The gullible mind explained

The following is an excellent column from Mike Adams, the Health Ranger and editor of www.naturalnews.com. Mike's column helps explain why we are in the sorry state of "Idiocracy" that we live in today in much of America. His comments about the failed War on Drugs help explain why industrial hemp is still illegal. Logic and common sense have nothing to do with what happens in Washington DC.

Thursday, May 05, 2011

(NaturalNews) In light of the string of the blatant falsehoods being announced by the U.S. government these days (FDA, DHS, White House, etc.) it's interesting that so many people still believe whatever they are told by "official" sources. It brings up the question ofthe functioning of their brains: How could a person swallow official information so gullibly and so completely without even asking commonsense questions about the reliability or factual basis of that information?

These people, it turns out, are operating from what I calledThe Gullible Mind. It is a psychological processing malfunction that filters out information based onits sourcerather than its integrity. People who operate from The Gullible Mind tend to have misplaced trust in governments, institutions, mainstream news networks, doctors, scientists or anyone who wears the garb of apparent authority.

Whereas a normal, intelligent person would raise commonsense questions about information they receive fromallsources, the Gullible Mind wholly accepts virtually any information from sources that occupy the role of apparent authority in society.

Governments never lie

But how does this work inside their heads? It's an interesting process. Gullible Mind people do believe it ispossiblefor agovernment (or institution) to lie; but they believe that governments, institutions and doctorschoose NOT to lieeven when it would serve their own self interests to do so.

Follow this carefully, because this is the fascinating part. These Gullible Mind people effectively believe that even though a government officialcouldlie about something, they would never actually do so. And why wouldn't they? Because, ultimately, the Gullible Mind crowd believes that governments, institutions and mainstream media outlets operate from a sort of honor code. So even if it were in the interests of our own government to lie to us, it would never happen because that would violate this imaginary honor code.

Where does this honor code exist? Where is it written down? Nowhere, of course. It is imaginary. But to The Gullible Mind, it seems real. Interestingly, even though this "honor code" only exists in the imagination of The Gullible Mind person, they project this honor code onto sources of authority, imagining that they abide by it.

Extreme gullibility

This is how The Gullible Mind person believes that network news always reports the truth. The news networks have a sense of "honor," they believe, and this sense of honor requires them to always report the truth and never manipulate the news for any nefarious purposes. So news networks never "shape" the news and they only report what is factually true without any consideration whatsoever of politics or advertiser profits.

This view of the world is, of course, laughably naive. And yet it is the core belief system of at least half the population-- the Gullible Mind half that believes everything it is told by its own government, media or authority figures.

Interestingly, the Gullible Mind is also inwardly gullible because it does not recognize its own gullibility. Instead, it believes it is operating as a Rational Mind. This false Rational Mind believes it functions as a critical filter of incoming information, but even this is self deception. In truth, this false Rational Mind is on "auto filter" so that it filters out any information that conflicts with the information it is receiving from official sources.

This is the key to understanding the Gullible Mind -- it isn't the quality of the information itself that matters; it is the confirmation of the story from official sources that "makes it real" in the Gullible Mind.

The Easter Bunny killed Bin Laden!

For example, let's say a Gullible Mind person comes across an announcement that says the Easter Bunny has killed Osama Bin Laden. The report claims that colored eggs were found near Bin Laden's body, and there wasevidenceoffeathersbeing left at the scene, which proves the Easter Bunny was there.

Now, an intelligent, rational mind would have a lot of questions about this. For starters, rabbits don't have feathers. And the Easter Bunny is a piece of fiction, too. On top of that, how could the Easter Bunny kill Osama Bin Laden? An intelligent person would, upon reviewing the holes in the story, be forced to concludethe story is fiction. The only logical conclusion from that is that the government is lying to them.

A Gullible Mind person, however, would not ask whether rabbits have feathers, or whether the Easter Bunny is capable of conducting a military raid. Instead, the Gullible Mind person would firstlook to other confirming news sourcesin order to determine the reliability of the story. They would turn on the TV or surf the internet, looking for the news to be repeated through "official" sources.

Once they found CNN, or Fox News, or some other "official" source reporting that the Easter Bunny killed Osama Bin Laden, then that news report would instantly become "real" in their minds. Suddenly it has shifted from their mental processing queue to the "absolutely truth" part of their brain, and from that point forward, no one can question that reality in their heads.

