Saturday, April 30, 2016

Historicist: The Toronto Settler Who Failed to Build a Hemp Empire

By Ross Fair
Source: torontoist.com

An early resident of the Town of York saw prestige and prosperity slip through his grasp.
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William Bond’s report on hemp. Royal Society of Arts, Transactions of the Society Instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, 24(1807): 143-58.
William Bond was a Queen’s Ranger, one of the early residents of the Town of York, and among the first settlers granted lands along Yonge Street. Bond Lake in today’s Richmond Hill was on that property. Bond also owned York’s first tree nursery, located at Ontario and Duchess (now Richmond) Streets, and, among other minor roles, he served as York’s Town Clerk in 1803. Three years later, he would travel to England on behalf of a newly established organization at York, win accolades from the top echelons of England’s scientific community, and meet with influential gentlemen and powerful imperial officials that few residents of York—or colonials anywhere across the British Empire—would ever dream of meeting. After having spent more time and money in England than he had planned, Bond returned to York in 1809, only to find any rewards from his work in London become lost in a cloud of scandal, not of his making, leaving him ultimately disillusioned and utterly disappointed.

A September 1801 advertisement announcing William Bond’s unique attempt to sell his property in York  A second ad in August 1804 announcing he was auctioning off this property suggests that he had found no buyer in 1801  Upper Canada Gazette, September 5, 1801
A September 1801 advertisement announcing William Bond’s unique attempt to sell his property in York. A second ad in August 1804 announcing he was auctioning off this property suggests that he had found no buyer in 1801. Upper Canada Gazette, September 5, 1801 (Left).
What took Bond to England in 1806 was the matter of hemp cultivation and the promise of a lucrative position administering Upper Canadian plans to grow this crop. By that time, the provincial government, centred at York, was five years into a program supported by imperial officials in London that aimed to encourage farmers to grow as much of the crop as possible.
At the turn of the nineteenth century, Britain entered its seventh year of war with France, meaning a continued need for hemp for the Royal Navy to make cordage to rig its fleets. For centuries, Britain had depended on supplies of hemp and timber imported from Russia via ports on the Baltic Sea, and, by the mid-1700s, experts in England warned of the security threat posed by this dependence. In 1800, such fears were realized. Russia, an ally of France, persuaded Sweden to block British trade at Baltic ports, effective December 16, 1800. Although this lasted only a few months, Britain was caught fighting a war without access to the material required to construct and repair its navy. As a response to this crisis, it turned to its North American colonies and issued emergency instructions that administrators there should encourage farmers to grow hemp, with the aim of producing a secure source of this naval supply critical for defence of empire. In their haste to enlist Upper Canada’s help, British officials gave little thought to how the young frontier province could produce large quantities of quality hemp at a price competitive to Russian supplies in a short period of time. Nevertheless, hemp presented the promise of a significant financial windfall to farmers, merchants, and colonial administrators in a struggling colony like Upper Canada.
At York, Upper Canadian legislators had approved, by summer 1801, a plan for distributing hempseed at government cost and arranging shipment of processed hemp to England. It was overly ambitious and produced minimal results. At the same time, the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in London offered a competition for Upper Canadian farmers to grow the greatest amount of hemp, and send samples to London to be judged for quality, along with a report of how the crop had been grown. The RSA was an organization of elite gentlemen that focused, in part, on finding ways for Britain’s colonial possessions to contribute to the strength of empire, but its hemp competition only highlighted its members’ lack of knowledge of the frontier conditions under which the Upper Canadian farmer struggled daily. Yet, no