A Worldwide Problem: A Practical Solution

Author: James E. Buchanan, III

CEO/Information Architect 
truthislight.com

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The status of the United States of Americas stance on the issue of drugs and drug
sentencing has reached the level of red alert. In order of importance, to the future
safety and continued global success of this country, the issue of drugs would
definitely have to rank in the top three slots of national importance. The only issues 

more important would be terrorism and foreign affairs. This research papers main focus is
geared towards reaching a mutually amicable solution to the scourge of drugs upon our
Republic.  We are going to explore the myriad of ways in which the re-legalization of non-
synthetic, natural herbs will benefit our country; nutritionally, economically and globally.
Legalization of non-synthetic herbs is in no way a far-fetched concept; it is the face and frontier of the New World. 

A Worldwide Problem: A Practical Solution

The core role of drugs in North American society has been a major topic of debate since the early 19th Century. What was once a simple matter of strong opinions, beliefs and ideals, has mushroomed into a worldwide epidemic. This, "cancer of sorts", has fully manifested itself as the, so called, 'War on Drugs'. This invisible war is claiming more and more victims everyday. Local, state and federal authorities cannot, and will never, be able to put an end to this ever ravaging onslaught of drugs upon our Republic. As long as there is a high demand for substances that are presently deemed illegal, then there will always be organized drug cartels, gangs, de-facto political organizations and private citizens who are more than willing to meet that demand. 


The drug sentencing laws that are currently on record are inherently outdated. These current laws are totally out of touch within our ultra-modern, technologically astute Generation-Y citizens. Although tough sentences should certainly be handed down to physically violent offenders who commit heinous acts of blood-curdling, malice and mayhem, 'We the People', as the leader nation of the free world, should never use the ideals of freedom as an opportunity to infringe upon the liberties of North American citizens. Targeting American citizens with harsh and unjust sentences for using and/or distributing non-synthetic, natural herbs is rapidly creating an ever-widening, chasm within the judicial, political and religious framework that this country was originally founded upon. 



Obviously, there are no quick-fix solutions to literal decades of failed drug policies, treatment programs and archaic, mandatory-minimum, prison sentences. 


In illuminating contrast, there are seamlessly practical solutions in the blatant scourge of the ever failing North American Drug War. With the advent and re-legalization of all non-synthetic, naturally grown herbs by the United States Government, this Republic would, without any small doubt, see an 80%+ drop in violent, personal assaults across the law enforcement spectrum and a direct stimulus to the economy of North America; through the creation of truly, green jobs, i.e., Hemp Manufacturing (Hemp clothing, Hemp car production, cleaning agents, foods, medicine, soaps, paper products, Hempcrete, textiles... this list contains well over 50,000+ items) that Hemp production alone is able to produce. North America would also experience an enormous drop in factory pollution as well; due to the fact that Hemp production is a natural bio-process and does not affect the ozone layer in any way, shape or form.        


The decriminalization and re-legalization of Marijuana and Hemp would significantly reduce the present prison population scourge in North America. It is an undisputed fact that this Republic is, very literally, warehousing non-violent offenders of minor, victim-less drug offenses; for no other reason than bottom-line profiteering. The passage of mandatory minimum jail sentences for drug and firearm offenses in 1986 by the United States Congress precipitated prison overcrowding in North America; which has risen to hideously epidemic proportions. 

The number of North Americans serving mandatory minimum, federal prison terms for, nonviolent, drug offenses continues to heavily outweigh those who are convicted of physically violent crimes. Furthermore, sentencing lengths for first-time, nonviolent drug offenders far exceed sentence lengths for physically violent offenders who commit, much more bloody, vicious and maniacal  crimes; across the board of the entire American criminal justice system. Loosening the proverbial vice-grip on the current unjust drug sentencing laws will, without any small doubt, cause a marked decrease in the overall percentage of inmates in the North American prison by 80%+. 

