It Has Happened Here–Paul Craig Roberts
2013-02-07 14:34:42-05
the police state is real The Bush
regime’s response to 9/11 and the Obama regime’s validation of this
response have destroyed accountable democratic government in the United
States. So much unaccountable power has been concentrated in the
executive branch that the US Constitution is no longer an operable
document. Whether a person believes the official…
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Congress Is About to Introduce Legislation to Decriminalize Marijuana
February 5, 2013
Hemp - Could Save America
The Weed That Can Change The World
From Varied Sources
- HEMP FACTS
- 1) Hemp is among the oldest industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginnings of pottery. The Columbia History of the World states that the oldest relic of human industry is a bit of hemp fabric dating back to approximately 8,000 BC.
- 2) Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp. Americans were legally bound to grow hemp during the Colonial Era and Early Republic. The federal government subsidized hemp during the Second World War and US farmers grew about a million acres of hemp as part of that program.
- 3) Hemp Seed is far more nutritious than even soybean, contains more essential fatty acids than any other source, is second only to soybeans in complete protein (but is more digestible by humans), is high in B-vitamins, and is 35% dietary fiber. Hemp seed is not psychoactive and cannot be used as a drug. See TestPledge.com
4) The bark of the hemp stalk contains bast fibers which are among the Earth's longest natural soft fibers and are also rich in cellulose; the cellulose and hemi-cellulose in its inner woody core are called hurds. Hemp stalk is not psychoactive. Hemp fiber is longer, stronger, more absorbent and more insulative than cotton fiber.
- 5) According to the Department of Energy, hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all hemp products. The hydrocarbons in hemp can be processed into a wide range of biomass energy sources, from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas. Development of biofuels could significantly reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power.
- 6) Hemp grows well without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides. Almost half of the agricultural chemicals used on US crops are applied to cotton.
- 7) Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainable basis, and can be used for every quality of paper. Hemp paper manufacturing can reduce wastewater contamination. Hemp's low lignin content reduces the need for acids used in pulping, and it's creamy color lends itself to environmentally friendly bleaching instead of harsh chlorine compounds. Less bleaching results in less dioxin and fewer chemical byproducts.
- 8) Hemp fiber paper resists decomposition, and does not yellow with age when an acid-free process is used. Hemp paper more than 1,500 years old has been found. It can also be recycled more times.
- 9) Hemp fiberboard produced by Washington State University was found to be twice as strong as wood-based fiberboard.
- 10) Eco-friendly hemp can replace most toxic petrochemical products. Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable plastic products: plant-based cellophane, recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products, and resins made from the oil, to name just a very few examples.
- Hemp History
- Hemp is among the oldest industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginnings of pottery. The Columbia History of the World states that the oldest relic of human industry is a bit of hemp fabric dating back to approximately 8,000 BC.
- Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp. Americans were legally bound to grow hemp during the Colonial Era and Early Republic.
- In 1937 Congress passed the Marihuana Tax Act which effectively began the era of hemp prohibition. The tax and licensing regulations of the act made hemp cultivation unfeasable for American farmers. The chief promoter of the Tax Act, Harry Anslinger, began promoting anti-marijuana legislation around the world. To learn more about hemp prohibition visit http://www.JackHerer.com or check out "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer
- Then came World War II. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor shut off foreign supplies of "manilla hemp" fiber from the Phillipines. The USDA produced a film called Hemp For Victory to encourage US farmers to grow hemp for the war effort. The US government formed War Hemp Industries and subsidized hemp cultivation. During the War and US farmers grew about a million acres of hemp across the midwest as part of that program.
- After the war ended, the government quietly shut down all the hemp processing plants and the industry faded away again.
- During the period from 1937 to the late 60's the US government understood and acknowledged that Industrial Hemp and marijuana were distinct varieties of the cannabis plant. Hemp is no longer recognized as distinct from marijuana since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970. This is despite the fact that a specific exemption for hemp was included in the CSA under the definition of marijuana.