one was ready to walk away from Upper Canada as a potential source of hemp, for in 1803 war between Britain and France was renewed, and it would draw much of Europe into a conflict lasting 12 years. Thus, in 1804, the Upper Canadian government tried to improve its plan and, in England, the Lords of Trade, a committee of the Privy Council serving to advise on economic growth of the British Empire, directed Charles Taylor, Secretary of the RSA, to write a detailed guide as to how colonists should grow and cultivate hemp. At York, John Bennett, the Upper Canadian government printer, published these instructions as a special supplement to the January 25, 1806, edition of the Upper Canada Gazette.
By this time, Justice Robert Thorpe had arrived at York. His short time in Upper Canada stands as one of the significant scandals of early York politics and society. He had arrived to assume his new appointment as one of two top judges in Upper Canada, second only in status to the Chief Justice of the province. Soon, he began to write a steady stream of letters to officials in London expressing his disgust at the poor state of the provincial economy and the self-interested colonial administrators. To a great degree he was correct. His decision to become a spokesman for colonists’ grievances, and his methods of improving the situation won him supporters, but it also made powerful enemies. In July 1807, Lieutenant-Governor Francis Gore had enough, and suspended Thorpe from office. He left the province later that year for England to appeal his suspension and, by 1810, Gore would have to request leave from his duties in Upper Canada to go to England to defend Thorpe’s suspension and his own reputation.
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Portrait of the Honorable Robert Thorpe (about 1764-1836), Anonymous, 1800-1850, McCord Museum (Right).
William Bond would also make a trip to England because of Thorpe’s actions. A few months after Thorpe’s arrival to York in 1805, he used his status as a top justice to insert himself into a position of control over the ongoing hemp initiatives. At a February 22, 1806, meeting attended by many of York’s elites, the Upper Canada Agricultural and Commercial Society (UCACS) was established to “impress an early attention to Hemp” throughout Upper Canada in order to secure the lucrative rewards of a navy contract. With Thorpe as its chairman, the UCACS aimed to be a central board at York, which would sponsor branch societies across the province. Five hundred copies of this first meeting’s proceedings were to be printed for distribution throughout the province, and members were requested to exert their influence by engaging “their neighbours and acquaintance among the Farmers, to cultivate annually a portion of Ground (however small) with Hemp.” The society would accomplish nothing of value. Soon, many of those who had attended the February meeting wanted no association with Thorpe, and the UCACS would be in shambles by the time of the suspended judge’s departure from Upper Canada in late 1807, mostly because Thorpe, as chairman, had misappropriated its funds.
Cover of the pamphlet printed for the Upper Canada Agricultural and Commercial Society by the editor of the Upper Canada Gazette, John Bennett, February 1806  Library and Archives Canada, MG11 CO42 Great Britain: Colonial Office: Canada, formerly British North America, original correspondence, vol  342, enclosed in “Robert Thorpe to Lord Castlereagh,” York, May 2, 1806
Cover of the pamphlet printed for the Upper Canada Agricultural and Commercial Society by the editor of the Upper Canada Gazette, John Bennett, February 1806. Library and Archives Canada, MG11-CO42 Great Britain: Colonial Office: Canada, formerly British North America, original correspondence, vol. 342, enclosed in “Robert Thorpe to Lord Castlereagh,” York, May 2, 1806 (Left).
Among the early members of the UCACS was William Bond, and the silver-tongued Thorpe assured him that he could secure Bond the new position of Inspector of Hemp for Upper Canada. At Thorpe’s behest, and as a representative of the UCACS, Bond departed York for England on June 3, 1806. He was to gather seed, information, and equipment for cultivating hemp. As he sailed for England, he had no idea he would not see York again for two and a half years.