The total re-legalization of all plant based, non-synthetic herbs would be practically sound, environmentally beneficial and economically viable; not only for North America, but also a huge stimulus for the entire global economic base. The re-legalization of Hemp and Marijuana, in particular, would give this Republic a super-surge of economic empowerment that this continent has not seen since the generous economic growth years of the Clinton Administration.


With the aggressive growth, careful cultivation and high-tech production of Industrial Hemp (the roots, stalk and stems of the Cannabis Plant) and Marijuana (the flowers and leaves of the Cannabis Plant) the, "so termed", economic deficit that North America currently finds itself within the throws of would, very literally, become a humorous talking point of the past. 


Growing and harvesting Hemp to produce pulp paper is an excellent example of an economically sound and viable source of jobs, material and national income. It takes, roughly, 4 times the amount of trees to manufacture pulp paper as it does to produce the same type of paper by just simply using Industrial Hemp. 


Another lesser known fact is that Hemp is an eternally renewable resource. It can be planted, grown, harvested, processed and marketed with absolutely 0% damage to the overall environment. 


Hemp is also an extremely desirable resource; because its cultivation and manufacture slashes the needless eradication of our Republics trees; which are the lifeblood of keeping our National Forests safe, naturally sacred and forever beautiful. 


Hemp is an excellent, economical and nutritionally delicious source of food. Hemp Oil is, "Natures most perfectly balanced oil."  {(QDC Solutions--Argoforestry} The Hemp Seed has also been proven, numerous times, in scientific double-blind studies, to help in lowering the blood pressure and in keeping the cholesterol at normal rates. Andrew Weil, M.D., is a professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and also has a private practice. He is the author the the book, "Natural Health, Natural Medicine." 


Dr. Weil fully supports the use of Hemp Oil; he states very clearly in an article titled, 
“Therapeutic Hemp Oil”, that, “Hemp Seeds contain 25% high quality protein and 40%
fat in the form of an excellent quality oil. It has a remarkable fatty acid profile; being
high in the desirable Omega-3’s and also delivering some GLA, (Gamma-Linolenic
Acid), that is absent from the fats that we normally eat. Nutritionally oriented doctors
believe all of these compounds to be beneficial to health." 

Henry Ford, (inventor of the first mass produced gas powered vehicle), found that Hemp produces far more biomass suitable for conversion to methane than almost any other plant. Furthermore, Mr. Ford found that renewable biomass fuel contains absolutely 0% sulfur, which also helps to remove harmful C02 gasses from the atmosphere via photosynthesis. Clearly, the positive potential uses of Hemp and its derivatives are exponentially manifold. 

Marijuana (the flowers and leaves of the Cannabis Plant) have also been proven to be an extremely effective medical alternative to a plethora of the current doctor prescribed prescriptions for chronic pain-sufferers throughout the United States and the world.
In 1988, DEA, (Drug Enforcement Administration), Administrative Law Judge, Francis L. Young, stated that, “Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man; and that marijuana, in its natural form, fulfilled the legal requirement of currently accepted medical use in the United States." (Docket 86-22)

Even though the DEA flatly refused to accept the medically sound findings of this court,
the crystal clear fact still remains; the medicinal qualities of Marijuana/Hemp far outweigh the $69 million per/year drug campaign which every American citizen is a direct or indirect victim of.

In closing, the scourge of drugs in America affects each and every citizen individually

and collectively. By loosening the vice-grip of governmental regulations on all
non-synthetic herbs, such as Hemp and Marijuana, North America would immediately begin to see a tremendous drop in our prison populace, a marked economic boom to our economy
and brand new, cutting-edge breakthroughs in medical research; that we have only begun
to dream of. The solution is quite evident and obvious. We as global citizens, of the collective, must all do our singular parts; by helping to re-enact legislation to fully, re-legalize all non-synthetic, natural herbs; beginning with Marijuana/Hemp. The drug laws that we
progressively enact today, will have a direct and everlasting affect on the success or failure of future generations to come.

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And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 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. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis (Chapter 1:28-31)
Authorized King James Version Bible
Cambridge Edition

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