Cannabis News Stop the Drug War!
  Hemp Seen as Fuel Substitute
Posted by CN Staff on September 19, 2005 at 22:25:40 PT
By John Fennucio, Collegian Correspondent 
Source: Daily Collegian 

hemp Massachusetts -- With gas and oil prices at an all-time high, the alternative solution for residents throughout Amherst and the country for energy is hemp.

Gas prices recently broke the $3-a-gallon mark for the first time in the region, which has drivers and residents who rely on gas for their cars as well as oil for heat struggling. The thought of hemp production as a cheap alternative to oil and gas is appealing because it can be converted to "biomass" that is in turn converted to energy.

"Biomass can be converted to methane, methanol, or gasoline at a fraction of the current cost of oil, coal, or nuclear energy," said Jack Herer, a longtime hemp activist and author of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes."

In his book, Herer states, "Hemp stems are 80 percent hurds (pulp byproduct after the hemp fiber is removed from the plant). Hemps hurds are 77 percent cellulose - a primary chemical feed stock (industrial raw material) used in the production of chemicals, plastics and fibers ... an acre of full-grown hemp plants can provide from 50 to 100 times the cellulose found in cornstalks, kenaf, or sugar cane."

Many people aren't educated about hemp due to the illegal nature of its cultivation and its (strictly legal) association with marijuana. Bruce Montague, an employee of Amherst's own Surner Heating Company, said in an interview last winter in response to the suggestion of using hemp energy, "I don't think there'd be any benefit."

According to Herer's research, "Farming only six percent of the continental U.S. acreage with biomass [from hemp] crops would provide all of American's gas and oil energy needs, ending dependence upon fossil fuels." He added, "Each acre of hemp would yield 1,000 gallons of methanol. Fuels from hemp, along with the recycling of paper, etc., would be enough to run America virtually without oil."

Herer explained the versatility of hemp by saying, "It can be grown in virtually any climate or soil condition on Earth, even marginal ones."

Recent marijuana decriminalization laws in Amherst have lightened the penalties for possession of the plant. However, the association hemp has to the drug is possibly one of its biggest roadblocks towards legalization. With crystal methamphetamine presently the country's largest drug problem, admitted by both state and local law enforcement agencies, the current administration is asking such agencies to focus their efforts on marijuana busts.

"Nearly half of state and local law-enforcement agencies identify 'meth' as their greatest drug threat, as more than 1 million Americans use the highly addictive drug, which is linked to violent crime, explosions and fires at 'meth' labs, severe health problems, and child and family abuse," said Robert Dreyfuss in the Aug. 11 issue of Rolling Stone.

In a telephone interview with Herer, though he endured a stroke just a few years ago, was willing to discuss his views on "Big Energy." He said, "All the energy companies bought up the coal rights and when gasoline runs out in our lifetime, within the next 40 years, these companies are going to feed us the coal substitute for the next 400 years!"

Source: Massachusetts Daily Collegian (MA Edu)
Author: John Fennucio, Collegian Correspondent
Published: September 20, 2005
Copyright: 2005 Daily Collegian
Contact: editorial@dailycollegian.com
Website: http://www.DailyCollegian.com

Jack Herer
http://www.jackherer.com/

CannabisNews Hemp Archives
http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml


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Comment #25 posted by simong on October 14, 2005 at 14:10:21 PT:

rasta
Hi guys

Please settle down, all my research shows is that there are 3 genetic types of cannabis.

sativa (as originally named by Linnaeus in 1700s) is European fibre type indica (as originally named by Lamarck) is afghani, N. Asian drug type rasta- what most growers call "sativa". Narrow leafllets, tropical etc. I presume it came to be called sativa coz it looks more like the fibre type. My result show it is distinct from the other two types, and further away genetically than indica is to sativa.

cheers Simon

Not a "new" type, but an oldie

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #24 posted by Max Flowers on September 21, 2005 at 08:25:21 PT
Indica & sativa
Yes you guys have it right---indicas have more wide leaves and shorter internodal lengths, while sativas have skinny leaves and much longer internodal lengths. Indicas come originally (and still) from mountainous places like Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China, while sativas come from low, jungle equatorial places like SE Asia, Africa, Mexico, etc. Sativas are believed to have a component in their phytochemistry called THCV, which is the most cerebral and "psychedelic" one known so far. It's thought that THCV is the reason Thai stick and African strains are so prized and have a very noticeable extra "something" to their effects.

