December 27, 2009 – This article is an attempt to make an overview of some of the serious Cannabis situations in Africa. With the overwhelming numbers and dimensions of death and dying in Africa, the AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, the political problems, civil wars, smuggling, slave running, environmental disasters, and international interventions, a new approach is needed.
Can Legalization of Cannabis Hemp help solve some of these problems?

Cannabis Hemp has been in widespread cultivation in most regions, cultures, countries and ecosystems over many centuries. It has always been chaotic, but perhaps never quite as much as today. From the famous Hashish Growers of Morrocco in the Northwest, to Sudanese Slave Agriculture, to High Country Deforestation in Kenya, to Smuggling of Diamonds, Guns, Marijuana and Poached Products Trade in Zambia, to various hemp schemes in South Africa, there are serious challenges and great opportunities.

Tens of millions of the sick and dying, the displaced, the hungry, homeless and hurting humanity, who need better agriculture, secure agriculture, and good cash crops, pastures, grains, oils, materials, building materials, medicinals, and specialty products, could benefit from a new liberalization and legalization of Cannabis Hemp immediately. This would greatly increase agricultural investments, financing, developments and incentives along with a much more level playing field for farmers and people all across Africa. It also has potential to help create a climate of hope, peace and unity so dearly needed.

All the years of anti-Cannabis Hemp repressions have culminated into the narco terrorism, corruption and drug disasters we see today. Whether its collapsing old agricultural systems, land ownership, civil war or refugees, new harder drugs, virtually every situation could benefit from a complete reversal of current laws and policies against Cannabis Hemp.

As seen in Morrocco they have been increasingly dependent on cash flow from Hashish from sales to EU etc. The King realized that this cannot be supressed without collapsing the country, and inviting civil war, jihad and anarchy to take over as has happened all over Africa. An EU Million Dollar incentive to grow alternative crops was only a drop in the bucket of overall agriculture production there for export, fruits, dates etc. Hemp and Hashish production there has proven much about the benefits of Cannabis to African Culture. The rural culture and Cannabis has survived in Morrocco perhaps better than anywhere in Africa.

But over in Sudan its a completely different situation as Cannabis is grown by the poor captives of the many conflicts in the region. Highlighting this is the story about Bin Laden’s slave trade, marijuana fields and military bases in Sudan. Can this source of funding for terriorists, destablization and threats to world security be curtailed or decreased? Would it involve foreign intervention of a large degree? Or will his gang continue to profit by slave Cannabis agriculture to plunder and terrorize the Sudan and the World?

Meanwhile over 2 Million Christians have been killed and the rest are in serious danger of total starvation and disease, cut off form outside help and defenseless against the well armed Jihad. When Clinton lifted sanctions against the Kartoum Jihad, and allowed big western oil interests to make new deals, few said anything. The only reaction was when Clinton cruise missiled the Pharmaceutical Factory in retaliation for the Embassy Bombings. This gave the world a tiny glimpse of the magnitude of the Kartoum-Bin Laden Jihad Empire there and the ability of big oil and OPEC to make the US back off. Meanwhile a few Christian Orgs are flying in some supplies to the Christians, but its falling way short of saving the masses. As huge numbers of people have been displaced, lost most livestock and are living in the most inhospitable brush, deserts and scorched earth afraid to even build a hut.

As one heads out across Central Africa, a wide variety of different environmental challenges, ecosystems, terraigns, climates and agricultural challenges such as savannas, brushy forests, steep midlevel forests, wildlife preserves, and some difficult high country come into view. Each has past, present or future Cannabis Hemp Cultivation. The various populations, cultures and religions play a large role in the distribution of agriculture and Cannabis.

In Kenya there is a good example of how legal Cannabis Hemp could greatly help stop deforestation by allowing its cultivation legally on suitable farmlands, rather than illegally in ecologically sensitive areas (unless specifically for wildlife or reclamation purposes.) Cannabis income can quickly revitalize agriculture in these areas as well, plus significant tourism with better managed lands, increased wildlife, new facilities, and increased political stability.