Don't bother arguing with a Gullible Mind - they are immune to facts

At this point, their rational mind is completely shut off on the topic. No accumulation of facts can, at that point, rattle their "reality." For example, a person who believes the government's story of 9/11 has already embraced the Easter Bunny version of terrorists flying airplanes into the World Trade Center towers. So how did this act cause the WTC 7 building to collapse in a demolition-style free-fall a few hours later, when WTC 7 was never struck by airplanes? How can a steel and concrete building suddenly and magically collapse in perfect structural synchronicity merely from being on fire?

The answers don't matter to The Gullible Mind, you see. There is no room for facts inside their heads, because all the space has been taken up with what is essentially a cult-like belief in institutions of authority.

We saw this in the Heaven's Gate cult in California a few years back. The leader of that cult, a man named Applegate, positioned himself as the one and only source of authoritative information among the cult followers. So HE became the authoritative source whose information was wholly accepted without questioning or skepticism of any kind. At that point, he was able to quite easily convince his followers that an alien race was going to land a UFO on the far side of a comet, and that if they killed themselves, they would be transported onto the alien ship (or something like that).

The belief in such a story may seem silly... until you realize that the governments of the world use the exact same cult-like tactics to get their own "followers" to believe everything they say, without question. So if President Obama announced that an alien race was going to land a mother ship on the White House lawn, and that people who voted for him would have their consciousness transferred to an immortal alien body, the remarkable truth is that millions of people would believe that. Perhaps tens of millions. They would even worship him as an interstellar saint.

Remember Orson Welles' radio program that announced aliens had invaded the Earth and were destroying our cities? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wa...) Huge numbers of people believed it was really happening... and not because it made any sense, but because the information came from the source they trusted. To those people, the alien invasion was just as real back then as Bin Laden's official death is to government followers today.

Throughout history, many conspiracy theories have turned out to be true

Government lying, of course, has been going on for as long as governments have existed. Not all conspiracies theories are true, of course, but so many of them turn out to be true that the idea of "not believing" in conspiracies makes no rational sense.

To not believe in conspiracies means you don't believe two people have ever sat down and plotted to take advantage of others in some unethical and deceptive way. Well gee, that describes virtually every board meeting of every large corporation in the world! Conspiracies are not just commonplace; they're practically synonymous with modern-day capitalism! Even right now, Apple is being accused of a conspiracy to keep employee wages artificially low: http://www.appleinsider.com/article...

I wonder: Do the Gullible Mind people also not believe in that conspiracy theory? Are all conspiracy theories automatically tossed out merely because of the word "conspiracy?"

For those who don't know their history, here's a list of 33 conspiracy theories that turned out to be true: http://www.newworldorderreport.com/...

The Manhattan Project, of course, was a secret government conspiracy. The Tuskegee Syphilis experiments on African Americans was a secret medical conspiracy. Operation Northwoods was a conspiracy plot to create support for a war on Castro by staging terrorism events in U.S. cities.

These are all historical facts. They are indisputable. But to The Gullible Mind, none of this history exists. What's real is only what they are being told right now by the White House. When George Bush occupied the White House, the daily fibs were things like, "The Iraqis want us to occupy their land with military personnel because we are setting them free!" Oh yeah, that's a bit of twisted logic, for sure. But it's no different from Obama's version of the war fairytales, which includes such gems as, "We're only dropping humanitarian bombs on Libya." Or, "It's not actually war. It's only kinetic military action."

But you see, it makes no difference whether anything they say is actually true... at least not to The Gullible Mind, which believes there is no such thing as a conspiracy theory. There is no such thing as a nefarious government, either. Heck, when Columbus landed in the New World, his entire crew shared food and wine with the Native American Indians, we're told. There was no raping, no murder, no genocide. That's why we continue to celebrate Columbus Day every year! Because the Gullible Mind wants a reason to get off work for a day, even if it requires a complete revision of actual historical facts.

The most popular issues of Gullible Mind people

Vaccines are good for you- Vaccines are "safe and effective" merely because doctors and the CDC say they are, not because of any reliable scientific evidence.

The economy is in great shape- Gullible Mind people are easily influenced to stop thinking about the $14 trillion national debt that's growing by the day and simply go along with whatever economic fictions are being woven in Washington.

Governments and corporations are looking out for your best interests- The drug companies only want to find cures and make everybody healthy. The government is here to help. We should all stop asking questions and just do what we're told.

Nothing will ever run out- There's no such thing as Peak Oil. Our world can continue its throwaway economy without end, they believe. We'll never run out of gas, water, soil or natural resources. Keep using stuff up and throwing it all away!

