Can Cannabis Save the World?

[Karlos Marxos]

The title of this thread prob'ly caught your eye pretty quick, didn't it? As ridiculous as this sounds, it really can. The best way to reverse the Greenhouse Effect is to stop the use of fossil fuels and end deforestation immediately. If this is to be brought to fruition, there's only one possible alternative; Industrial Cannabis, proclaims Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes, and his band of hippy cohorts:

Jack Herer, The Emperor Wears No Clothes Wrote:Our Challenge to the World: Try to Prove Us Wrong

If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the Greenhouse Effect, and stop deforestation;

Then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world's paper and textiles; meeting all of the world's transportation, industrial and home energy needs; simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil, and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time...

And that substance is ― the same one that did it all before ― Cannabis Hemp... Marijuana!

"How is this possible?" you might ask. It's quite simple really; cannabis hurds, the woody core left behind after separating the fiber from the stalk, are 77% cellulose; four times as much as corn stalks, and it can grow to be sixteen to twenty feet high!

Popular Mechanics Magazine, NEW BILLION-DOLLAR CROP, February, 1938 Wrote:Hemp is the standard fiber of the world. It has great tensile strength and durability. It is used to produce more than 5,000 textile products, ranging from rope to fine laces, and the woody "hurds" remaining after the fiber has been removed contain more than seventy-seven per cent cellulose, and can be used to produce more than 25,000 products, ranging from dynamite to Cellophane.

Among these 25,000 products are biodiesel, paper, textiles, plastics of all kinds, paints and varnishes, medicines, oils, food, the list goes on and on! The best part is, after you cut it down, unlike trees, you can grow more!

A single acre of cannabis can produce as much paper as 4.1 acres of trees, and the plant can be processed with all natural solvents, leaving no pollution behind. The paper would have to be bleached, but it can be done with hydrogen peroxide at only one-fifth of the pollution of chlorine bleach, which can easily be cleaned up and safely disposed of. Not only is it cheaper, smarter, and safer to produce, but it has far more durability and longevity than wood pulp.

Using information obtained from the archives of the United States Department of Agriculture, Jack Herer calculates that using only 6% of America's marginal farmlands to raise hemp as an energy crop would produce all 75 quadrillion BTU's needed for all of America's energy needs without disrupting the standard of living while simultaneously restoring the soil and the atmosphere at only a fraction of the cost of fossil fuels!

The most amazing part about this revolutionary plant is that it can be grown easily with little irrigation anywhere in the world outside of the arctic circle. If used in a socialist economy, it could be effectively used to transition from a wage system to a green economy by phasing out paper money in favor of hemp. With 21st century technology, processing hemp would be a cake walk, and small, decentralized communities could use hemp to become self-sustaining.

And of course, this is no pipe dream; hemp was as good as currency in America from the 1600's until the early 1800's, and George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew cannabis on their plantations, and smoked it too! But with constantly modernized hemp processing, its use as currency would soon disappear with the spread of the general knowledge of its use as a raw material; it would be so easy to grow, harvest and process that one could produce most all of the products one needs in everyday life virtually by themself!

According to a census, sales of hemp and hemp-related products increased fifteen times from 1993 to 1997, and sales are still increasing at this exponential rate. The know is getting out, and like socialism, the demand is growing as it's becoming more necessary and relevant to society.

Much like the revolutionary movement, we must get these methods and ideas moving with the same strict perseverence; by any means necessary! We've gotta get out this know with as much information and word of mouth as possible; pamphletism, mass organization, guerrilla gardening, etc. Not only will it be key in revitalizing the earth, but it will also be the most important resource for defeating capitalism; it is the plant that's going to make our goals a reality:

Frederick Engels, The Principles of Communism Wrote:(VII) Increase in the number of national factories, workshops, railroads, ships; bringing new lands into cultivation and improvement of land already under cultivation ― all in proportion to the growth of the capital and labor force at the disposal of the nation.

Naturally, such a tall, sturdy, tenacious plant has roots that penetrate deeply, enriching the soil tremendously:

Jack Herer, The Emperor Wears No Clothes Wrote:GREEN ECONOMY

When American farmers grow hemp to supply American industries with the primary feedstocks for fiber, fabric, fuel, food, medicines, plastics and recreational/relaxational herbal products we will see a rapid greening of the land and economy.