In areas where other drugs are common, such as Khat in Somalia, and widespread Opiates and Meth, legal cannabis can help people move away from that towards good alternative agriculture. By separating Cannabis from other drugs and criminal activities, a new level of health and prosperity can begin to take shape. The hard drugs are a major source of disease and violence that can be greatly reduced with a revitalized Cannabis Culture.

In Ethiopia, the magnitude of the humanitarian disaster is beyond anything mankind has ever witnessed. An estimated 8 Million people have lost almost everything in the widening drought and environmental diasters. The land has died, it’s a barren red dust bowl, the forests have been burned to the ground, all the brush has been cut for fuel and shelter, livestock ate the last thorny brush and weeds then died. There is no way that so many people can survive another year. With the inability of Ethiopia to defeat Eritrea and gain access to the ports on the Red Sea, the Jihad control of the coast means that these people are doomed. And when the Ethiopians tried to bereak through last year the entire international community and UN came down hard on them and forced them to stop and pull back when victory was in sight. This blatant genocide is beyond description, and will lead to the largest loss of life since WWII. There is still considerable potential to start to turn things around there with Cannabis and other reclamation projects, to supply much needed soil stability, fodder, fuel, nutrition and medicine. All traditional crops such as corn and millet may not return until the drought ends, Cannabis and other drought and pest tolerant crops and edible weeds could at least help people survive.

The situation in Western Africa is so bad as it descends into almost complete Anarchy, that its now overrun with kids with guns and headed towards Somalialization. There is a virtual free for all running battle between Jihad and Christians, and numerous old rebel rag tag armies and smugglers and slave runners. Restoration of civilization seems to have been disgarded as a viable option at this point. Only a few things remain like Nigerian Oil, the Cocoa Plantations and scattered Diamond mines as the rest has been destroyed. The Anarchy is so widespread that even crops such as Cannabis are difficult to achieve without great risk. Rapidly decreasing potable water supplies, food, medicines and real money is degrading life there at an alarming rate. The Diamond Cartel’s efforts to ban “Blood Diamonds” from Sierra Leone and Angola are not going to make things any better and recent attempts by the British to restore some order have met with heavy armed resistance and failed terribly. Refugees are everywhere, the Congo is disintegrating fast and all civilization in Western Africa is on the brink of collpase worse than Rwanda where a million were killed almost without notice.

In South Africa there are several major hemp projects and illicit marijuana crops already, so making a smooth transition to legalization would enable considerably better farming practices, coordination of development, support and needed infrastructure. It could employ millions in reclamation projects, wildlife and livestock projects, commercial products, oils and fuels and building materials. These projects could make great inroads on the many intractable cycles of war, famine, disease, degradation of the land and cultures, financial and political collapse across Africa. But all we have seen lately is the destruction of poor squatters shacks and widespread unemployment and poverty as real land reform seems impossible under current ANC philosophy. Things are even worse though in neighboring Zimbabwe as Mugabe’s “Kill Whitey” Ranch Siezures have collpased production and turned once prosperous ranches into non functioning squallid squatter encampments and the rest are running the border to get into S.A. and away from this insanity. Tell me where is sanity on this Continent?

But special mention is needed for the vast numbers of the sick and dying, especially AIDS which can be helped with Cannabis in several ways. The latest research in AIDS and use of cannabis in a wide variety of medical cases prooves its great value. The UN’s recent call for AIDS Drugs for Africa and the additional funding that has been arranged will be of much less value and impact wihtout a comprehensive and concurrent improvement in Agriculture, Environment, Peace and Standard of Living which Cannabis Legalization can play a major role in.

