Congress just voted to legalize hemp • Hacker News Board

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#31

Post by DennisP » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:06 PM UTC

pluma wrote: post #30

As a non-American I'm a bit baffled. Does this mean hemp was previously illegal? In most of Europe cannabis is illegal but you can get hemp-infused drinks and food (though I personally don't care much for the taste), even energy drinks. Not to mention hemp-based textiles. In Germany growing hemp is illegal for private individuals but commercial growers can cultivate it if they exceed a certain minimum plantation size…

We could get imported hemp products but our farmers weren't allowed to grow it.

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#32

Post by yboris » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:09 PM UTC

mc32 wrote: post #3

bitxbitxbitcoin wrote: post #2

Senator McConnell is not known for his support of medical or recreational marijuana legalization but I view this as a step in the right direction. Take that, DuPont!

I'm glad that mr "say not to anything drugs at all costs" Sessions was fired. We need more sensible drugs laws. Not saying make everything legal, but all things in moderation and commensurate, including punishment.

What's wrong with decriminalizing every drug?

I highly recommend the book Legalize This!: The Case for Decriminalizing Drugs (Practical Ethics Series) by Doug Husak

https://www.amazon.com/Legalize-This-Decriminalizing-Practic...

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#33

Post by UI_at_80x24 » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:16 PM UTC

kakarot wrote: post #29

14 wrote: post #6

What a disconnect from the population. State after state legalizing marijuana and congress moves to legalize hemp. At least at the state level people are being left alone to their own bidding.

When you understand that hemp's industrial value was the reason it was made illegal 100 years ago, and that now we have an exorbitant amount of politicians who truly believe the ilk their own kind shoveled out a century ago as a smoke screen, such as how getting high is so dangerous, and how we need to imprison blacks and mexicans for trying to alleviate themselves of the pain of manual labor, then it starts to make…

>hemp's industrial value was the reason it was made illegal 100 years ago

Do you have a source for this? I would like to investigate this angle further.

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#34

Post by faoijef984jfj » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:23 PM UTC

yboris wrote: post #32

mc32 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm glad that mr "say not to anything drugs at all costs" Sessions was fired. We need more sensible drugs laws. Not saying make everything legal, but all things in moderation and commensurate, including punishment.

What's wrong with decriminalizing every drug? I highly recommend the book Legalize This! : The Case for Decriminalizing Drugs (Practical Ethics Series) by Doug Husak https://www.amazon.com/Legalize-This-Decriminalizing-Practic...

I agree with you 100%

Monopolization of the healthcare system and drug criminalization are two sides of the same coin. With headlines about opioid abuse epidemics, and looking back at how ridiculous the war on drugs is, and how ridiculous it is to have cannabis as a Class I substance, it's difficult to argue that the medical system is somehow functioning well when it comes to drug regulation.

Take acyclovir, which is an important antiviral medication. Research has shown that it's safe for over the counter use, which review panels have acknowledged, but those panels have still recommended against OTR availability because they're afraid of "setting a precedent" with regard to OTR availability.

Drug regulation really has not increased safety at all; it only increases the power of monopolies, legal or illegal.

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#35

Post by barrow-rider » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:28 PM UTC

bitxbitxbitcoin wrote: post #2

Senator McConnell is not known for his support of medical or recreational marijuana legalization but I view this as a step in the right direction. Take that, DuPont!

Senator McConnell is not known for his support of anything that doesn't benefit him, his donors, or his party. If he's swinging this way it's because he's got an agenda and he's horse-trading, in the same way that Bismark was alright with reforms like public education since it quieted down the radicals and kids who knew Trig could make better artillery officers. Hell, McConnell's official memoir is titled "The Long Game."

I'm reminded of a Vox analysis of McConnell behavior[1]:

“The cardinal rule of McConnell is he will do anything to acquire more power, or to achieve an outcome he thinks achieves his political interest,” says Adam Jentleson, a former aide to ex-Democratic leader Harry Reid.

“I don’t think he’s a conservative; I think he’s a transactionalist. I think he wants to keep the title of majority leader,” says Jason Pye of the conservative activist group Freedomworks. “His vested interest is taking power.”

[1] https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/17/15970034/m...

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#36

Post by kennxfl » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:30 PM UTC

Wouldn't have known about hemp and William R. Hearst if not for JRE podcast.

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#37

Post by robotbikes » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:32 PM UTC

UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #33

kakarot wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you understand that hemp's industrial value was the reason it was made illegal 100 years ago, and that now we have an exorbitant amount of politicians who truly believe the ilk their own kind shoveled out a century ago as a smoke screen, such as how getting high is so dangerous, and how we need to imprison blacks and mexicans for trying to alleviate themselves of the pain of manual labor, then it starts to make…

>hemp's industrial value was the reason it was made illegal 100 years ago Do you have a source for this? I would like to investigate this angle further.

Jack Herer's book 'The Emperor Wears No Clothes' highlights this and is the source for a lot of the pro-hemp sentiment. It is also available online, here is a link to the chapter that highlights the paper industry lobbying to make hemp illegal - https://jackherer.com/emperor-3/chapter-4/

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#38

Post by kennxfl » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:33 PM UTC

barrow-rider wrote: post #35

bitxbitxbitcoin wrote: post #2

Senator McConnell is not known for his support of medical or recreational marijuana legalization but I view this as a step in the right direction. Take that, DuPont!

Senator McConnell is not known for his support of anything that doesn't benefit him, his donors, or his party. If he's swinging this way it's because he's got an agenda and he's horse-trading, in the same way that Bismark was alright with reforms like public education since it quieted down the radicals and kids who knew Trig could make better artillery officers. Hell, McConnell's official memoir is titled "The Long G…

At that age,he is still trying to get more money and power. Comical

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#39

Post by nashashmi » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:33 PM UTC

UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #33

kakarot wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you understand that hemp's industrial value was the reason it was made illegal 100 years ago, and that now we have an exorbitant amount of politicians who truly believe the ilk their own kind shoveled out a century ago as a smoke screen, such as how getting high is so dangerous, and how we need to imprison blacks and mexicans for trying to alleviate themselves of the pain of manual labor, then it starts to make…

>hemp's industrial value was the reason it was made illegal 100 years ago Do you have a source for this? I would like to investigate this angle further.

It's a popular story in conspiracy circles. That various industries tried to ban hemp tp favor their own materials as a more performant substitute.

Re: Congress just voted to legalize hemp

#40

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Dec 13, 2018, 2:54 PM UTC

Dowwie wrote: post #16

There is already a wide variety of hemp strains and they are used for a variety of applications. Taller strains are for fiber. Shorter, flowering strains are used for CBD. There's a really wide range of applications for hemp but I'm not sure how many are economically viable. Processing requires water, energy, chemicals, etc. This is an exciting time for discovery.

[deleted]