The green economy based upon the use of agricultural resources to supply industry will create a diversified locally based system of production. This decentralized green economy will enable everyone to participate and share in the wealth of a truly free market democracy. For there can be no true democracy unless every citizen has the opportunity to share in the wealth of a nation.

LAND AND SOIL RECLAMATION

Land reclamation is another compelling economic and ecological argument for hemp cultivation.

Until [the 20th] century, our pioneers and ordinary American farmers used cannabis to clear fields for planting, as a fallow year crop, and after forest fires to prevent mudslides and loss of watershed.

Hemp seeds put down ten- to twelve-inch root in only 30 days, compared to one-inch root put down by the rye or barley grass presently used by the U.S. Government.

Southern California, Utah and other states used cannabis routinely in this manner until about 1915. It also breaks up compacted, overworked soil.

In the formerly lush Himalayan region of Bangladesh, Nepal and Tibet there is now only light moss covering left as flash floods wash thousands of tons of topsoil away.

Independent Bangladesh, (formerly East Bengal, India) which literally means "cannabis-land-people" (it was formerly called East Bengal province, a name derived from bhang-cannabis, la-land), signed an "anti-drug" agreement with the U.S., promising not to grow hemp in the 1970's. Since that time it has suffered disease, starvation and decimation, due to unrestrained flooding.

Hemp seeds broadcast over eroding soil could reclaim land the world over. The farmed out desert regions can be brought back year after year, not only slowing genocide of starvation but easing threats of war and violent revolution.

With these chilling facts kept in mind, it becomes obvious that all kinds of ecological disasters, like the Dust Bowl, were a direct result of cannabis prohibition! If cannabis had been grown in rotation, instead of forcibly digging up the earth with industrial capital, the lost topsoil of the fertile plains could've been saved!

While that passage is ultimately in defense of reformable capitalism, it is obvious that plutocracy is what allowed this irresponsible environmental genocide to happen in the first place. But the author admits that this crop has the potential to provide the resources to allow socialism, and any region, for that matter, to achieve economic independence from capitalism, and thus the power to destroy it:

Jack Herer, The Emperor Wears No Clothes Wrote:The green economy based upon [the common ownership of the means of production and] the use of agricultural resources to supply industry will create a diversified locally based system of production. This decentralized green economy will enable everyone to participate and share in the wealth of a truly [democratic, classless society]. For there can be no true democracy unless every citizen has the opportunity to share in the wealth of [the world].

When placed in the right context, not only does this support my argument, but it is now a realistic solution, instead of a pipe dream. Capitalism isn't going to allow this to happen; its plutocratic institutions prevented it from happening in the first place, the only way we can materialize these efforts is through complete unrelenting resistance by any means necessary!

The dawn of true Communism will be fully realized with the grandiose utilization of Cannabis! A very bold statement, I know, but with so many uses for something that grows to be twenty feet tall in the wild, how can we neglect the productive power of this noble plant, especially when the entire world is at stake? The DEA reports that 97% of the Cannabis they seize is found growing wild and uncultivated. Just imagine how much we could grow intentionally!

The earth can't wait for legislation; we've gotta get out there and start guerrilla gardening! We've gotta be the Johnny Appleseeds of this generation! Afterall, it grows wild on its own; if we get out there and broadcast it everywhere it can't be stopped! It may not be used effectively for its industrial purposes, but if it gets growing it's a start; the atmosphere needs to be restored now! If we don't get moving, we're screwed!

It is clear that the revolutionary movement, and socialism, can not survive without using every single means available, especially the most practical, resourceful, renewable, versatile method of them all; Cannabis!

But don't take my word for it, listen to what the Dead Kennedys ex-frontman Jello Biafra has to say:

Jello Biafra, Grow More Pot Wrote:You don't need to smoke pot to realize that the real drug problem in this country is not the drugs, and we can help solve our drug problems, crime problems, environmental problems, even our racial problems, if we say no to George Bush, and get together and grow.. more.. pot!

Don't listen to the yuppies; it's not time to "Live Green, and Go Yellow," it's high time for the revolutionary movement to "Live Red, and Grow Green!"

