HempNews

November 8, 2011 – Alcohol causes far more damage to users and to society than does the use of marijuana, according to a new study published online in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, the journal of the British Association of Psychopharmacology.

Researchers at the Imperial College of London looked at “the relative physical, psychological, and social harms of cannabis and alcohol,” reports Paul Armentano at AlterNet. They determined that marijuana smoking, particularly longterm, does some harm to the lungs and circulatory system, and increases certain mental-health risks (which is debatable).

But in contrast, the authors described alcohol as “a toxic substance” responsible for almost five percent “of the total global disease burden.”

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​”A direct comparison of alcohol and cannabis showed that alcohol was considered to be more than twice as harmful as cannabis to users, and five times more harmful as cannabis to others (society),” investigators determined. “As there are few areas of harm that each drug can produce where cannabis scores more [dangerous to health] than alcohol, we suggest that even if there were no legal impediment on cannabis use, it would be unlikely to be more harmful than alcohol.”

“The findings underline the need for a coherent, evidence-based drugs policy that enables individuals to make informed decisions about the consequences of their drug use,” the researchers concluded.

The findings are underlined by a just-published study, almost completely ignored by mainstream media, showing alcohol use increases lung cancer risk by 30 percent.

Alcohol use causes an incredible four percent of all deaths worldwide — more than AIDS, tuberculosis, or violence — according to a February 2011 report from the World Health Organization.

And a just-published study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that in the U.S. alone, an estimated 79,000 lives are lost annually due to “excessive” drinking. The study estimates that the overall cost of excessive drinking by Americans is $223.5 billion each year.

Health-related costs per user are eight times higher for those who drink alcohol when compared to those who use marijuana, and are more than 40 times higher for tobacco smokers, according to a 2009 review published in the British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions Journal.

“In terms of [health-related] costs per user: tobacco-related health costs are over $800 per user, alcohol-related health costs are much lower at $165 per user, and cannabis-related health costs are the lowest at $20 per user [italics added],” the investigators concluded.

Much of the evidence showing that the risks of marijuana are small compared to those associated with alcohol is covered in the excellent book Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People To Drink?, coauthored by Armentano with Steve Fox and Mason Tvert.

Given all the evidence of the enormously higher cost of alcohol use than cannabis use to society, you may be wondering why it’s considered socially acceptable for everyone from the President on down to be seen drinking a beer, yet smoking a joint is considered a big deal. And guess which one is against federal law? Source.

November 3, 2011 – SASKATCHEWAN – Members of Parliament have pledged funding for the Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) to study hemp fibers with the goal of making composites that perform better than fiberglass and plastic.

“Finding new and innovative uses for our flax and hemp will greatly benefit farmers and the economy in Western Canada,” said MP Bruinooge. “This investment will enable farmers to adapt their growth and harvesting regimes to optimize fibre performance, increasing the demand for their crops and resulting in increased profitability.”

The investment through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) is designed to study the sub-molecular structure of hemp fibers.

“This exciting collaboration between the CIC and our world-class Canadian synchrotron facility will provide our local and national biomass industries with a key competitive edge in a growing international marketplace,” says CIC Manager of Product Innovation Simon Potter. “The information we generate with the Canadian Light Source will support the high penetration of agricultural fibers into building materials and composites for automotive and aerospace products.”

“The Canadian Light Source welcomes this opportunity to work with Manitoba’s burgeoning bio-composite sector on a project that will not only benefit Manitoba, but fibre growers throughout Western Canada and manufacturers around the world,” said Jeffrey Cutler, director of industrial science.

The project is being funded under the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). CAAP is a five-year (2009-2014), $163-million initiative that is trying to help the Canadian agricultural sector evolve and stay competitive.

The goal is to help farmers by focusing on creating sustainable jobs and strengthening the determined community. The group is looking to build the Canadian economy for the future generations.

Because the previous growth of the Canadian hemp industry has been successful, it makes sense that they are now moving to invest in this fruitful and diverse crop. It only makes sense that US farmers, like North Dakotan and Republican State Legislator David Monson in the video above, should be able to take the steps needed to grow hemp in the states.

Monson says, “If they can do it in Canada, England and Germany and all over the world, we should be able to do it, too.”

With the situation of our economy in crisis, our farmers should be able to take advantage of the expanding arena of hemp. There are so many products to be made and it is such a healthful contribution to the economy. It’s time the United States restores hemp.

By Michael Bachara. Source. For more information, please visit http://www.agr.gc.ca/caap.