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Comment #23 posted by FoM on September 21, 2005 at 07:55:50 PT
GreenJoy
Yes there are regulars who are missing. It could be because of the storms or it could be just that time of year. September is a slow month for news. November has always been a busy month. I haven't even found one article worth posting today. We are trying to get work wrapped up so I am staying busy because of the construction we have been doing all summer. I have more painting to do.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #22 posted by GreenJoy on September 21, 2005 at 07:48:59 PT
FoM
Hey. Thanks for wondering. :-) Didn't mean to be a cause for concern! Mostly I've been busy putting my life back together. Stayin outta trouble! CNews is near and dear. I at least read up as often as possible. I won't name them. But it seems some other frequent posters are missing. I hope all is well.

GJ

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #21 posted by FoM on September 21, 2005 at 06:43:21 PT
GreenJoy
Good to see you. I wondered if you were ok since you hadn't posted for some time.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #20 posted by GreenJoy on September 21, 2005 at 06:22:44 PT
Leafster
Hi FoM and all! Doubtless there are experts here that can nail it down, but I do believe that Indica is considerably less leafy than Sativa. Most varieties anyway. Also, all undamaged leaves are best left on the plant as they are the engines of production. My 2 bits and just wanted to say halloooooooo.

GreenJoy

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #19 posted by Dankhank on September 20, 2005 at 21:53:04 PT
weeds
I enjoy talking about Cannabis, also. What I know I share and I search for more knowledge every day ...

-------------------------------

Last show was good for many reasons ...

Waiting to see if Celia tries Medical Cannabis ...

Nancy is pushing into territory already claimed and is in for some interesting times ...

I don't know how popular this show is nationwide, but I think it is good enough to go for another season ...

The season-ender is bound to be a corker ...

G'night FoM, all ...

time for snoozin'

Peace to all ...



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #18 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 21:28:05 PT
Dankhank
One more thing. I thought Weeds was really good once again. I wonder how this will end in 3 more shows. Nancy's getting in over her head and Celia is turning into a nice person. I hope they extend the series.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #17 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 18:56:46 PT
Dankhank
I've enjoyed this talk about different aspects of the cannabis plant. The plant is ancient and it helped people thru the centuries and it will be needed to help people live in these difficult times. The demonization of a plant that can help a person live peacefully is wrong. It should not be illegal.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #16 posted by Dankhank on September 20, 2005 at 18:25:41 PT
Pretty ...
Yes, beautiful plant in all it's diversity.

In the lore of long ago, I think it was in Florida, there was a story of a city holding a "beautify the city" contest asking for ideas on outdoor beautification.

The short-lived winning entry was of our favorite shrub ... Cannabis ... Rasta? ... thrown out as soon as the city fathers learned it's identity.



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #15 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 17:47:23 PT
Shrubs
Wouldn't those plants in the top link make pretty landscape shrubs that are only annuals instead of perennials? So many reasons why this plant should be legal. If for nothing else but it's natural beauty.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #14 posted by Dankhank on September 20, 2005 at 17:41:39 PT
More photos ...
http://www.erowid.org/plants/show_image.php?i=cannabis/cannabis_sativa3.jpg

a good sativa photo

then there's this ................

http://potclubs.us/content/strains.php



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 17:38:38 PT
Dankhank
They are different. I think the long skinny leaves look prettier then the short fat leaves from the link you posted. Maybe it's they look exotic if that's the right word.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #12 posted by Dankhank on September 20, 2005 at 17:31:00 PT
Leaf
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_images4.shtml

for some plant photos ...

first look shows fat indica leaf and lean sativa leaf ..

