Cannabis, Marijuana, and Hemp

Cannabis in the Health Field:

Although the FDA has not yet recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine, scientific studies of the chemicals in the marijuana plant have led to two pills that have helped. There are many studies that are searching to prove medical marijuana helps pain, seizures, and cataracts. (Face of Cannabis).  Good Housekeeping had an article about one family’s choice to move to North Carolina to be part of the experimental drug study for their young daughter who had been suffering from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Their daughter had been suffering from over a hundred seizures a day and it was hurting her development. Their daughter now take 2 drops of medical marijuana oil a day, once in the morning and once at night and only suffers from few seizures a day. The family is very happy the have this blessing for their daughter who is now back to her happy cheerful self. (Graves, Ginny).

Cannabis in the financial field as Hemp:

Hemp is an extremely versatile crop. The hemp product can be used for paper, textiles, health foods, organic personal care products, clothing, construction materials, biofuels, plastic composites and more. According to the research done by Forbes, hemp can be used to manufacture over 25,000 products. In 2012 the hemp industry was valued at $500 million from retail sale and growing hemp. (Yonavjak).

Cannabis in the United States Past:

Throughout the United States hemp and cannabis were widely used but in 1937 the United States of America passed the “Marihuana Tax Act”.  Despite the U.S. Government’s “Hemp for Victory” campaign during World War II, the tax created problems and soon even hemp was classified as Marijuana and taxed. The Act soon caused legal problems for companies. Many industries faced harassment from law enforcement. This led to more and more industries not using hemp for fear of taxation, harassment, and losing their business. By 1970 the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) was passed, formally and legally prohibiting cultivation. (Yonavjak)

Cannabis in the United States Present:

Today, hemp seed, fiber and oil are used in raw materials by major companies such as Ford Motors, Patagonia, and The Body Shop. Most companies that use hemp are forced to import it to America since it is still not “legally” allowed to be grown and cultivated. In 2013 The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013 was brought to the House. It has yet to be passed. This act would remove federal restrictions on the cultivation of hemp industrially. On the state level 31 states have introduced pro-hemp legislation but only19 have passed the legislation. Despite the states’ laws allowing hemp to be grown the farmer still risks federal raids, prison time, and property and civil asset forfeiture. Due to this many feel that it is not t worth the risk. (Drugfacts)

Cannabis in the Music World:

Marijuana is gloried in the music world. One cannot listen to a radio station without here at least one song referring to weed. There are literally thousands of songs just about weed and smoking it. Lil Wayne, a famous rapper released a song dedicated to the day of weed, 4/20. It is everywhere in the music world. Musicians have gone to jail over weed and fighting over it. Bob Marley made a living of the image of him smoking weed. (TMZ) marijuana is so mainstream even Willie Nelson plans to make his own brand of marijuana and sell it. This brings in music revenue and marijuana revenue. (Kedmey, Dan) To show the major connection between marijuana and the music industry take the band Green Day. They were signed due to them being a “Stoner” band.  In the 1990’s they were signed but many music labels where not signing punk bands because they didn’t sell many records. Due to them being very open about marijuana and using it, hence their first album title “Dookie”. (FRICKE, DAVID)

 Works Cited

Yonavjak, Logan. “Industrial Hemp: A Win-Win for the Economy and the Environment.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 23 May 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

“Is Marijuana Medicine?” DrugFacts National Institute on Drug Abuse, Apr. 2015. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

“Face of Cannabis.” Facebook. N.P., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

“Lil Wayne Sparks Music Deal with Pot Biz ‘Cause its 4/20 and Stuff.” Http://www.tmz.com. Tmz, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015

GRAVES, GINNY. “HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO SAVE YOUR CHILD? (Cover Story).” Good Housekeeping 260.4 (2015): 75-79. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 May 2015.

Kedmey, Dan. “Willie Nelson To Launch His Own Brand Of Marijuana.” Time.Com (2015): N.PAG. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 May 2015.

FRICKE, DAVID. “The ‘Dookie’ Chronicles.” Rolling Stone 1204 (2014): 46-51. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 May 2015.

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