Bond’s first sign of trouble occurred immediately upon his arrival to England. Thorpe had not sent the letters of introduction for Bond to gentlemen in England, as he had promised. Temporarily mortified, Bond fell back upon his own skills and intellect, and undertook a journey throughout the English countryside to gather information on hemp cultivation and manufacture, and to collect samples of the best hempseed available.
Then, in November 1806, Bond secured an invitation to the RSA offices in London to present before its members his report “on the Culture of Hemp, the Breeding of Rabbits, Guanaco, &c.” He also demonstrated a model of a machine for processing hemp that he had invented. For his efforts, the RSA awarded Bond a silver medal, and ordered that his report, as well as diagrams of his machine, be printed for circulation in Upper and Lower Canada. Despite these accolades, Bond found himself running low on funds by spring 1807.
William Bond’s illustration of his machine for processing hemp fibres  Royal Society of Arts, Transactions of the Society Instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, 24(1807): 143 58
William Bond’s illustration of his machine for processing hemp fibres. Royal Society of Arts, Transactions of the Society Instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, 24(1807): 143-58.
About that time, he met with a former resident of York and member of the UCACS, Charles Wyatt. An associate of Thorpe, Wyatt had recently arrived in London, because Lieutenant-Governor Gore had dismissed him as Surveyor General of Upper Canada in January. Wyatt sailed straight to London to seek support for action against Gore. During this meeting, Bond learned of Thorpe’s actions and what was transpiring in York. Wyatt likely informed him that neither Thorpe nor the UCACS could provide him any more assistance.
Indeed, this was true. Back at York, most members had abandoned the UCACS. Just before Thorpe’s departure from Upper Canada, “A Member” inserted a notice into the September 26, 1807, issue of the Upper Canada Gazette wondering what had happened to the society’s funds. The newspaper’s new editor, John Cameron, added his own notice, pointing out that his predecessor, Bennett, had yet to be paid for the printing of the pamphlet that Thorpe had so proudly wanted distributed and that he had sent to his superiors in England. Remaining members met during the last week of 1807 to investigate the question of missing funds, and two final meetings in January and February 1808 ultimately dissolved the UCACS, because members had “neglected to comply with one of the leading & principal resolutions.” In other words, they had not actively promoted hemp cultivation in Upper Canada.
Again, William Bond had to fend for himself. Throughout 1807, he sought an audience with Foreign Secretary George Canning, Britain’s key diplomat in the Napoleonic Wars, to present his plan for hemp cultivation in Upper Canada. Connections he made while in London also secured Bond an audience with Sir Joseph Banks. As President of the Royal Society (a society more prestigious than the RSA), Banks was at the very centre of directing scientific discoveries in newly explored territories and introducing new agricultural commodities to be grown in Britain’s colonies around the globe. Banks, after all, had accompanied Captain James Cook on his 1768-1771 voyage to Botany Bay on the Australian continent, and Banks was transforming the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,c into an extensive collection of botanical specimens from around the world. Unquestionably, this was an exceptional opportunity for Bond, for he had gained an audience with a highly influential figure of the British Empire. For his part, Banks thought that Bond’s hemp plans were “a most hopeful project.” But his supportive words did little to move Canning to provide Bond the assistance he sought.
Next, and with increasing desperation, Bond turned to the Colonial Secretary Lord Castlereagh, seeking only funds for a passage home. No support was offered by this office either. However, in September 1807, Bond was invited to meet with the Lords of Trade, who were impressed by his plans, as well as the praise he had received from the RSA. The Lords recommended that Castlereagh offer Bond 1,200 acres in Upper Canada, half of which should be cleared land, so that Bond could begin cultivating and processing hemp as a model for Upper Canadian farmers to follow.