Food additives are good for you- Otherwise, the FDA wouldn't have approved them, would they?

There's no such thing as a cure for cancer - The ultimate pessimists, the Gullible Mind crowd believes cancer has never been cured! And if a cancer cure did exist, we would know about it by now, right? (Because our scientists already know everything that's worth knowing, you see...)

There are no other non-terrestrial civilizations or beings in our universe- Amazingly, we are the only intelligent forms of life that have ever existed, they believe. Any talk of non-Earth intelligence is just a bunch of "fringe" nonsense. There was never any life on Mars, either.

Herbs and plants have no medicinal value- That's right, only conventional medicine can "treat" you, because that's what the doctors say. Herbs and plants have zero biological value beyond their calories alone, they insist.

... and on it goes, one delusion after another. A Gullible Mind, it seems, will believe almost anything if it comes from a "trusted" source. But that same Gullible Mind will discount straight-up facts if they don't come from those same trusted sources.

How to stop being a Gullible Mind

Interestingly, most of the people who are intelligent, skeptical thinkers today used to be Gullible Mind people at one time or another. There was a point where they simply "awakened" and began to consciously question the world around them.

Intelligent, informed skeptics are the people asking questions like:

• Why do twenty different mainstream news sources all report the exact same news, using the exact same words, on the exact same day? (http://www.naturalnews.com/032022_m...) If they were all investigating and writing their own news, wouldn't their news be different?

• Why did Wall Street get a multi-trillion-dollar bailout from Washington while the American people are still required to pay taxes that involve sending money to Washington? If Washington can just magically create a trillion dollars overnight, why do we pay taxes, then?

• Why does the USDA now actively conspire with GMO seed companies to keep approving genetically modified seeds even without any scientific evidence of their long-term safety?

• If mercury is one of the most toxic substances known to modern science, why is it still being deliberately placed into the mouths of children in the form of "silver" fillings? And why are they called "silver" when they actually contain more mercury than silver?

• Where does the fluoride used to fluoridate the public water supplies really come from? (http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=42652...) And if fluoride is so good for people, then why is it so hazardous to handle, and why is it considered a hazardous chemical by the EPA?

• What really happened on 9/11? How did WTC 7 collapse if it was never hit by any airplanes? Why did they sweep away the rubble before a proper forensic analysis could be performed?

• Are vaccines really safe? Where's the study comparing vaccinated children with non-vaccinated children? Why won't the vaccine industry allow such studies to be conducted?

• Why does the cancer industry seem a lot more interested in treating cancer and recruiting cancer patients than actually curing cancer and ending the epidemic? Why does the industry refuse to talk about cancer-causing chemicals or the anti-cancer effects of vitamin D?

• Why are toxic food additives still allowed in the food supply? What's the real story on aspartame and the FDA? Why did the FDA oppress stevia for so many decades?

• Why is the medical police state now using guns to force parents to medicate their children? In what kind of medical system is it necessary to use the threat of violence to force compliance?

• Why did Clinton bomb the Sudan in the middle of the Monica Lewinsky crisis? Why did Obama suddenly announce the death of Bin Laden in the middle of his "birther" crisis?

• Why do we still have the DEA's "War on Drugs," especially since there is ample evidence that the war is a total failure that only increases the prison population while actually enriching the drug gangs with higher street prices?
• Why is the TSA still reaching down our pants at the airports if Bin Laden is now dead? Wasn't he the whole reason we created the TSA and hired on those 60,000 security agents in the first place? (http://www.naturalnews.com/032267_B...)

An intelligent, skeptical thinker would ask these questions (and many more) as a natural course of basic human curiosity. But a Gullible Mind,attacks the questionerfor even daring to ask such questions.

Who are some of the awakened people?

That's why the Gullible Mind is more than merely gullible: It is a cowardly mind. It is afraid to ask questions on its own, and it simultaneously attacks those who have the courage to stand up and actually ask those questions (like Jesse Ventura).

Most members of the conventional press are, of course, cowardly minds. They almost universally buy the corporate spin (or the White House spin) and never ask any tough questions anymore. Some of the REAL heroes -- the people who are asking intelligent questions about our world -- include:

Alex Jones
Jeff Rense
Charlotte Gerson
Jonathan Landsman
David Icke
Jesse Ventura
Gerald Celente
Ron Paul
Robert Scott Bell
Dr. Andrew Wakefield
Suzanne Somers
Dr. James Forsythe
George Noorey

Do you see a pattern here? Each one of these individuals has been marginalized or viciously attacked and slandered simply because they chose to ask intelligent questions about the world around them. Now, I don't agree with every single thing said by each one of these people, but I admire each of them for having the courage to ask the questions that need to be asked if we are to move forward as a society (and civilization).

