Editor’s note:  This will be part of a series of articles that will explore the research into the true value marijuana can bring to the agricultural, health & wellness, food and medical industries and revive the American economy.

It’s amazing how as time goes by, it’s easy for us to forget the value in the wisdom and traditions of our forefathers, elders and wise people through out history – going all the way back before “recorded” times.  In this case, I want to discuss my recent research into the true value(s) of marijuana on many different levels, from medical/natural cure purposes to economical and agricultural benefits.  Now before you go storming off because you are a staunch opponent to marijuana, then please try to take a moment to open your mind to the truth versus the propaganda that perhaps you and many others have been “conditioned” to believe.  Whether those beliefs were instilled by the educational system and media methods they use to the “government” providing support to them through laws and legislation – one must still remain open to facts, not the delusional propaganda they feed you.  So, let’s get on to the real facts and truths along with some history behind marijuana/hemp and why it has been systematically suppressed based on very little science and more on the special interests of certain groups through history.  This article is not meant to sway, only to provide you with real knowledge.

A Condensed History of Marijuana

Marijuana has been used for thousands of years for its fibers and numerous health and medical purposes. The cultures and “civilizations” that harvested and reaped the benefits of marijuana have included the ancient Chinese, Egyptians, India, Greek and African to name a few.  All of these cultures, starting with the Chinese and Indian, were aware of the physiological and psychological effects of the marijuana plant.  Its early uses included as an antiseptic(kill bacteria) and as an analgesic (relieve pain).  Other reported uses later in history show it being used to treat skins burns, as a sedative and for anti-spasmodic and anti-hemorrhoidal treatments.  Around 1840, its use as an intoxicant became more popular, especially within the army of Napoleon Bonaparte.  During the rise of the French Literary Movement from 1840 to 1860, it became a popular intoxicant for the intellectual classes.

Meanwhile in the still newly “forming” United States of America, it became a crop that was extremely valued.  George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, our 1st and 4th presidents respectively, had plantations that extensively grew marijuana / hemp crops.  In Washington’s case, it was his primary crop that he grew on his plantation, as in Jefferson’s case…it was his second most grown crop to tobacco.  Both of these men truly understood the value and importance of this plant.  Washington once said, “Make the most of the hemp seed and sow it everywhere”.

Starting in the early 1600’s, the government encouraged everyone to grow hemp and eventually in 1619, the Virginia Assembly passed law that required everyone to grow plants.  Marijuana and hemp production was one of the primary cash crops / industries that provided stability to our early developing American economy, it was even allowed to be traded as tender (still is today in certain states (PA, MD and VA).  Many of its early uses included producing the hemp fibers for rope, sails, clothing, canvas and paper.  Interestingly, in a show to our “stewardship” roots…throughout the 17th century, it was general practice for people to recycle their old hemp clothing by reducing the clothe to a pulp which was then created into a renewable, high quality “paper”.   More importantly around the mid 19th century, the medical and health benefits became very well known (in the US) and were widely distributed as the base ingredient in “tonics” and “elixirs” sold in early pharmacies until it was slowly replaced by the more powerful, far more profitable and highly addictive morphine based medicines.

The Demise and Vilification of Marijuana

The “Civil War” and its aftermath provided a very ample testbed and launchpad for these early forming companies to see the rewards in NOT distributing cures versus treating (um-huh knowingly addicting them) soldiers and  “patients”.  Morphine (opium) became the primary “analgesic” of the Western world, replacing the less effective marijuana.

Please note that there were, and still are, a lot of “things” going on in the mid-1800’s up to the early 20th century in the USA.  A newly forming country provides many opportunities for those who had the money/connections back then to start the makings of what we now know as – Pharmaceutical Companies.  They would not exist in the stature and magnitude they do if they distributed natural remedies and cures….got it?  Their intent is more along the lines of create an illness/disease in someone, if possible, or pray you get one “naturally”, in order to find a reason to “prescribe” you one or more (often times addictive) medications and “recruit” you into “The Cycle” so they can profit at the expense of your addiction i.e. repeat customers, with no intentions whatsoever of curing you.

The final blows to marijuana, from 1915 to 1937, came in the form of efforts launched on numerous fronts and the subsequent state and federal “laws” that were passed.  As I mentioned above, it really picked up when the early forming pharmaceutical companies were surely opposed to anyone growing a natural remedy/cure in their yard, so they simply stopped using it as the main ingredient and wanted all civilian cultivation to end as well.  Also, one can note around 1932, William Randolph Hearst’s (the Propaganda King, Himself) personal campaign, strengthened by his political “crony” connections, of  spreading delusional propaganda (via his newspaper companies) to end hemp cultivation and production because it threatened his very profitable, environmentally destructive practice of deforestation and the paper products it produces.

Finally, in 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, essentially “illegalizing” the cultivation, possession and use of marijuana.  I say “illegalized”, because one could only legally cultivate, possess etc. if one had a “permit” or “license”…but the government never issued them…And the American population has since lost the critical financial, economical, environmentally renewable and easily grown (they don’t call it “weed” for nothing) multi-purpose crop that could especially TODAY serve as a stimulus to the American economy and agricultural industry…not even to mention its immense potential as a natural alternative and cure for many “illnesses” and “diseases” including cancer (yes, cancer), multitude of benefits to your health as a food supplement and the “golden” fibers it creates (100% usable).  Marijuana also provides benefits to farmers in that its does not strip the soil of nutrients as do other crops like corn…in fact, it re-nourishes the soil avoiding the use of dangerous phosphates based fertilizers that do eventually end up…in your body.

I want to wrap this article and I will be following it up with articles on the Medical and Health benefits that THC in marijuana, when taken orally, can provide a myriad of positive health effects.

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