Bond waited and waited for Castlereagh to provide him with the commission. Then, in 1808, Thorpe reentered his life. When Thorpe arrived in London to seek redress for his suspension from office, he had contacted Wyatt, who told him that Bond had not yet returned to the province. Thorpe met with Bond to convince him to continue the political agitation he had begun in Upper Canada. Bond recoiled at the suggestion, and broke off all contact with both men.
Finally, eight months after his meeting with the Lords of Trade, and more than a year since he had found himself in financial difficulties, Bond received instructions from Lord Castlereagh that he was to deliver personally to Lieutenant-Governor Gore upon his return to York. Bond departed London in August 1808 and by January 1809 he was finally able to present Castlereagh’s documents to Gore at York. Expecting to realize the promised grant of 1,200 acres of free farmland, that spring, Bond advertised in the Upper Canada Gazette his interest in purchasing both the hempseed and hemp seedlings that would start his farm.
William Bond’s advertisement for hempseed and hemp seedlings, Upper Canada Gazette, April 19, 1809
William Bond’s advertisement for hempseed and hemp seedlings, Upper Canada Gazette, April 19, 1809 (Right).
But Gore distrusted Bond. His work in England had been on behalf of Thorpe and his disreputable UCACS, and it did not matter that Bond had been little different than many of York’s elite who, back in February 1806, had enthusiastically become executives of Thorpe’s organization. Bond tried to distance himself from Thorpe and Wyatt by relating details of his conversations that he had with each of them in London to officials at York, but to no avail.
Gore set Castlereagh’s instructions aside, and did not even inquire about potential parcels of land for Bond until October. In April 1810, the Lieutenant-Governor complained to his superiors in London that there was no such amount of land available in Upper Canada—particularly 600 acres of cleared land—without paying substantial amounts of money, and he had declined to do so. Instead, he had offered Bond “some waste lands of the Crown,” which he was told were “well calculated for the growth of Hemp,” and he requested authorization to give Bond £200 from the provincial treasury. It’s unclear if Bond ever saw this money, but Bond had learned of his land grant in February, and in May he went to see his property, located in yet-to-be surveyed territory far west of the capital along the upper reaches of the Thames River. When he arrived there, he found the land to be nothing more than a few detached flood plains along the river, with soil completely unacceptable for creating a farm meant to be a model of hemp cultivation. Throughout 1810, Bond protested the hollowness of his grant to officials in York and in London, but he received no response. Afterwards, Bond then seems to vanish from the public record.
What a strange four years it had been. In London, Bond’s plans of large-scale hemp cultivation had received glowing support from some of the most influential gentlemen in the British Empire, but those accolades came undone back at York due to the perceived association he had with the scandalous Justice Thorpe. As a result, the fame and fortune that William Bond hoped to achieve slipped through his fingers like a handful of sand taken from his grant of worthless wilderness floodplain.
Sources: Upper Canada Gazette, August 22, 1801; September 5, 1801; August 4, 1804; 25 January 1806, Supplement, 3-5; February 15, 1806; September 26, 1807; December 30, 1807; January 6, 1808; February 12, 1808; April 19, 1809. Royal Society of Arts,Transactions of the Society Instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, 19(1801): viii, 59-61; 24(1807): ix-x, 143-58. “Account of Certain Premiums Offered in 1801, Adelphi, London, April 9, 1801,” CIHM 41244; Charles Taylor, Remarks on the Culture and Preparation of Hemp in Canada, [1805] CIHM 53716 and 20892. Library and Archives Canada, MG11-CO42, vol. 347, “Bond to Castlereagh,” London, 7 August 1807; vol. 348, “Bond to Canning,” n.d. [1807]; “Draft, Castlereagh to Gore,” Downing Street, 31 May 1808; vol. 349 “Bond to the Solicitor General,” York, 3 November 1809, enclosed in “Gore to Castlereagh,” No. 43, York, 14 November 1809; vol. 350, “Gore to Liverpool,” York, April 21, 1810; “Bond to John Small,” Delaware, 12 September 1810. For a more complete list of sources, see my: “A Most Favourable Soil and Climate: Hemp Cultivation in Upper Canada, 1800-1813.” Ontario History 96 (Spring 2004): 41-61.