These kind of people represent the complete opposite of The Gullible Mind. They are, instead, the "true skeptics" of the world. The reason they are viciously attacked is because our world is so steeped in deceit and conspiracy that only Gullible Minds are tolerated. Those who question the status quo are not merely annoying to the powers that be, but actually dangerous because the most dangerous activity in which you can engage today is helping others awaken to what's really happening around them.

It is that "awakening" that is so utterly despised by the web of corporations, governments and media lackeys that they will do everything in their power to prevent any sort of awakening from taking place at all. The functioning of the Matrix, after all, depends on people believing in the illusion.

And it is so much easier to govern, of course, if people just believe whatever you tell them. Gullible Minds make great voters and willing slaves. But lousy company.

Perfect Plant? 7 Great Uses For Industrial Hemp

By Matthew McDermott
Source: treehugger.com

ot to overly play into the stereotype of the TreeHugger moniker, but today is 4/20 so a quick review of all the great uses for industrial hemp--you know, that non-psychoactive relative of marijuana that for myriad moronic reasons is more or less illegal* to cultivate in the United States but not work with and sell--seemed apropos. From clothing, to food, to fuel, to a whole host of consumer and building products, not to mention helping in cleaning up soil pollution, it's only slightly hyperbole to call hemp a wonder crop:

photo: Janet via flickr.

1. Clothing

Hemp's been used for textiles since time immemorial--samples of hemp fabric in China date back to 8,000 BC--though it has certainly had a renaissance of late. Shedding the slightly rough and tough image it once had hemp has broken into the realms of high fashion, has been mixed with silk for lingerie, as well as being applied to more obvious applications where it's durability is used to best advantage: Providingmaterial for shoes, jeans, and other tough sport clothing.

2. Food & Beverages

About one third of hemp seed's weight comes from hemp oil, which is both edible but highly nutritious, containing essential fatty acids. The whole seed is about 25% protein, and is a a good source of calcium and iron, as well as having more omega-3 than walnuts--all of which point to hemp's potential for food and as a dietary supplement. But hemp also can be put to good use in iced tea and brewed into beer, fermented into wine, and distilled into other alcoholic beverages. Oh, and there's hemp milk too.

3. Paper

Hemp has been used for paper for at least 2,000 years, even though today hemp paper accounts for about only 0.05% of world paper production. Even though hemp is a far more quickly renewable and sustainable source of pulp for paper, because of the small number and relatively old age of processing equipment for hemp paper, help pulp ends up being several times more expensive than wood pulp.

4. Building Supplies

Of all the uses for hemp, even if you only have a cursory knowledge of the subject you're probably away of hemp fabric, clothing and paper, but here's one that's an eye-opener: Hemp provides all sorts of good building materials. You can make it into insulation as companies in the Netherlands and fiberboard and pressboard, and even be used to make 'hempcrete', a stronger, lighter, and more environmentally friendly version of concrete.

5. Plastics

Hemp is also a viable feedstock for plastics production. Indeed Ford famously produced a prototype car made out of hemp & soy plastic in the early 1940s. Though it never went into production, with undue influence from chemical giant DuPont playing at least a part, as the photo above, of Henry Ford taking an axe to the car to prove its durability, shows hemp plastic can be strong stuff. More recently hemp has been made into shower curtain liners, CD & DVD cases, and all sorts of other products.

6. Fuel

Yes, you can make biofuel from hemp! Like pretty much any vegetable oil you can take hemp oil and process it into biodiesel. You still have all the concerns about conversion of land that could be used for food production into land used to fuel vehicles, but the biodiesel process is certainly solid. As cellulosic ethanol technology becomes more commercial viable--something seemingly just over the horizon for a couple of years now--there's no reason why you couldn't utilize hemp stalks or other leftovers as a feedstock. Considering all that, it stands to reason that hemp could also be utilized to make liquid fuels that are chemically identical to petroleum-based gasoline or diesel as well. But since the US doesn't want anyone cultivating hemp, the potential of hemp for fuel remains untapped.

photo: Martin Abegglen via flickr.