[ArrowLance]

This is simply ridiculous, as much as I agree that the plant should be used for whatever productive purposes they can fulfill, this makes it sound like we can simply replace the already existent industries simply by growing some marijuana which is ridiculous. Also blaming enormous disasters on the halted cultivation of one plant I think almost undoubtedly is going too far.

[Karlos Marxos]

(21-07-2010 02:16 AM)ArrowLance Wrote:  This is simply ridiculous, as much as I agree that the plant should be used for whatever productive purposes they can fulfill, this makes it sound like we can simply replace the already existent industries simply by growing some marijuana which is ridiculous. Also blaming enormous disasters on the halted cultivation of one plant I think almost undoubtedly is going too far.

Nowhere does my article suggest that entire industries will be replaced by cannabis, merely supplied and powered with cannabis. I do not mean to imply that other resources and energy sources should be foregone in favor of cannabis, either. Nor do I think that cannabis can do it all singlehandedly. It's just that the capacities of most any other resource to fulfill these needs don't hold a candle to the productive power level of cannabis. The same plant used to fulfill the vast majority of needs, from paper, textiles, an abundant supply of food in times of famine and drought, oils of many kinds, etc., from ancient times until very recent history. Most every thing that civilization had was made out of and/or supported by cannabis and its produce. And if we're going to take the ecological situation seriously and ban and abolish fossil fuels and end deforestation, guess what we're gonna have to use to replace it? Cannabis biodiesel, paper and textiles.

Cannabis is the one plant which can satisfy this need. Why? Because it produces more cellulose than just about any other plant. Though perhaps there are better alternatives; solar electric cars, perhaps. But in terms of generating electricity, cannabis biodiesel might be equally important for generating enough electricity to fulfill all of society's needs without destroying its future, as solar power may not be as cost-effective, and there aren't enough natural energy sources with which to generate it. I also think that superior techniques in many cannabis applicable industries are probable, and should be discovered, perfected and utilized; the superior technique should always be the preferred and most commonly employed one. However, I couldn't imagine an ecologically conscious society, let alone―were it not for the fact that we live in a society which isn't concerned with ecologically satisfying the needs of society, and gets by without its use as it is―an unecological society, operating without the predominant and preponderant use of cannabis to supply industry and satisfy the wants of society. But clearly a society whose concern is the total ecological satisfaction of society's needs and wants would be greatly hampered and constrained, if not totally unsuccessful, in its efforts to do so without it.

As for the ecological crises, I do not mean to imply that cannabis prohibition was the sole cause. But the failure to replace it as an important soil preserving technique with a backup method was just plain dumb. Since cannabis was the best way to manage soil before and after the development of modern industry and conditions of production, including in the United States, and continued to be so in underdeveloped Bangladesh at the time of its prohibition, there were no alternatives, and its disastrous impact is clearly evidenced. I know correlation doesn't imply causation, but it wasn't a problem before cannabis became prohibited. In the case of the Dustbowl the problem of soil management was greatly exacerbated by the application of industrial capital to farming. But you must admit, the coinciding of its timing with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was quite conspicuous. I'm more than ready and willing to admit and accept the fact that there were numerous causes involved with the Dustbowl, and that it is probable that the rest outweighed the impact of cannabis prohibition. But it was demonstrably and most definitely a contributing factor. Moreover, certainly much could have been done to control and contain the disaster, and reverse its effects and restore the soil and ecology with the utilization of cannabis.

I hope this satisfies your qualms, but likely it won't, and I can understand why; we get on fine without much cannabis, and it hasn't been utilized on such a magnanimous industrial scale before. I'm more than willing to admit that it sounds like the ludicrous product of wishful pot-thinking at facevalue, and that it's easy to get the tainted idea that I'm merely promoting some half-baked Green Revolution; this was an almost unavoidable implication by association. But the facts support all of my claims concerning this, which indicate that it's an efficient and beyond satisfactory solution. And I'm taking great pains to avoid any of the deluded conclusions of Green Revolutionaries; all I'm talking about is the technological application of cannabis to the science of collective production. Again, whatever is the better solution I'll support, and I won't be crushed if it turns out that cannabis isn't a superior solution, nor even a necessary component part of the solution. But given the great potential surrounding cannabis, we should put it to the test, wouldn't you agree?

[CornetJoyce]

My guess is that hemp advocates go overboard with their claims, but they have a point and NORML has made it for decades.