The anti-aging effects of Hemp seed oil

By Clarissa Wilson
Source: examiner.com

Hemp is an all natural beauty haven.
Hemp is an all natural beauty haven.

Hemp seed oil is extracted from a subtype of the Cannabis plant, known as Cannabis Sativa. The oil, containing virtually no traces of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is a great source of high-quality nutrients containing many health and beauty benefits. However, despite its widespread popularity and long history of use in Eastern culture, prejudice relating to its association with the recreational uses found in the plant’s other forms has kept it from becoming a common household item in the Western World. Fortunately, published research has consistently highlighted its benefits and, subsequently, the market for hemp seed oil is growing. Now an increasing number of people are demanding access to the product for its documented health and beauty benefits.

Origin and Structure
The use of Cannabis is not a recent phenomenon as its presence in history dates back to the times of ancient Babylon, seven thousand years ago. Yet, the biggest expansion in the cultivation and use of this versatile plant has been observed in China. Here the use of cannabis appeared during the Neolithic civilization, in the valley of the Yellow River approximately six thousand years ago. The plant’s strong and durable hemp fibers were used to make clothes, fishing nets, ropes, hunting gear and many other essential tools for life. With the advancement of extractive technologies, the valuable fibers from the stems of cannabis were pulled from the plant with relative ease.

In the cosmetic industry, it is commonly stated that unsaturated and essential fatty acids (EFA) are beneficial to the skin. However, only Alpha - Linolenic Acid (ALA) or its metabolite, Gamma - linolenic acid (GLA) are clinically proven to have a therapeutic effect on the skin. Hemp oil contains 50-60% Alpha Linoleic Acid, and is the only EFA oil that also contains GLA. Hemp seed oil’s ability to rapidly hydrate and keep your skin in shape makes it a perfect solution for healthy hair and skin, making it a highly demanded product at beautyhaven.ca

Benefits – Supports healthy skin, hair and nails
1, Anti-aging
Young and properly functioning skin contains many ‘ceramides’ - natural lipids that hold the upper layers of the skin cells together. As skin ages, the level of ceramides is reduced and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which contribute to the flexibility of ceramides, are replaced by less saturated fatty acids. This slows down metabolism which eventually results in the wrinkling and aging effects on the skin. Due to its anti-inflammatory functions and abundance of fatty acids, hemp seed oil partly offsets lower levels of ceramides in the skin, thereby reducing the signs of aging and preventing appearance of skin imperfections.

2. Cleansing properties
Skin cleansing has become much more popular in recent years due to the concern dermatologists have expressed over the use of traditional face soaps. Due to the high content of essential fatty acids (EFA) and excellent texture, hemp seed oil, is an ideal component of skin cleansers. Therefore today, creams containing high percentages of hemp seed oil are the most common type of cosmetics used not only for make-up removal but also for skin hydration.

3, Hair and nail care
Due to the fact that hemp oil is one of the richest sources of EFA and other nutrients, it supports and encourages the creation of keratin. Keratin is a key protein responsible for the cell structure and integrity of hair and nails. In addition to improving the structural quality of hair, the high lipid content in hemp seed oil also increases its elasticity, volume and shine. The presence of EFA in hemp oil and its excellent moisturizing properties make it an ideal solution for dry hair and scalp.