7. Chemical Cleanup

One of the most intriguing uses for hemp is in cleaning up soil contamination. In the late 1990s industrial hemp was tested at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine to help heal the soil. Because of its fast rate of growing each season, up to 250-400 plants per square meter each up to 15 feet tall, hemp shows goof potential in cleaning up land contaminated with fly ash, sewage sludge, or other heavy metals--though hemp's use in phytoremediation on any scale is in its infancy.

*

On to that asterisk above: As Vote Hemp points out, it's technically not illegal to grow industrial hemp in the United States, it's just that you need a permit from the DEA and they're not eager to give them out.

Growing hemp is kind of like driving, you can't drive without a license and you can't grow hemp without a permit. The difference is that it is almost impossible to get a permit from DEA to grow hemp.

Want to know more? Movies About Hemp:

• Hemp Revolution
• Emperor of Hemp: The Jack Herer Story (who just died on April 15th, 2010)
• Hempsters: Plant the Seed
• Hemp For Victory & Reefer Madness
• HempUSA Movie List

Fibers related to marijuana still illegal to grow in the U.S.

May 03, 2011
By Kristopher A. Fortin

Hemp blend with organic materials hoodies and shirts are featured at the Hempwise Boutique in Santa Barbara, California, April 12, 2010. Hempwise is one of the many fashionable hemp clothing stores around the country that is moving in a fashion forward direction. Courtesy: MCT

It looks like marijuana, but it’s not. It’s hemp.

To the unfamiliar eye, hemp can be easily confused with marijuana just as hemp fabric is mistaken for cotton in clothing. Underneath the confusion, hemp is a versatile material that can be used to make products such as gasoline, fabric, soap or protein powder and has a lessened environmental impact.

“As we transition from a hydrocarbon based economy to a carbohydrate based economy, hemp will be a part of the solution,” said Tom Murphy, the national outreach coordinator for Vote Hemp, an advocacy group aimed to legalize hemp farming and processing.

In distinguishing hemp from marijuana, a close inspection is required. Advocates for hemp argue that it contains no THC, or insignificant levels in comparison to marijuana, Murphy said. The fibers in hemp are sturdier than marijuana and the reason it has better use in clothing.

“Hemp fiber is stronger and longer lasting in comparison to petroleum sources,” Murphy said, such as oils and plastics.

Though it has slowly begun to shed its controversial image through research and acceptance in mainstream culture, the federal government still makes it illegal to farm and harvest hemp.

The Controlled Substance Act, passed in 1970, uses the same definition from the 1937 marijuana tax act, which recognizes hemp as the same as marijuana. This lack of distinction between hemp and marijuana make hemp illegal and open to prosecution.

“Since the law doesn’t distinguish (hemp and marijuana), we don’t distinguish,” said Barbara Correno, a Drug Enforcement Administration spokesperson.

While hemp farming and processing remains illegal in the U.S., it is still legal to make hemp-based products or include additives in products. Trader Joe’s sells a hemp protein powder, Whole Foods sells Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, a hemp based soap line and Urban Outfitters sells hemp bracelets.

In food, Hemp is rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, essential nutrients that the human body does not produce, is a source of digestible protein and currently has no known allergic reactions to it, Murphy said.

Since hemp remains illegal to grow, farm, and harvest, the hemp used to produce goods come from sources outside of the country like China and Canada, Murphy said.

Hemp is optimal for farming as well because once it has established itself the hemp plant becomes drought resistant, Murphy said.

While it needs as much water as cotton when first establishing itself in the soil, it requires less water than cotton. In addition, cotton requires many pesticides, while Canada doesn’t have any pesticides registered for use on hemp fiber or oil seed variety, Murphy said.

State legislation has passed that supports the farming or processing of hemp, Murphy said, yet he wouldn’t recommend anyone to start a farm because the Self Controlled Substances Act would still give the DEA authority to take the farmers land through forfeiture.

The last time an industrial hemp-farming bill was passed by California Congress, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill. Murphy hopes that Gov. Jerry Brown signs the bill into law if Congress approves it again.

Though state legislation in support of hemp has put pressure on the federal government, complete hemp legalization cannot be reached until Congress approves it. Legislation in support of hemp has been presented to Congress three times since 2005, yet has never passed. Advocates want hemp regulation determined by each individual state and not the federal government and to make the distinction between marijuana and hemp in existing law, Murphy said.

“(Hemp) no longer would be the demon plant that it would be because it wouldn’t send the wrong message to our children,” Murphy said.