- The United States government has published numerous reports and other documents on hemp dating back to the beginnings of our country. Below is a list of some of the documents that have been discovered:
- * 1797: SECRETARY OF WAR: U.S.S. CONSTITUTION'S HEMP
- * 1810: JOHN QUINCY ADAMS - RUSSIAN HEMP CULTIVATION
- * 1827: U.S. NAVY COMMISSIONER - WATER-ROTTED HEMP
- * 1873: HEMP CULTURE IN JAPAN
- * 1895: USDA - HEMP SEED
- * 1899: USDA SECRETARY - HEMP
- * 1901: USDA LYSTER DEWEY RE; HEMP & FLAX SEED
- * 1901: USDA LYSTER DEWEY 13 PAGE ARTICLE ON HEMP
- * 1903: USDA LYSTER DEWEY RE; PRINCIPAL COMMERCIAL PLANT FIBERS
- * 1909: USDA SECRETARY - FIBER INVESTIGATIONS: HEMP/FLAX
- * 1913: USDA LYSTER DEWEY - HEMP SOILS, YIELD, ECONOMICS
- * 1913: USDA LYSTER DEWEY - TESTS FOR HEMP, LIST OF PRODUCTS
- * 1916: USDA BULLETIN 404 - HEMP HURDS AS A PAPER MAKING MATERIAL
- * 1917: USDA - HEMP SEED SUPPLY OF THE NATION
- * 1917: USDA - CANNABIS
- * 1927: USDA LYSTER DEWEY RE; HEMP VARIETIES
- * 1931: USDA LYSTER DEWEY RE; HEMP FIBER LOSING GROUND
- * 1943: USDA - HEMP FOR VICTORY - DOCUMENTARY FILM
- * 1947: USDA - HEMP DAY LENGTH & FLOWERING
- * 1956: USDA - MONOECIOUS HEMP BREEDING IN THE U.S.
- These documentes and many more are published online by USA hemp historian extraordinaire, John E. Dvorak. His Digital Hemp History Library is the most complete source for historical hemp documents and data anwhere. To visit the Library click here.
- You can also check out literary references to Industrial
Hemp from Aesop's Fables to the present: http://www.ofields.com/OFIELDS_HEMP_HISTORY.html
http://www.thehia.org/hempfacts.htm - Thank you so much for this page on the wonders of hemp!
When I was in high school and almost everyone I knew started smoking pot,
I began reading up on the subject. I wanted to know what this mysterious
plant was all about before I tried it. I was amazed by the suppressed history
I uncovered. Not only has cannabis been smoked/eaten for millenia for spiritual
& recreational purposes, the fiber it produces has been right there
all along. This truly is a wonder plant, and I'm glad to see Rense.com
spreading the word. People need to know about this plant and the real reason
it's illegal
I really appreciate this consolidated information which we can all take and shove in the face of all these "hannitized" pro-drugwar idiots who live in feigned fear of the dreaded "devil weed." This is an arsenal of powerful information about hemp which can and should be used by every thinking person against the idiots -- print this out, fold it up, keep it with you and when you hear someone bemoaning our economic situation, whip it out and show them that there IS an answer; when someone is prattling on about the dying agriculture economy in America, shove this in their face. It's a matter of EDUCATION. A little here, a little there. People have GOT to overcome the propagandized fear of the hemp plant. It's not the devil's weed, it's a magnificent gift of God, who said to man "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (use, consumption)." Genesis 1:29. He has given us EVERY herb and seed bearing plant and tree. Not just some. And no government has a right a outlaw any one of them!
Democratic Reps. Jared Polis of Colorado, left, and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon will introduce sweeping marijuana reform legislation Tuesday.
The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013 will be introduced by Democratic Rep. Jared Polis, from Colo., whose office did not immediately respond to request for comment.
[RELATED: Young Adults Left Behind by Marijuana Legalization]
The legislation, which would regulate marijuana like alcohol, is similar to another bill introduced by former Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts in July 2011. That bill died in the House.
Like the previous legislation, the new bill leaves the decision of whether to permit marijuana use to the states. That means it would be illegal to ship marijuana into a state where the drug remained illegal, according to a copy of the bill obtained by Whispers.
The sale and possession of marijuana for non-medical use is currently legal in Colorado and Washington.
Former police officer Howard Wooldridge of Citizens Opposing Prohibition, which has lobbied for years for the decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level, says he has confidence the bill can be passed in the new Congress.
"When I first rode into town, in 2005, a significant number of Republicans would treat me with what I call rude behavior," says Woodridge, who rode horseback from Georgia to Oregon in 2003, and from Los Angeles to New York in 2005 to spread the word on what he calls modern-day prohibition. "But when the Ron Paul revolution happened four years ago, many Republican staffers became Ron Paul people, and they became on my side."