Understanding how industrial hemp can help

By Joe Domino
Source: kenbridgevictoriadispatch.com

Joe Domino
Guest columnist
Joe Domino Guest columnist

The history of cannabis prohibition, specifically in the United States, represents a manifold of hypocrisies plaguing our nation today.
Before I go on proving this point, first, I want the reader to reflect on how important they deem their first and second Bill of Rights. Without these provisions, what would our nation succumb to? I shudder when I think on it.
Without freedom of speech, political cartoons and peaceful protest would come to a screeching halt.
Without the right to bear arms, hunters would have no incentive to conserve vast tracts of wildlife and homeowners would be left defenseless.
Undoubtedly, these Bill of Rights protect every American from the tyranny that has existed throughout history, coming from the likes of monsters such as Stalin, Hitler and many more like them.
All Americans, knowingly or not, benefit from the foresight manifested by the framers and drafters of our Bill of Rights. But, as much as ordinary Americans are accused of taking their inherent rights for granted, should our forefathers be equally to blame for overlooking the most basic human right of them all: the right to form a relationship with mother earth? In other words, a person’s right to plant seeds and tend to their land as they please, without fear of incarceration and/or forfeiture of property and will?
And, I should make very clear, I’m solely advocating Southern Virginians to pursue industrial hemp, the cannabis variety that tests below 3 percent THC, which produces paper, plastics, fuel, food medicines and much more.
In the 16th century, the first law imposed on the “new world” from the House of Burgesses demanded that the Virginian colonists harvest and procure industrial hemp fibers for the Crown of England’s Royal Navy.
This proves that our founders didn’t only know about hemp, but they were hemp aficionados from the day they landed. Many have already heard that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp on their massive estates — right here in Virginia.
To unravel all the contemporary hypocrisies, one doesn’t need to dig into a history book; these hypocrisies are acutely obvious to the Hempsters of the world.
First and foremost, no one in known history has ever died or overdosed from indulging the cannabis flower, alone (let alone the non-smokeable stalks and seed, which are identified as industrial hemp).
Yet, people have been forced-fed to believe that cannabis is more dangerous than alcohol and opiates? You’re living under a rock if you think that’s still true.
And politicians rave about the importance of giving more options to the farmers, but the politicians are the ones that allow the DEA, a non-agricultural agency, to regulate a non-illicit commodity crop, industrial hemp, which should be under the sole jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture and treated like anything else: corn, soy and beans.
And, to the beat of the drum, nearly everyone chants the need for more job creation. Jobs, jobs, jobs! Yet, bureaucratic agencies insist on exacerbating societal’ denial over a crop that can be purposed into 25,000 consumer and industrial products.
My goal is to open your eyes to a few possibilities. We need to wakeup and smell the roses — before they take the roses from you too!
It’s time to become a hemp patriot, once more.

The key differences between hemp oil and CBD oil

Source: liftcannabis.ca

Knowing the difference between the two products ensures that patients and health enthusiasts are getting the best possible product for their specific needs.


CBD oil

Cannabidiol (also known as CBD) is one of the most vital components of marijuana, and it seems to hold the answer to a wide array of medical problems. But because it’s derived from cannabis, oil that contains CBD is often confused with hemp oil. Both come from the same plant, contain components sought after for their healthful properties and have established themselves as useful products—albeit for vastly different reasons.
These differences are especially important for consumers who may think that both oils provide the same things. Confusing regulations regarding labeling mean that some producers might describe products as medicinal when their effects haven’t actually been proven, furthering these misconceptions.
Knowing the key differences between the two will help users better discern what to look for when shopping and to know whether they want to add these products to their health regimen.

CBD Oil

CBD oil medicine
CBD oil is extracted from the stalks, leaves and buds of hemp plants. Typically, strains are chosen that are known to have higher CBD levels in order to maximize the potency of the end product.

Extraction process

Extraction methods vary, but the safest known process is the oil-based method, wherein the plant is soaked in a carrier oil—typically hemp or olive—to separate the components. Contrast this with the unsafe solvent-based approach that pushes butane, hexane or alcohol through the plant to extract the chemical. Larger and better funded operations may also opt to use a CO2-based approach, which places the material under high pressure. This method offers the safest alternative and produces the purest end product.

Usefulness as a medicine

The resulting oil is rich in CBD and low in THC, making it ideal for those seeking the benefits of marijuana with none of the psychoactive effects. The oil has been shown to help treat epilepsy and psychological problems, aid in cancer treatment and act as an anti-inflammatory. Additionally, CBD inhibits the uptake of THC, reducing many of the negative aspects of marijuana while still producing a calming effect.

THC traces

Because production methods vary and some producers use cannabis instead of hemp to produce CBD oil, there are also some types of the product that contain both THC and CBD. However, the amount of THC in these products is strictly limited, and reflects doses and concentrations permitted by pharmaceutical standards. It’s important to understand the difference and read product labels when finding the right CBD oil for you.

Hemp Oil

hemp oil nutrition
Hemp oil can be made from the seeds of any plant in the cannabis family, but is primarily derived from hemp. The seeds themselves contain as much as 50% of their weight in oil, which is easily extracted. For the most part, these seeds are used for their nutritional value rather than as a medicine.

Differences from CBD oil

The seeds themselves contain very little CBD—not nearly enough to take advantage of its medicinal properties. Likewise, the seeds only contain trace amounts of THC, making them useless for anyone looking to get high. And unlike CBD oil, hemp oil has a strong nutritional value, as it is high in polyunsaturated fats like Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as Vitamin E.