Source: sundial.csun.edu

Livia Firth Wears Organic Hemp and Silk Gown by Stella McCartney to Met Ball

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 05/03/11
Source: ecouterre.com

Livia Firth is quickly becoming a red carpet fixture, but can you blame the lady? Her husband is Colin “Oscar Winner” Firth! Famous spouse in tow, the eco-fashion advocate showed up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala (or Met Ball, as it’s popularly known) on Monday night wearing a bespoke Stella McCartney “jumpsuit-gown” made from handspun organic silk, abaca (“Manilla hemp”), and reclaimed vintage beads. “I really loved that [McCartney] was so thorough about the fabric: considering the processing and finishing of the fibre and the effect that it would have on the environment,” Firth writes in her blog. “She went for a polished sophisticated look without compromising on these principles.”

Hemp History Week Pushes for Legalizing Industrial Hemp in USA

 By Leon Kaye | May 3rd, 2011

Source: triplepundit.com

Photo: Industrial hemp field

This week, May 2-8, is Hemp History Week.  A more accurate title would be “Legalize Industrial Hemp” Week, as that is the purpose of these next several days, during which 550 events related to the promotion of hemp will occur across all 50 U.S. states.

The first such week was held last year.  Hemp products are currently legal, evident in the cereals, supplements, milk substitute, and protein powders sold in stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.  The issue, however, is that companies import 20 tons of hemp oil from Canada to create a market that last year was worth at least US$400 million.  The reason?  Since the mid-20th century, industrial hemp has been banned in the United States because the government does not distinguish between food- and industrial-grade hemp and the other member of the Cannabis family that makes you high.  At least six states have authorized farmers to grow the crop, but very few do because of the risk that federal agents will destroy their yield.

It was not always this way.  Hemp farming in the United States dates back to the colonial era.  Hemp was astaple from the 1600s until the mid-19th century, and founding fathers including George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson grew the crop.  With the backlash against marijuana smoking in the 1920s and 1930s, however, the U.S. government declared hemp a narcotic with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937–later legislation outright banned it.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture briefly allowed hemp farming during World War II to help the war effort, and George H.W. Bush’s parachute that saved his life in late 1944 was reportedly made from hemp.  Henry Ford also built an experimental car body made with hemp fiber.  Despite advances in paper and pulp processing and the promise of new uses in thousands of other products, hemp farming has still been illegal in the U.S. since post-World War II.

Since 1998 the U.S. as allowed the import of food-grade hemp, and companies including Nature’s Path, Nutiva, and Manitoba Harvest make a bevy of products from breakfast cereals to high-protein supplements.  Washington DC is also starting to get it, as politicians with diverse views from Barney Frank to Ron Paul have introduced legislation to legalize industrial hemp production.  For now that bill languishes in Congress, but hemp products have become more popular.  The benefits are numerous:  easy to farm with almost no need for herbicides or pesticides, easily gaining the “organic” label for farmers; adaptability to most climates; promise as a biofuel feedstock;  potential for water remediation technologies; and building materials.  For the hemp lobby, however, the road ahead is a long one.

Most of this week’s events focus on food, and it is easy to see why.  Shelled hemp seeds taste like sunflower seeds, and hemp protein powder is a good post-workout or meal replacement without the chalky taste of other health supplements.  To learn more, visit an event locator here.

Leon Kaye is the Editor of GreenGoPost.com and contributes to The Guardian Sustainable Business

Second Annual 'Hemp History Week' Begins with Over 550 Celebrations Planned Throughout All 50 States

Campaign Calling for Return of Industrial Hemp Farming to U.S. Attracts Support from Celebrities, Athletes, Health Experts, Politicians, Leading Brands and Retailers

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, May 2nd marks the start of the 2nd Annual Hemp HistoryWeek, which is taking place from May  2nd-8th,  2011. The national grassroots education campaign aims to renew strong support for hemp farming in the U.S., which was grown here for centuries until farming of the crop was essentially banned in the mid-1900's. More than doubling in size in just its second year, Hemp History Week 2011 will feature over 550 events in all 50 states this year. The campaign is also featuring an online petition drive to encourage the Obama administration and Congress to change federal policy and allow American farmers to once again grow industrial hemp.

In acknowledgement of Hemp History Week 2011, Rep. Ron Paul will submit an official Congressional Record statement in support of industrial hemp and the campaign for the second year in a row. Paul will also be circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter this week, calling on other members of Congress to, as the letter requests, "Let American Farmers Compete in a Booming Global Market." Rep. Paul will reintroduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act again in Congress later this year. The bill had 25 co-sponsors in the last session. The statement can be read in its entirety at: http://www.HempHistoryWeek.com/RonPaulStatement.

