Fighting For the Future: How Hemp and Cannabis Can Change the World
By Denton Ramsey
It may be a line out of X-Files, but I truly believe “the truth is out there” when it comes to cannabis.
From industrial hemp to recreational cannabis to medical cannabis, this plant was created by the Creator for numerous purposes.
And today, I’d like to briefly bullet a few ways hemp and cannabis can change the world.
Industrial Hemp
From paper to lumber, hemp can be that substitution this country and the world has been “searching for,” regardless of the fact this plant has been around since the beginning of time.
Especially here in Texas, miles and acres of fields would be filled with a sea of hemp: helping to revitalize a struggling farmer’s market in the Lone Star State and beyond.
Think about it for a minute: the misconception of this plant revolves around the fact that hemp is completely different than cannabis, lacking any THC—the “psychoactive constituent” in cannabis—while only benefiting the country and the world in terms of everyday use.
And creating a truly green environment both starts and ends with hemp production.
Recreational Cannabis
Moving on to the plant this country has demonized since the political propaganda began under President Richard Nixon, let’s discuss the idea of recreational cannabis.
During the Super Bowl, Budweiser ran an ad that revolved around “the end of prohibition,” and those four words speak wonders when it comes to activists daily battles to re-legalize cannabis.
Alcohol, a leading killer in both automobile accidents and future health issues, is one of the most widely-abused “drugs” in the world today.
Numerous hard-working individuals come home from a tough day at work to open a beer, pour a glass of wine, or stir up a mixed drink to “simply relax and unwind.”
The truth of the matter is cannabis, even used recreationally like alcohol, is a MUCH safer alternative.
Look at the facts, ladies and gentlemen: zero deaths and zero overdoses have resulted in the use of cannabis.
Medical Cannabis
Another “controversial” concern regarding cannabis is the medical use of this plant, and I truly don’t understand why any such “controversy” exists.
It’s been proven time and time again that cannabis can and does heal numerous ailments.
It’s fantastic for an appetite enhancer; for decreasing and stopping cramps; and cannabis has even been medically proven to kill cancer cells.
In addition, a majority of individuals out there don’t even realize that the countless strains of cannabis can accurately be used to pinpoint different areas of healing: giving patients a specific strain of cannabis based on their medical needs.
For example, for someone such as myself—having Irritable Bowel Syndrome—an indica-dominant strain is the best for healing and suppressing the constant cramps and pains associated with the ailment.
And individual strains work differently on individual people: giving doctors and pharmacists a plethora of healthy choices when it comes to treating their patients.
Smokeless Cannabis: Tinctures, Topicals, Edibles, and More
Another concept many out there tend to be clueless about revolves around smokeless cannabis.
In fact, many out there right now are saying, “what?!?”
From tinctures to topicals to edibles and more, cannabis can and IS used in many smokeless ways.
Even vaporizing the plant is a safer and smoke-free way to enjoy cannabis; while others prefer using a liquid form of cannabis known as tinctures, or using a cannabis-based butter to cook edibles such as cookies, brownies, and complete meals.
There’s also a little something called “topicals,” where a cannabis-based paste is used to treat everything from dry lips to acne.
You know what? We’re also only just scratching the surface of this miracle plant.
Hopefully, one day America and the world-over will wake up and smell reality: re-legalizing, as former Drug Enforcement Agency Judge Francis Young once said, “one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man” in cannabis/hemp.
And when that day comes, you’ll see me as one of many running down the streets proclaiming, “it’s over; the prohibition of cannabis is finally over!”
Denton Ramsey, a cannabis columnist and activist for many years, is the host of CannaTruths and the co-host of Reefer Rhetoric, two podcasts available on both iTunes and online. All of Ramsey’s prior cannabis columns may be accessed online at http://cannatruths.wordpress.com. He may be reached via email at CannaTruths@gmail.com.