"It's almost a 180 change in the Congress as a whole, specifically among Republicans," he adds.
[READ: Obama Tacitly Endorses the Pot Economy]
Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan is one Republican who might support Polis's legislation. Amash previously signed on to a bill that would have provided more protection for people using marijuana for medical purposes.
"It depends on the details," Amash's deputy chief of staff Will Adams tells Whispers. "It's going to be a tough sell for some conservatives ... who want to increase criminal penalties for marijuana. ... But some conservatives, like Congressman Amash, want federal government to get out of criminalizing marijuana."
Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013
Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2)Section-by-Section Summary Title I: Marijuana Decriminalization
Removes marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
Maintains the Controlled Substances Act’s current definition of marijuana.
Prohibits marijuana from being shipped into a state or territory in which marijuana remains illegal.
Removes special law enforcement authority given to the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service to pursue individuals producing marijuana on federal land. This bill does not permit growing of marijuana or hemp on federal land. Growing anything onfederal land without a permit is illegal under federal law; this bill simply reduces the penalty for growing marijuana and hemp so that the penalties for doing so are in line with those for growing all other plants.
Removes marijuana from the list of “dangerous drugs” for which suspected manufacturer sale can be considered sufficient for the Department of Justice to issue permission fora wiretap.Title II: Regulation of Marijuana Like Alcohol
Adds a “Marijuana” section to the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, ensuring that the law distinguishes between individuals who grow marijuana for personal use (and are not subject to any federal registration or permitting requirements) and individuals who are involved in commercial sale and distribution.
Requires that commercial producers and distributors of marijuana (in states in which commercial production and distribution is legal) register for a permit with the Department of the Treasury. Permits will only be available to producers and distributors who have not committed a crime within the past five years (unless the crime was for a marijuana-related activity that was legal under state law at the time).
Requires that Treasury charge a fee for each permit. This fee, which closely emulates the permit-and-fee system for commercial alcohol manufacturers, will be used to offset fully the cost of all federal oversight and regulation of marijuana.Title III: Transfer of Federal Marijuana Jurisdiction
Removes jurisdiction of marijuana regulation from the Drug Enforcement Administration-and gives it to the newly-renamed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana, Firearms and Explosives.
Renames the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana Tax and Trade Bureau.
Requires the Government Accountability Office to review all parts of the U.S. Code referring to the Controlled Substances Act or other federal drug laws, and to make recommendations to Congress of any sections that may need to be amended in light of this legislation.
this act alone may open up enough jail cells to make room for the corruption of predatory bankers, elected officials...........buzkillx via bribery, circus and bread. good bye to private prison corp.......... making criminals out of our kids, government law enforcement surely need to have higher priorities than to just look the other way.
Interior Department Releases Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan
February 7, 2013
Contact: Jessica Kershaw (DOI) 202-208-6416
Contact: Jessica Kershaw (DOI) 202-208-6416
Interior Department Releases Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan
For the first time, plans include strategies for climate change preparedness
For the first time, plans include strategies for climate change preparedness
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – The Department of the Interior and other federal departments
today released their 2012 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans.
The sustainability plans continue the Obama Administration’s commitment
to lead by example and cut waste, pollution, and costs in federal
operations.
President Obama signed Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance in October 2009, setting aggressive targets for reducing waste and pollution in federal operations by 2020. Interior’s 2012 Sustainability Plan builds on three years of progress under the Executive Order and provides an overview of how the agency is saving taxpayer dollars, reducing carbon emissions, cutting waste and saving energy.
Examples of performance reported in Interior’s 2012 Sustainability Plan include:
• Decreasing certain greenhouse gas emissions by 6.5 percent in FY 2011 relative to the FY 2008 baseline—putting the department on track to meet the reduction target goal of 20 percent by 2020;
• Reducing potable water intensity by 11.2 percent in 2011, relative to the FY 2007 baseline—putting Interior on track to meet the reduction target goal of 26 percent by 2020; and
• Exceeding the FY 2011 goal for use of 5 percent of electricity from renewable sources.
This year, Interior’s Sustainability Plan also includes the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for FY 2013, which outlines initiatives to reduce the vulnerability of Interior’s programs, assets, and investments to the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise or more frequent or severe extreme weather.
The plan, which is being released for a 60-day public comment period, facilitates the Department of the Interior’s internal efforts in adapting natural and cultural resource management activities to changing conditions, avoiding or minimizing impacts to people and built assets, working with tribes in their adaptation efforts, and providing scientific information and tools to support the range of activities and programs we oversee in the face of climate change.