Health benefits

Because of this profile and its low amount of saturated fats in comparison to other oils, hemp oil has found a spot in many kitchens around the world. It can have a nutty to grassy flavour depending on how it’s refined, and high quality brands can be used for salad dressing and cooking.

Alternative uses

Hemp oil can also be found in a myriad of health products, from shampoos to skin conditioners to soap. Producers take advantage of its high Vitamin E content, which helps to replenish and protect the body from cancer-causing free radicals. According to Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential, the oil has also been used to effectively treat arthritis inflammation, neurodermatitis and PMS, among other conditions. Much like other vegetable oils, hemp oil can be used for plastics, fuel and as a base for non-petroleum paint products.
The underlying difference between the two products is that one is medicinal and the other is an ingredient used for both cooking and manufacturing. Knowing the difference ensures that patients and health enthusiasts are getting the best possible product for their specific needs.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

The case for cannabis

By Debbie Adams
Source: timescall.com

Since coming out as a cannabis advocate in my efforts to enlighten city officials, I have been educating myself to discover compelling facts about cannabis and its very long history, going all the way back to God, who said in Genesis 1:29: "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth. ..."
I find it fascinating that for over 5,000 years, this nontoxic plant was used medicinally and industrially. Evidence of the hemp plant being used in medicine — and for recreational enjoyment — can be found in societies as diverse as ancient China, Rome and Egypt.
The hemp plant was first brought to North America by Jamestown settlers in 1611. Believe it or not, it used to be patriotic to grow cannabis. It was known that hemp fibers were strong and durable, and provided excellent raw materials for paper, ship sails, fabric and rope.
According to the diaries of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, they farmed hemp.
Cannabis emerged as a mainstream medicine in the West in the 19th century. Studies in the 1840s found that "cannabis suppressed headaches, increased appetites and aided people to sleep." Cannabis made its way into the US Pharmacopeia by 1850, which listed it as treatment for numerous afflictions.
In the 1930s, along came Harry J. Anslinger, commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and the architect of national prohibition, who demonized cannabis and fueled the "war on drugs." With the aid of William Randolph Hearst and exceptional yellow journalism, there was a coordinated effort by the government to shut down marijuana with fear and intimidation.The temperance movement of the 1890s recommended cannabis as an alternative to alcohol consumption since alcohol abuse increased the risk of domestic violence, while cannabis did not. I believe law enforcement would agree this still holds true today.
According to Webster's New World Dictionary, yellow journalism is "the use of cheaply sensational or unscrupulous methods in newspapers, etc. to attract or influence readers." In other words, we have been hoodwinked for over 80 years. When you research all the info that is now available, it does shed a fresh light on cannabis.
Today we're learning a host of amazing benefits associated with cannabis. The reality is that this nontoxic plant that grows from the earth is something of a wonder drug. It's no wonder that pharmaceutical companies are against its legalization as it will no doubt greatly impact their profits.
There is no disagreement or argument whatsoever that cannabis does not belong in the hands of children for recreational use. But isn't that also to be said of the other legal adult intoxicants, like tobacco and alcohol, that are glamorized and often come with future death certificates? It is proven cannabis is far less dangerous than either substance. Alcohol, tobacco, opioids all have staggering death statistics, while zero deaths have been reported from cannabis consumption.
There is a movement calling for the end of global marijuana prohibition and to remove it from the schedule of controlled substances. Propaganda has been force-fed to our society for generations to become embedded in our culture. We seriously need to consider how much we have learned and evolved in 100 years. It is time to change the outdated beliefs that have been a burden on society for decades causing more harm than good.
Cannabis has been recreationally legal in Colorado for over two years. From all reports, things are going rather well. The majority of Americans support cannabis legalization. Shouldn't it be our human and civic duty to become educated instead of holding steadfast onto falsehoods?
Now is the time to lift the misinformation stigma and to be enlightened, to encourage public education, to open up the conversation and to benefit the community with regulation and taxation of this thriving green operation.
FYI: For a complete historical timeline go to www./medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.timeline. Drug Policy Alliance, the nation's leading organization promoting drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights has valuable information on their websitedrugpolicy.org as well as norml.org working to reform marijuana laws.

