3. Yer right

We should wait until he elected.

[SHRED]

2. Don't know...

I wrote the campaign with that question and no answer as of yet.

It's got to be more open minded than Big Oil W.

[stellanoir]

4. production of non-psychoactive hemp could

help so many farmers and end the corn subsidies (which result in wayyyy too much high fructose corn syrup-hence tons of cases of diabetes).

Hemp's multiple use potential for the production of rope, fabric, and paper (never mind fuel)is truly amazing. It's a weed that'll grow anywhere with little maintenance and no pesticides. It's utterly idiotic that it's still illegal.

How many stoners are incarcerated (to the tune of $30-60,000 per year) is utterly reprehensible. Has any one ever met a violent pot head?

The medicinal properties of the psychoactive form are notorious especially for those suffering with terminal diseases.

Such stupid legislation I cannot understand.

[Seabiscuit]

5. MY position on hemp

is that it makes the best rope to lynch Bush with.

[LiberalBushFan]

6. of course what you mean is

after he's sentenced to death by legal means in a court in a law.

(In case SS are lurking here)

However, I suggest that the jury's vote be counted on a electronic voting machine programmed by me.

[Seabiscuit]

8. Of course

preferably for war crimes in the Hague. Make in international spectacle of him. Then string him up in Baghdad.

[stavka]

7. Hemp will end the war on Terror I read

[SHRED]

9. Well...

It would go along way toward taking away military/corporate incentive to rule the 3rd world in order to extract their natural resources.
Our resources would essentially be, "homegrown". I think that stopping the meddling, in other's countries, would drastically lessen the angst toward the USA, worldwide.

[stavka]

10. ....whaaaawwwwwh?

What resources do you speak of?

[SHRED]

13. All the resources...

that hemp could replace. Petroleum and wood fiber to name just 2.

[stavka]

15. You my friend, must have moved from Weed to Crack...

Africa, would be the wealthiest of continents if this were so,... it Ain't....

I'm happy that you read and could care less if you do, or do not smoke weed, but this is a bunch of crap.

Hemp is not the miracle cure for anything other than boredom and nausea.

Tacking "Hemp" onto the democratic ticket or party is about as smart as branding the Republicans as "anti-cigarette filters"

it's just plain dumb.

[SHRED]

23. Instead of lashing out...

so we can all see your ignorance...why don't you read up and educate yourself on the benifits of industrial hemp?

If you are so damn confident then take this $100,000 challenge and see if you are correct: http://www.jackherer.com/

I never said "tacking" hemp on to the Democratic platform. The point is will Kerry/Edwards explore industrial hemp once elected.
FYI: I have a CDL so I don't use any illegal drugs. Like that matters.

[Seabiscuit]

11. Remember the days (1968) when

the "yippies" were talking about putting LSD in Republican drinking fountains? Maybe we need to give the neocon Repukes the Electric Kool Aid Acid Test!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. Did you know

that Steal This Book is online?

[Seabiscuit]

17. Still???

I read it in paperback edition in 1968. Even took some of its advice.

:)

[LTR]

14. There have been a few threads about this in the last few days

Here's a great thread about industrial hemp:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2311408

[Dr Fate]

16. The most pro-Hemp candidate, hands down:

http://www.cannabis.net/presidentialpot.html

NORML gives Mr. Kerry a green thumbs up for his "mild support for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes." The group isn't as pleased with Mr. Kerry over his hesitancy to decriminalize marijuana, although they don't give him an outright thumbs down on the issue.

In his Rolling Stone interview, the former prosecutor said he didn't "quite" support making marijuana legal. "What we did in the prosecutor's office was have a sort of unspoken approach to marijuana that was almost effectively decriminalization," Mr. Kerry said. "We just didn't bother with small-time use."

Mr. Kerry also joined his senior Massachusetts senator, Democrat Edward M. Kennedy, in a letter last October to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration seeking approval for the University of Massachusetts to grow high-quality marijuana.

For 30 years, the University of Mississippi has been the sole supplier of high-grade marijuana used in research by the government, creating "an unjustifiable monopoly on the production of marijuana for legitimate medical and research purposes in the United States," according to the letter.

[Seabiscuit]

18. NORML's cool

Their reps on Telegraph Avenue helped me dispose of a key in a single day back in my Bezerkeley daze. :)

[Gore1FL]

19. `POT <> Hemp

Hemp doesn't get you high -- it is only usefull for fibres, oils, etc.

Ironically IT is what made pot illiegal --- Cotton growers pressure.

Thats right -- say no to drugs because a plant that is in the same family as pot may hurt the cotton industry.

[LynnTheDem]

21. Exactly.

I have hemp fabrics and they're so much stronger than cotton, the stuff wears like iron, and the plant is so much easier & cheaper to grow.

And as you point out, you CAN NOT GET HIGH FROM HEMP.

Amazing tho how big business can so easily distort and lie and mislead so many for so long; that's why the Founding Fathers tried to prevent big corps taking over our country.

[bitchkitty]

27. And pressure from the paper mills.

[usregimechange]

20. Ask us after the election for the unofficial version. nt

[kispoko]

22. i was just giving this a serious look

before coming to du tonight and finding this post.....

here's a site which has a voter guide:

http://www.votehemp.com/voterguide.html


industrialized hemp is actual legal to grow in some states, however, federal lies essentially prevent those acts permitting it to be carried out.


hey chimp, how 'bout "states' rights" here? kerry's a bit disappointing on this, but i hope they press the issue further upon entering office..... it's just batshit insane, the anti-hemp policies that are in place. there needs to be a bigger lobby, which perhaps may come about in some locales after people become educated, particularly down-on-their-luck farmers looking for new revenue sources.

[SHRED]

24. Here ya go

Now I am sure, for political reasons, Kerry can't respond...yet:

http://www.votehemp.com/voterguide.html

[Dr Strangelove]

25. Not With A 10 Foot Pole

Most candidates will not touch this issue. If they come out for hemp their opposition will paint them as "Pro Drug", If they come out against it the people won't vote for them because the majority of folks think hemp and medical marijuana are OK, and its close to even on all out legalization.

As a licensed grower of medicinal marijuana I have spoken to many politicos on this issue and it's hard to get them to even take a stand. Heres a link to Kerry's views though.

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5900#medical

The big problem is the lobby groups that want to keep hemp/marijuana illegal for their own financial gain. Hemp- Yes the cotton industry, but also synthetic fiber makers, the plastic industry, the oil industry, the lumber industry and paper companies.

Marijuana is opposed by the Pharmaceutical Companies, Tobacco Lobby, and Alcohol People.

What candidate can afford to piss off that many big donors?

[bitchkitty]

26. I'm not sure, and I doubt we'll find that out

during an election year! However, the medical marijuana community, who are tied closely to this issue, have collectively agreed to support John Kerry.

Pro-Marijuana Activists Support Kerry

I think that any politican with vision will have to address alternative energy sources, and soon. I'm a medical marijuana patient and activist, and it's my experience that public opinion on medical marijuana is largely favorable.

The public's sympathy doesn't stop at patients, either. They are sympathetic towards their wallets too. Gasoline prices are climbing and won't stop climbing. $1.00/gallon gas, even $1.50 gallon gas, has gone the way of the dime phone booth. Hemp's time has come.

Oregonians! Vote yes on Measure 33!