Power of the people paying it forward.
We can truly end the ignorance that is out there, and put an end to this madness where needless pain and suffering is ruining lives of families everywhere. Please share this valuable information and pay it forward.
Positive attention to this plant is being raised on a massive scale, but not by any government or main stream media. We the people of the world are getting the information out in droves! This article was not written by me, but was put together very well with links to very informative videos on this subject. This is the article to pass on to anyone you feel may need this information. With the power of the people paying this information forward, we can truly end the ignorance that is out there, and put an end to this madness where needless pain and suffering is ruining lives of families everywhere. Thank You Dr. Mercola for this wonderful article and its priceless information! – Shona Banda
The Illegal Herb that Fights Cancer
Cannabis, or as it’s more commonly known marijuana, has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. It’s been heralded as a “cure-all,” revered for its healing properties that not only help relieve pain but also have been highlighted as a potential cancer cure.
Hemp Vs. Marijuana: What’s the Difference?
Before I delve into the intriguing controversy surrounding medical marijuana, it’s important to note that the plants referred to as hemp and marijuana are not the same. Both are members of the Cannabis sativa plant species, but they are two distinct varieties.
Marijuana typically is high in THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) — the compound responsible for the plant’s notorious psychoactive effect — and low in CBD (cannabidiol) content. Both THC and CBD are known as cannabinoids, which interact with your body in a unique way I’ll describe later.
What’s interesting, however, is that CBD has been shown to block the effect of THC in the nervous system. So, marijuana plants are typically high in THC and low in CBD, which maximizes their psychoactive effects.
Hemp, on the other hand, is typically high in CBD and low in THC, as it is bred to maximize its fiber, seeds and oil, the items for which it is most commonly used. For more information on the difference between hemp and marijuana, here is a comprehensive article on the topic from the North American Industrial Hemp Council (NAIHC).
Why is it “Illegal” to Grow Hemp in the United States?
Ironically, despite their differences, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies all C. sativa varieties as “marijuana,” according to NAIHC.
This is why the United States is the only industrialized nation where growing industrial hemp is illegal. Well, technically it is not illegal, but growing it requires a permit from the DEA – and it is reportedly almost impossible to get one.
This is a shame for a variety of reasons, including:
- Hemp is healthy: Hemp seeds pack a powerful nutritional punch. Two tablespoons of shelled hemp seeds contain about 11 grams of protein and 2 grams of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. And, as TreeHugger reported , hemp seeds have a “ “perfectly balanced 1:3 ratio of naturally-occurring omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids…unlike other seeds and nutritional oils, such as flax …”
- Hemp is good for the economy: The total retail value of North American hemp products was valued at around $400 million in 2009, but U.S. farmers are unable to benefit from this since hemp products are imported.
Perhaps soon hemp will become a U.S. product, however, as Ron Paul has once again submitted an official Congressional Record statement calling for the legalization of industrial hemp, You can find out more about the issues surrounding the legalization of hemp at Vote Hemp , a nonprofit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and free market for industrial hemp.
No matter what you call it, cannabis and its range of varieties, including marijuana, is said to be among the safest medicinal substances known, and there are nearly 25 million Americans who have health conditions that medical marijuana could reportedly treat (and this figure only includes those living in states where its use is currently legal), according to The State of the Medical Marijuana Markets 2011 — yet fewer than 800,000 are taking part.
If marijuana is, in fact, capable of helping heal millions with very few, to no, side effects, why is this not being shouted from the rooftops?