Homemade Maple Hemp Milk (Just 5 Minutes!)

By Alisa Fleming
Source: godairyfree.org


Dairy-free milk beverages are often looked down upon for being light on substance, but homemade versions, like this maple hemp milk, pack in unparalleled freshness and a wallop of nutrition.
Homemade Maple Hemp Milk - vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free recipe with unbelievable flavor freshness and nutrition.
Admittedly, I had never been a big fan of hemp milk. Store-bought versions are a bit too grassy and somehow a little “off” for my tastes. But now that I’ve crafted this recipe for maple hemp milk, I’m a total hemp seed convert.
Here are some of my personal notes for this maple hemp milk recipe in addition to bites of nutritional information about its homemade goodness:
Homemade Maple Hemp Milk - vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free recipe with unbelievable flavor freshness and nutrition.
  • Hemp seeds are not marijuana, and you won’t get high from them. They are, however, rich in Omega fatty acids and other essential nutrients.
  • The taste of this maple hemp milk is still a touch grassy, but the pure unprocessed flavors are morefull-bodied, complimentary, and almost a little, dare I say, addictive. I also find that the vanilla really tames those overtly natural notes and maple syrup brings it all together.
  • Once well-blended and strained, I estimated (based on the remaining hemp see pulp) that each cup of this maple hemp milk contains approximately one 1-ounce serving of hemp seeds. This means that it has MORE proteinmagnesium, and riboflavin than dairy milk.
  • Magnesium is believed by many to be an unsung hero for bone health. Some research is saying that we may be overloading on calcium while deficient in magnesium. Want to balance both? Add a serving of calcium citrate powder to this maple hemp milk recipe
  • Maple syrup gives this recipe a delicious, sustainable light sweetness. Yet even with this addition, my maple hemp milk has approximately the same amount of sugars as a very un-sweet cup of cow milk.
  • I also like it as a post-workout drink. Though chocolate milk has been publicized lately as a fitness beverage, this maple hemp milk is much lower in sugars and yet higher in protein and healthy fats.
  • Homemade Maple Hemp Milk - vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free recipe with unbelievable flavor freshness and nutrition.
This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill, but the opinions stated here are my own, this maple hemp milk recipe was my own delicious idea, and I LOVE purchasing their hemp seeds.

Special Diet Notes: Homemade Maple Hemp Milk

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, vegetarian, paleo, raw, and top food allergy-friendly (whew!). I think that covers the bases.


5.0 from 2 reviews
Homemade Maple Hemp Milk (Fast & Easy)
Prep time
Total time
I make small batches of this maple hemp milk as it's very easy to make and tastes best within the first couple of days. If preferred, you can double the batch, refrigerate and optimally use within 3 days.
Author: 
Serves: 2¼ cups
Ingredients
  • ½ cup shelled hemp seeds (I use Bob's Red Mill Hulled Hemp Seed Hearts)
  • 2 cups water, divided
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla flavoring or extract
  • Pinch sea salt
Instructions
  1. Place the hemp seeds in your blender with half of the water. Blend until relatively smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. You will still see some little bits of hemp seed, that's okay.
  2. Add the remaining water, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt and blend until relatively smooth and creamy.
  3. Strain the maple hemp milk through a nut milk bag or (my method) through a sieve lined with a few layers of cheesecloth. Squeeze to extract all of the creamy goodness.
  4. If chilling any leftovers, stir before serving - it will separate a bit.
Notes
Hemp Seed Pulp: There shouldn't be much remaining after you strain the hemp milk as hemp seeds do blend up fairly easily, but any pulp from your cheesecloth or nut milk bag can be tossed into oatmeal or baked recipes (such as granola or muffins).