The recent plans to arrange for cheaper AIDS drugs will be enhanced by Cannabis and help make this program much more successful. It forms a vital part of the new attitudes and social aspects of these major medical interventions and treatments. The current anti-cannabis conventions of the UN and others, seriously interferes with this new medical plan and should be immediately reconsidered at least for Africa, if not globally. Cannabis could ease the suffering and pain for millions of the poor, starving, dispossessed and unemployed, and for a very low cost and wide spread easy availability.

A resurgence of health and prosperity could also generate a resurgence of hope and faith of all sorts, of renewed culture and resepct for human life so dearly needed in Africa. Cannabis legalization in Africa could create one of the world’s great agricultural and reclamation revitalizations, greatly decrease the many conflicts, and allow many dispossessed to return to pastoral life instead of being forced into overcrowded towns and cities. Africa could have genuine beneficial growth of vast proportions in actual terms and in relative terms with others Continents. Increased prosperity is known to bring the population more into balance and sustainability fairly quickly, but the current criminal chaos and anti-cannabis program is sending the Continent spiraling into total disease, death and destruction.

International trade in Cannabis and Cannabis products could be spectacular and of great variety and creativity. The Billions now generated by illicit activity for the bad guys could be shut off and cash could flow towards accelerating growth in a legal free trade environment, and more importantly, go more to the farmers, good folks and the needy across the board. Better economics and balance of trade can quickly turn things around also. Couple this with substantial debt cancellation based on negotiated milestones, goals and objectives real progress is possible, (rather than a tightening of credit, high interest, austerity and counter productive cannabis law enforcement).

Yes many other crops and new agriculture projects are needed everywhere, but there is no way they can happen without a complete change in policies and attitudes. Cannabis is the main key that an open these doors. Cannabis is uniquely suited to every country, every ecosystem, climate and culture across the continent. It is very widespread already, and accounts for billions in sales, but not for the purposes for which it is most needed. It is not going to be stamped out but it can be turned towards many beneficial uses. This multi-use plant’s versatility can impact all the medical, food, wildlife, livestock and environmental situations and in so doing it can greatly improve the disastrous economic, social and political crises.

A special session of the UN would be needed to even begin to untangle all the legalities, but a straightforward full legalization date would allow for gearing up and planning of all sorts of projects. It should only be a matter of when and not if. The future of Africa and Africans is at stake and along with it the fate of the world’s health, prosperity, peace, and security. Cannabis Culture can be applied across the world to solve the many similar problems billions of people face elsewhere, as described in the articles referenced below about such places as Lebanon, Albania, Siberia etc. where war, poverty and environmental destruction combine to collpase civilization.

The Legalization of Cannabis in Africa is the wise choice, followed by the rest of the world, which will reverse the trend towards collapse, crime, anarchy, destruction and disease. If we can give this real help and hope to save the suffering masses of Africa we can save the rest of the world soon after. Cannabis could create a new climate of cooperation, brotherhood, health, revitalization, peace and prosperity. Source.

October 3, 2009 – by Hana Haatainen Caye – Do you know what happens when you smoke hemp? Not a whole lot. You may end up with a cough or a headache, but you certainly won’t end up with a high. Surprised? Most people are because they mistakenly think hemp is the same thing as marijuana. It’s not; even though they are both members of the plant species cannabis sativa and bear an uncanny resemblance. Actually, the psychoactive properties in marijuana come from the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found in the flower of the plant. While the THC values in marijuana are about 15% – 20%, they’re only standardized at about 0.3% in industrial hemp.

So what’s all the hype with hemp? It’s actually an eco-friendly renewable resource that is once again warranting attention in the United States (although it’s not legal to commercially grow here). Hemp is an excellent alternative to cotton when it comes to clothing, as hemp is more resilient and water-resistant, offers better breathe-ability, and is, quite simply, softer and warmer. With the look of linen and the feel of flannel, it’s no wonder clothing made of hemp is gaining in popularity.