At some point extraneous leaf is removed from the plant in favor of the buds. Probably early on, I'm guessing so to allow plant to concentrate on producing the buds.



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 17:03:15 PT
One More Question
Isn't the type called indica more leaf and bushy compared to sativas that don't have much leaf? I remember the man from the Mississippi Farm when he was talking to the people in Alaska said the less leaf the better the plant.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 17:00:22 PT
Dankhank
Isn't Jamaican mostly sativas? Isn't most Hawaiian sativas? I really don't know about these things.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #9 posted by Dankhank on September 20, 2005 at 16:49:08 PT
hashs..............
In the main you are right in light of conventional wisdom regarding what indica and sativa are like.

I'm sure there are as many types of hash as there are types of herb.

What the newscientist story suggests is that a lot of what we always thought of as Sativa is actually Rasta mistaken for Sativa.

That's what I got from it.



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #8 posted by mayan on September 20, 2005 at 16:45:50 PT
Hemp
As time passes it becomes more and more obvious that industrial hemp can solve the vast majority of our problems. Greed,Ignorance and apathy will be the end of us.

SHADOW OF THE SWASTIKA: The Real Reason the Government Won't Debate Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Re-legalization: http://www.sumeria.net/politics/shadv3.html

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 15:13:31 PT
Dankhank
Isn't most hash made from sativas? Heck I don't know. Aren't indicas called a couch lock type? Aren't sativas more of a heady type?

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #6 posted by potpal on September 20, 2005 at 14:16:36 PT
Towns waiting to restore their heritage...
...and grow, grow, grow...

Hempwallace, AR US

Hemp Swamp Brook, CT, US

Hempstead Brook, CT, US

Hemp Key, FL US

Hemp, GA US

Hemp Factory Branch, IL US

Hemp Ridge, KY, Shelby, US

Hemphill, KY, Letcher, US

Hemphill, LA US

Hempfield Lake, MI US

Hemphill Lake, MN US

Hemple, MO US

Hemp Hill, NH US

Hempstead, NY, Nassau, US

Hempstead, NY, Rockland, US

Hempstead Gardens, NY, Nassau, US

Hemp Patch Branch, NC, US

Hemphill Bald, NC, US

Hemphill Creek, NC, US

Hemphill Knob, NC, US

Hempfield, PA, US

Hemp Branch, SC, US

Hemphill Lake, SC, US

Hemp Branch, SC, US

Hemphill Lake, SC, US

Hemp Fork, VA, US

Hemp Mill Branch, VA, US

Hemppatch Branch, VA, US

Hemppatch Mountain, VA, US

Hemp Hill Creek, WA, US

Hempel Creek, WA, US

Hempel Lake, WA, US

Hemphill, WV US

Hempton Lake, WI US



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on September 20, 2005 at 14:05:56 PT
no conflict
I think what they meant is:

Indica is stony

Sativa is Hemp

Rasta has been mistaken for Sativa

Rasta is the cerebral high

anyone?

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 10:50:27 PT
runderwo
What you said is what I believe.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #3 posted by runderwo on September 20, 2005 at 10:38:42 PT
huh?
Sativa traditionally has a high THC content ("cerebral" high) while Indica usually has a greater CBD content ("stony"/sedative high).

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 20, 2005 at 08:56:30 PT
News Article from The NewScientist.com
Rasta Lends Its Name To a Third Type of Cannabis

September 20, 2005

NewScientist.com news service

As police and dope smokers know, there are two types of cannabis. Cannabis sativa sativa is mainly used to make hemp, while the indica subspecies is prized for its tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, which produces the "high". But now Australian researchers have discovered a third type of cannabis, called rasta.

Simon Gilmore of the Canberra Institute of Technology catagorised 196 sample plants according to the DNA in their mitochondria and chloroplasts. The samples included plants grown for drugs and hemp as well as wild varieties from Europe, Asia, Africa, Mexico and Jamaica.