The campaign has garnered other support in Congress as well, including that of Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon): "During a time of economic distress, we need to be encouraging American enterprise and American job creation. It simply doesn't make sense to restrict a viable industry because of unfounded fears. There are many success stories in my district about companies who use or sell hemp products, and I don't believe we should be limiting their potential. The Hemp History Week campaign is a great opportunity to educate other elected officials and the American public about the tremendous benefits that the ability to grow hemp in America will bring."

The 2011 campaign is promoting the theme of "Hemp for Health and Sustainability" and is endorsed by high profile  personalities  such  as  physician  Dr. Andrew  Weil; actress  and  author Alicia  Silverstone, consumer advocate Phil Lempert, registered dietician Ashley Koff; Ironman triathlete and nutrition expert Brendan Brazier; holistic health counselor Alexandra Jamieson; former NBA Champion John Salley; as well as renowned musicians Ziggy Marley; Dar Williams; and Michael Franti.

"Through Hemp History Week 2011, we are continuing to build support for a federal policy change, while celebrating America's rich history with the crop," says Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp. "Allowing American farmers to grow hemp will promote sustainable agriculture in the U.S. by supporting local farming, creating new jobs and ultimately fueling the economy," explains Steenstra.

Hundreds of natural product retail outlets across the country are featuring promotions throughout the month of May in celebration of Hemp History Week. Hemp product promotions in retail stores have increased from 125 stores last year to nearly 500 stores this year, including most Whole Foods Market locations in the U.S. Retail outlets will be offering specials on hemp products from leading natural product companies such as Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Manitoba Harvest, Nature's Path and Nutiva.

Across the country grassroots activists and volunteers will also be hosting local celebrations of hemp and its many uses. Students, farm communities, healthy lifestyle advocates, natural foods pioneers, and activists around the country have planned a variety of events. Over 80 grassroots events are happening across the country including tabling at farmers' markets; educational events in farm communities and on college campuses; as well as hemp fashion shows and house parties celebrating the goodness of hemp. Additionally, Hemp History Week will also be represented at many festivals leading up to and after May 8th.

In Boston, MA longtime hemp enthusiast John Dvorak hosted a Hemp History Week Hemposium at Suffolk University this past weekend, while in San Diego, CA organizers are hosting an "Edible and Wearable Hemp Fashion Show" on Sunday, May  8th. Other events across the country will include presentations on "Hemp Technologies in Asheville" in Asheville, NC; "Industrial Hemp 101: Re-Educating the Country" in Greensboro, NC; a week's schedule of celebrations in Santa Fe and Taos, NM; a celebration entitled "Hemp for Oregon – a sustainable crop for a healthy future" at the BridgePort BrewPub in Portland, OR; a cooking demonstration by endorsers Phil Lempert and Alexandra Jamieson at the Bowery Whole Foods Market culinary center in New York City; a press lunch on the health benefits of hemp foods with Ashley Koff, R.D. and Phil Lempert, also in NYC; and "Rural Vermont Celebrates Hemp" in Richmond, VT. A complete listing of events can be found at:http://www.hemphistoryweek.com/events.

A renewable resource offering a long list of health and nutritional benefits, hemp is one of the fastest-growing categories in the natural foods industry. Hemp is a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs),  providing super  omega stearidonic acid (SDA)  and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA),  highly-digestible protein and naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E and iron, while being a good source of dietary fiber. It is a complete protein, containing all 10 essential amino acids, with no enzyme inhibitors, making it more digestible by the human body. Hemp seeds are also gluten-free.

Hemp History Week is made possible by the support of leading natural product brands that are known for manufacturing the highest-quality hemp products. Hemp can be used in a wide variety of products, including food, cosmetics, clothing, building materials, auto parts and many more. Sponsors of Hemp History Week include Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, French Meadow Bakery, Living Harvest Foods, Manitoba Harvest, Merry Hempsters, Nature's Path Foods, Nutiva and Sequel Naturals. Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil are also used by major companies such as Ford Motors, Patagonia and The Body Shop.

Arran Stephens, founder of Nature's Path Foods, North America's top-selling independent organic cereal company, says "We believe our products exemplify all of the goodness that hemp has to offer as a nutritious, gluten-free, non-GMO superfood. Nature's Path is proud to have been part of the growth of the hemp industry since the beginning. This May, we look forward to celebrating America's rich history with hemp farming, while educating consumers about the benefits of hemp foods."