But clothing isn’t the only thing hemp is used for. Consider these facts:

* When used for building material, hemp is known to be better than wood in terms of quality and strength, as well as being less expensive
* Paper made from hemp can be recycled up to 7 times, versus only 4 times for paper made from wood pulp
* Hemp has 10 times less toxicity than salt and is as biodegradable as sugar
* When used to make bio-diesel fuel, it emits 80% less carbon dioxide and close to 100% less sulfur dioxide
* It boasts a production rate of up to 10 tons per acre every 4 months
* It matures in about 100 days versus the 50 – 100 years for a tree to mature
* Hemp crops are heat, cold, mildew, pest, light, drought and rot resistant
* There are far less chemicals used to produce fabric made of hemp than of cotton and other fibers
* The woody stalks, or hurds, of the hemp plant are used for a variety of products, including: paper, plastics, animal bedding and more efficient and cleaner burning fuels, such as ethanol and methane
* The plant fibers are perfect for clothing, canvas, paper, textiles and rope, as well as replacements for heavier toxic fibers and building materials generally made with recycled plastic and fiber

One of the most beneficial parts of the hemp plant comes from the seed which contains many nutrients for both human and animal consumption. The hemp seed consists of

* Calcium
* Magnesium
* Phosphorus
* Potassium
* Vitamin A
* Protein (25%)
* Insoluble fiber (15%)
* Carbohydrates (30%)

It also is the absolute best vegetable source of essential fatty acids, with 55% Omega 3 linoleic acid and 25% Omega 6 linoleic acid, as well as gama linoleic acid.

Hemp seeds can be used in baking or cooking, crushed or whole. Hempseed oil is the principle product derived from the seed and has many uses from nutrition to cosmetics to paints and varnishes.

The multiple uses of the hemp plant, coupled with its eco-friendly properties, makes it the perfect crop choice for farmers across America. So why are we not seeing this invaluable plant being harvested from coast to coast?

Well, not to sound cynical, but you’d have to ask a politician about this. After all, it’s the powers-that-be that enforce the law that makes industrial hemp production in the U.S. illegal. But it wasn’t always this way.

Up until 1883, nearly 90% of all paper in this country was made with hemp rather than wood pulp. Four million pounds of hemp seed was sold in the States in 1937, and up until that year, almost 90% of all rope and twine was manufactured from the hemp plant. Then there’s the car Henry Ford built in 1941, made from a hemp and wheat straw plastic. However, the popularity of hemp and its abundance seemed to be cutting into the potential profits of men like William Randolph Hearst and Pierre DuPont, who collaborated and succeeded in making hemp an illegal crop in the U.S. in 1937. What did they have to gain? Well, Hearst held interests in multiple lumber mills and personally owned huge forests. DuPont used petroleum to manufacture synthetic fuels and fibers, such as rayon, nylon and a variety of plastics. The versatility of hemp wasn’t welcome in their world.

Seventy-plus years later, what have we learned? Well, we’ve experienced an energy crisis, polluted our air and waterways, found that chemicals in synthetics can be a danger to our health, endangered our wildlife species with the destruction of the forests, created holes in our ozone layer, etc., etc.

Could this have been avoided? Possibly. Researchers estimate the if just 6% of the continental United States would be planted with hemp crops, this would provide for ALL our national energy needs. Is this factual? I don’t know. But it certainly should be worth investigating. So why is our government sitting on its hands on this one? Is it that there are too many Hearsts and DuPonts out there blocking the way for real change?

I don’t know about you, but this makes me angry. When I think about the possibility that we could have fuel with far less toxic emissions, affordable clothing that wouldn’t be chemically treated, healthy alternative sources of essential fatty acids, etc. I just want to schedule a meeting with the higher ups and ask them why it isn’t happening. They talk the talk of independence from foreign oil, but when given a sensible alternative, they turn a deaf ear. Angry…you bet I am. And frustrated with the stupidity and ignorance of people who continue to think it should be illegal, because they refuse to differentiate between hemp and marijuana. Source.