The results showed three distinct "races" of cannabis. In central Asia the THC-rich indica predominated, while in western Europe sativa was more common. In India, south-east Asia, Africa, Mexico and Jamaica the rasta variant predominated. It looks similar to the sativa subspecies, but generally contains higher levels of THC.

Since the study was of DNA rather than a formal taxonomic study, Cannabis sativa rasta is not yet an official new subspecies: the name was the result of a competition in Gilmore's lab. Their work is expected to appear in the journal Forensic Science International later this year.

From issue 2517 of New Scientist magazine, 20 September 2005, page 12

Copyright: 2005 Reed Business Information Ltd.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18725175.200

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #1 posted by The GCW on September 20, 2005 at 05:45:30 PT
Every look: hemp / cannabis prohibition is evil.
(The people that work hard to support cannabis / hemp prohibition are very evil indeed; more and more, they are being exposed!)

THE JURISPRUDENCE OF THE ILLEGAL DRUG LAWS,

WHY THE DRACONIAN PENALTIES AND CRIMINOGENESIS.

Submission to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs

by Dean R Dowling B.Sc. (Retired Physics)*

http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/drugs.htm

The legal profession from the Supreme Courts down are up to their necks in the conspiracy of Orwellian lying to justify the drug laws. Where is authorities evidence that their illegal drugs are "dangerous drugs of addiction"? Or is truth being established by authoritarian decree, characteristic of the religious mentality? It is not that the courts should determine whether we have a G.S.T. or not, but that the Drug Laws themselves are LIES (one is under oath to tell the truth in court). The drug laws can be torpedoed quickly and simply by exposing the Orwellian lies and telling the pharmacological truth, as in the following paper. But the drug laws are a goldmine for the legal profession and covered by their Nuremberg/Eichmann Defence. A very sleazy profession.

Cont.

Under the Title “High Time for Hooligans” The Australian 16/06/00 reported that the Dutch have stumbled upon a way to keep European soccer thugs from trying to kill each other: give them reefers. Eindenhoven police were expecting the riots, stabbings arson and civil mayhem at the European Cup. It didn’t happen because “the cream of England’s thugs was smoking pot which is easily and legally available in the Netherlands. Post game fury was kept in check by street vendors offering ready-rolled reefers”.

Cont.

3. COMPARTMENTALISATION OF THE MIND ON DRUGS

Some Nazi SS guards at Buchenwald, Auschwitz and Belsen were model fathers to their own children and family at home, genuinely appreciated Goethe and Beethoven, but tortured and killed in the most sadistic way Jewish children and families while "at work".

Similarly with our Drug laws, the Queen's Honours to alcohol, the most dangerous of the hard drugs, then 25 years jail for marihuana and heroin, which if pure, are extraordinarily gentle and safe.

Most people are not even conscious of this contradictory attitude and behaviour, or if so, think it is of no concern to them. We never learn, but as Spike Milligan said "the human race is an appalling species" Q.E.D.

4. THE HISTORICAL BASIS

A small unaccountable clique (less than 20) of Christian and Moslem authoritarian religious temperance wowsers (clones of Harry J. Anslinger), conspiring with the U.S.A., have got control of the U.N. World Health 0rganisation Narcotics Commission and this clique, with their "expert" advisers, determines drug policy for the whole world. It has little to do with pharmacological drug harm.

Another example of the U.N. Narcotics Commission and the Federal Department of Health was their Orwellian lying out of existence the safest and most effective sedative drug methaqualone. When combined with an antihistamine, diphenhydramine, it became "most widely abused" i.e. a recreational drug, Mandrax. But the recreational effect was from the antihistamine, not the pure methaqualone. The outlawing of methaqualone led to people being forced by Hobson's choice to use the horrid benzodiazepines (see above). The U.N.W.H.O. mob made a double mistake, but are not going to admit it.

Cont.



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