Other U.S. hemp manufacturers have been relentless in their struggle for the right to buy hemp from U.S. farmers. "For nearly ten years, the Bronner family has financially supported efforts to lift the ban on non-drug industrial hemp farming because it is an environmentally-sustainable crop," states David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, the top-selling brand of natural soap in the U.S. "Despite our efforts, we are forced to continue purchasing the twenty tons of hemp oil that we use annually from Canada. This is a lost opportunity for American farmers and businesses, which is becoming more absurd and outrageous with each growing season that passes."

The HIA estimates that U.S. retail sales of hemp products exceeded $400 million in 2010, yet American companies making hemp products have no choice but to import their raw materials, due to the federal government's ban on hemp farming. While demand for hemp products continues to rise, it is becoming a challenge for Canadian growers and processors, the primary suppliers of hemp seed and oil to the U.S. market, to keep up and meet that demand.

"Nutiva's sales have grown at an annual rate of 41% since 2006. In 2009 and 2010, we were named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing businesses in America," says John W. Roulac, founder and CEO of Nutiva. "By allowing U.S. farmers to grow and sell hemp seed, it will help the entire industry to meet the growing demand for hemp products."

To date, seventeen states have passed pro-hemp legislation, and six states (Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon,  Vermont  and West  Virginia)  have  already  authorized  the  licensing  of  farmers  to  grow the  crop. However, despite state authorization to grow hemp, farmers in these states risk raids by federal agents if they plant the crop, due to the failure of federal policy to distinguish oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis (i.e., industrial hemp) from psychoactive varieties. Meanwhile, the Canadian government recently funneled nearly $1 million into their hemp industry, as they look to increase production capacity and make even greater inroads into the American market.

"My co-founders of Manitoba Harvest and I are proud to have successfully petitioned our government to legalize hemp in Canada over a decade ago. We are very appreciative of the Canadian government's support and hope that the U.S. government will see the opportunities with industrial hemp as well," says Mike Fata, co-founder and CEO of Manitoba Harvest. "With consumer demand for hemp products growing, why shouldn't American farmers also be allowed to benefit from this huge opportunity?"

For more information on Hemp History Week 2011 and a complete listing of event and retail locations, go to:

www.HempHistoryWeek.com.

SOURCE Hemp History Week

Indonesia Group Promotes Marijuana and Hemp Legalization Initiative

Novia D. Rulistia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 05/02/2011 11:09 PM
Source: thejakartapost.com

Convinced that marijuana could be used for medical purposes, a group in Jakarta is campaigning to promote legalization.

The group called Lingkar Ganja Nusantara (Nusantara Marijuana Network) said that for decades, society has had misperceptions about marijuana, and the alleged ills that it may potentially cause, without ever looking into its potential benefits. “If we explore further, cannabis actually has more benefits than negative effects on humans,” said network chairman Irwan Syarif.

Irwan said that for medical purposes, marijuana could be used in cancer treatment procedures and could also work as an anti-inflammation drug. Marijuana contains a chemical compound known as cannabinoid, which could be used as an effective painkiller, to control nausea and to stimulate a person’s appetite, he added.

For industrial purposes, Irwan said that the fiber from hemp, a type of cannabis plant, could be used as raw material in the production of rope, pulp, oil and food. “We’ve visited a pulp and paper factory and it proves that paper made from hemp is more durable. After being recycled eight times, the paper is still of good quality,” Irwan said.

Lingkar Ganja Nusantara, established in 2008, is an organization that endorses the legalization of marijuana in Indonesia. It has organized campaigns and discussions about the positive uses of marijuana.

Irwan said that the network could also serve as an information hub for the general public and help dispel the notion that marijuana kills. The network is set to fight an uphill battle to push the government to recognize the utility of cannabis. “We will go up a notch by trying to convince the government to exempt marijuana from the category of harmful drugs in the law on narcotics,” he said.

According to Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics, marijuana is deemed a narcotic. It outlaws the use and possession of marijuana and all of its derivative substances unless used for scientific purpose.

It also states that the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) is the only agency tasked to monitor the use of marijuana for scientific or technology purposes. The network has blamed the law for the proliferation of illegal marijuana on the black market. The network has argued that legalization would make it easier for the government to control its use.

National Narcotics Agency (BNN) spokesperson Sumirat Dwiyanto said that there had never been a plan to legalize marijuana. Sumirat also dismissed arguments that marijuana would be valuable for the medical industry. “As long as it is still categorized as an illegal substance under the narcotics law, the use and the possession of marijuana is also illegal in this country,” he said.