Executive Order 13514 requires Federal agencies to submit their Sustainability Plans to the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Agencies annually update Sustainability Plans, prioritizing activities that help to meet energy, water, and waste reduction goals based on a positive return on investment for the American taxpayer. In addition to the Climate Change Adaptation Plans, this year’s Sustainability Plans include two other new components, Fleet Management Plans and Bio-based Purchasing Strategies.
All of the federal agency adaptation plans build on the Administration’s commitment to promoting climate change preparedness and resilience, including launching the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force in 2009, to coordinate measures across the Federal Government and support local and regional adaptation efforts.
Interior’s plan is consistent with a new Department-wide climate change adaptation policy finalized in December 2012, which provides guidance to all bureaus and offices to ensure accountability, engender a consistent approach, foster internal and external coordination, and allow for monitoring and evaluation of climate change adaptation efforts. Implementation of the new policy is underway requiring the bureaus and offices to anticipate and address climate change impacts to their individual mission, programs, and resources.
All agency Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans are available now at http://sustainability.performance.gov.
The Department of the Interior’s Sustainability Plan and Climate Change Adaptation Plan are available at: http://www.doi.gov/greening/sustainability_plan/index.cfm.
Comments on the Climate Change Adaptation Plan may be submitted no later than April 12, 2013, to: 2013climateplan@ios.doi.gov, or Kim Magraw, Office of Policy Analysis, 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 3530, Washington, DC 20240
For more information on Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, please visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/sustainability.
###
President Obama signed Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance in October 2009, setting aggressive targets for reducing waste and pollution in federal operations by 2020. Interior’s 2012 Sustainability Plan builds on three years of progress under the Executive Order and provides an overview of how the agency is saving taxpayer dollars, reducing carbon emissions, cutting waste and saving energy.
Examples of performance reported in Interior’s 2012 Sustainability Plan include:
• Decreasing certain greenhouse gas emissions by 6.5 percent in FY 2011 relative to the FY 2008 baseline—putting the department on track to meet the reduction target goal of 20 percent by 2020;
• Reducing potable water intensity by 11.2 percent in 2011, relative to the FY 2007 baseline—putting Interior on track to meet the reduction target goal of 26 percent by 2020; and
• Exceeding the FY 2011 goal for use of 5 percent of electricity from renewable sources.
This year, Interior’s Sustainability Plan also includes the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for FY 2013, which outlines initiatives to reduce the vulnerability of Interior’s programs, assets, and investments to the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise or more frequent or severe extreme weather.
The plan, which is being released for a 60-day public comment period, facilitates the Department of the Interior’s internal efforts in adapting natural and cultural resource management activities to changing conditions, avoiding or minimizing impacts to people and built assets, working with tribes in their adaptation efforts, and providing scientific information and tools to support the range of activities and programs we oversee in the face of climate change.
Executive Order 13514 requires Federal agencies to submit their Sustainability Plans to the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Agencies annually update Sustainability Plans, prioritizing activities that help to meet energy, water, and waste reduction goals based on a positive return on investment for the American taxpayer. In addition to the Climate Change Adaptation Plans, this year’s Sustainability Plans include two other new components, Fleet Management Plans and Bio-based Purchasing Strategies.
All of the federal agency adaptation plans build on the Administration’s commitment to promoting climate change preparedness and resilience, including launching the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force in 2009, to coordinate measures across the Federal Government and support local and regional adaptation efforts.
Interior’s plan is consistent with a new Department-wide climate change adaptation policy finalized in December 2012, which provides guidance to all bureaus and offices to ensure accountability, engender a consistent approach, foster internal and external coordination, and allow for monitoring and evaluation of climate change adaptation efforts. Implementation of the new policy is underway requiring the bureaus and offices to anticipate and address climate change impacts to their individual mission, programs, and resources.
All agency Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans are available now at http://sustainability.performance.gov.
The Department of the Interior’s Sustainability Plan and Climate Change Adaptation Plan are available at: http://www.doi.gov/greening/sustainability_plan/index.cfm.
Comments on the Climate Change Adaptation Plan may be submitted no later than April 12, 2013, to: 2013climateplan@ios.doi.gov, or Kim Magraw, Office of Policy Analysis, 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 3530, Washington, DC 20240
For more information on Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, please visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/sustainability.
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