[ArrowLance]

(21-07-2010 03:27 PM)Karlos Marxos Wrote:  

(21-07-2010 02:16 AM)ArrowLance Wrote:  This is simply ridiculous, as much as I agree that the plant should be used for whatever productive purposes they can fulfill, this makes it sound like we can simply replace the already existent industries simply by growing some marijuana which is ridiculous. Also blaming enormous disasters on the halted cultivation of one plant I think almost undoubtedly is going too far.

...

I hope this satisfies your qualms, but likely it won't, and I can understand why; we get on fine without much cannabis, and it hasn't been utilized on such a magnanimous industrial scale before. I'm more than willing to admit that it sounds like the ludicrous product of wishful pot-thinking at facevalue, and that it's easy to get the tainted idea that I'm merely promoting some half-baked Green Revolution; this was an almost unavoidable implication by association. But the facts support all of my claims concerning this, which indicate that it's an efficient and beyond satisfactory solution. And I'm taking great pains to avoid any of the deluded conclusions of Green Revolutionaries; all I'm talking about is the technological application of cannabis to the science of collective production. Again, whatever is the better solution I'll support, and I won't be crushed if it turns out that cannabis isn't a superior solution, nor even a necessary component part of the solution. But given the great potential surrounding cannabis, we should put it to the test, wouldn't you agree?

No I completely agree, it should be used to the full extent of its potential. My biggest problem was simply with the way the article presented it and still feel that some of the claims may be a bit overreaching.

[Karlos Marxos]

(22-07-2010 01:23 AM)ArrowLance Wrote:  

(21-07-2010 03:27 PM)Karlos Marxos Wrote:  

(21-07-2010 02:16 AM)ArrowLance Wrote:  This is simply ridiculous, as much as I agree that the plant should be used for whatever productive purposes they can fulfill, this makes it sound like we can simply replace the already existent industries simply by growing some marijuana which is ridiculous. Also blaming enormous disasters on the halted cultivation of one plant I think almost undoubtedly is going too far.

...

I hope this satisfies your qualms, but likely it won't, and I can understand why; we get on fine without much cannabis, and it hasn't been utilized on such a magnanimous industrial scale before. I'm more than willing to admit that it sounds like the ludicrous product of wishful pot-thinking at facevalue, and that it's easy to get the tainted idea that I'm merely promoting some half-baked Green Revolution; this was an almost unavoidable implication by association. But the facts support all of my claims concerning this, which indicate that it's an efficient and beyond satisfactory solution. And I'm taking great pains to avoid any of the deluded conclusions of Green Revolutionaries; all I'm talking about is the technological application of cannabis to the science of collective production. Again, whatever is the better solution I'll support, and I won't be crushed if it turns out that cannabis isn't a superior solution, nor even a necessary component part of the solution. But given the great potential surrounding cannabis, we should put it to the test, wouldn't you agree?

No I completely agree, it should be used to the full extent of its potential. My biggest problem was simply with the way the article presented it and still feel that some of the claims may be a bit overreaching.

Perhaps you're right about that; to be perfectly honest these are all claims of Jack Herer, and I'm merely repeating them here with some revision, guidance and emphasis upon a revolutionary economic program. Moreover, I wrote this four years ago right after I read his extensive tome, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, back in November of 2006, when I was most enthusiastic and optimistic about the possibilities of new, old and under-explored technologies and techniques which are currently at our disposal to feasibly save the planet in and with such a reasonable amount of time, energy and resources as makes seem the current Modus Operandi and Status Quo quite thoughtless, senseless, cruel, unusual, and above all, criminal.

I'm more than willing to admit that it's probable that Jack places too much emphasis and trust in the abilities of hemp to outshine any other technology or resource, even if by just a tad, which seems to be implicit throughout his book. But his research, documentation and calculation seem pretty reliable, and I know there are plenty more secondary and tertiary sources and studies which give plenty of weight to his principal claims. And I still feel that that merits our attention, esteem and advocacy, and that you should read it yourself; you might be surprised and intrigued by the conclusions that Herer reaches with modest and copious researches, figures and calculations. And above all, whether it's cannabis or no, there are no technological limitations to what we as a socialist society can do, and cannot do if denied the opportunity.

I thank you for your cooperative and patient temperament.

Sinceramente,
El Profesor Karlos Marxos PhD.