Cannabis News
How to Unf**k American Drug Laws
How to Unf**k America!
DISSOLVE THE DEA AND RE-NEGOTIATE DRUG AGREEMENTS WORLDWIDE!
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has long been a staunch opponent of cannabis legalization, so it comes as no surprise that they’ve rejected the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendation to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The HHS review found cannabis to have medical value and a lower potential for abuse than currently scheduled.
However, the DEA believes the agency is wrong on this front.
This stance is unsurprising given the DEA’s role as the enforcer of drug laws that has largely criminalized cannabis for decades. Their opposition protects the interests of the powerful pharmaceutical industry which stands to lose billions if cannabis is rescheduled and medical programs expand.
It’s estimated that wherever medical cannabis is legalized, pharma loses roughly $10 billion in annual revenues as patients switch from prescription drugs to medical marijuana.
The DEA’s rejection of rescheduling leaves America at a crossroads. Do we continue allowing an agency with a vested interest in maintaining cannabis prohibition to override scientific evidence on the plant’s medical value? Or do we re-evaluate the necessity of the DEA’s existence altogether?
This antiquated drug war institution has not only perpetuated injustices against cannabis consumers but has also contributed to policies that make illicit substances even more unsafe and available on the black market. By clinging to an ideology focused on criminalization over harm reduction, the DEA’s presence is increasingly antithetical to the ideals of a free society.
As America reckons with the DEA’s hardline position, it’s worth examining whether disbanding the agency entirely and renegotiating international drug policies could be the first step in “unf**king” the nation’s catastrophic war on drugs. This article aims to showcase these reform ideas and a path forward.
While anonymous sources cited in the Wall Street Journal report claim there is tension between certain DEA officials and the White House over marijuana’s scheduling status, the agency itself has not taken an official public position on the matter.
The DEA has only stated that it is currently carrying out its scientific and medical evaluation of cannabis as required by law after receiving a scheduling recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
HHS conducted its own assessment and advised moving marijuana from its current restrictive Schedule I status to the less prohibitive Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
In testimony before Congress last year, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said the agency would “keep an open mind” and “look at all the research” during its review process. This suggests the DEA has not pre-judged the outcome and is withholding any scheduling decision until it has thoroughly examined the evidence.
Importantly, the DEA has stressed that as the agency tasked with enforcing the Controlled Substances Act, it maintains final authority over determining cannabis’ proper scheduling – not HHS. While the Congressional Research Service stated it is “likely” DEA will accept HHS’ Schedule III recommendation based on past precedent, the DEA is not legally bound to that advisory opinion.
The purported resistance from some DEA officials cited anonymously aligns with the historical position of the agency and its past administrators who have vigorously defended marijuana’s Schedule I status quo. For example, the quote in the Journal from former DEA head Timothy Shea asserting “the science does not support rescheduling” reflects this entrenched anti-rescheduling mindset.
However, the DEA has made no definitive public statement adopting or rejecting HHS’ scheduling recommendation to date. All the agency has officially communicated is that it is presently conducting “an appropriate review of the science and available data” related to marijuana’s abuse potential, risk to public health, and medical value as required under the Controlled Substances Act.
In fact, Administrator Milgram pointedly declined to even acknowledge if there is any internal dissent when asked about the Journal’s reporting, telling Marijuana Moment: “I’m not going to comment on any internal DEA deliberations.”
Some cannabis reform advocates have expressed skepticism about the motivations behind the anonymously-sourced leaks claiming DEA opposition, especially given the consistent anti-rescheduling history and drug war ethos of the agency. As NORML’s deputy director stated, there’s a presumed faction within DEA that wishes to “cling to their ‘flat Earth’ cannabis policies at all costs” regardless of the evidence.
While this apparent internal wariness about rescheduling aligns with the DEA’s historic stance, the agency’s official public position for now is that it is dutifully carrying out the scheduling review process as required with an open mind. Definitive proof of whether the DEA will accept or reject HHS’ recommendation to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III is still pending completion of its evaluation in the coming months.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s own mission statement makes clear that the agency’s purpose is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States. However, the DEA has catastrophically failed to achieve those objectives over the past several decades of waging its self-described “war on drugs.”
According to the DEA’s mission statement, the agency is tasked with “bringing to the criminal and civil justice system…organizations involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances.” Yet despite an increasingly militarized effort and violating civil liberties in the name of this “war,” illicit drugs are more widely available and used today than when the modern Controlled Substances Act was established in 1970.
One key reason the DEA has been losing this war is because the Controlled Substances Act essentially grants a monopoly over the “manufacturing of Schedule I drugs” solely to well-funded pharmaceutical corporations and research institutions. By wrongfully placing cannabis in the most restrictive Schedule I category, the DEA has made it nearly impossible for anyone outside of big pharma to legally research and develop drugs derived from the plant.
This monopolistic blockade goes against stated American principles of facilitating open research, scientific inquiry, and a free market of innovative new medications. Instead, it protects the profit motives of large pharmaceutical companies by eliminating potential competition from cannabis-derived drugs and therapies.
Despite an overwhelming body of scientific evidence showing cannabis’ relative safety and potential medical benefits, the DEA stubbornly clings to antiquated dogmas labeling it a dangerous substance “with no currently accepted medical use.” This ideological inflexibility seems motivated more by a desire for the DEA’s own bureaucratic relevance than upholding facts, ethics or American principles.
After over 50 years and over $1 trillion spent enforcing draconian drug laws, it’s clear that the DEA’s militarized “war” has been an extraordinarily costly and tragic failure in terms of public health, civil liberties and human rights. Not only has prohibition caused a crisis of overincarceration, but it has also empowered violent criminal cartels while failing to reduce drug availability or use.
In the 1970s when the modern war on drugs was launched, around 25 million Americans had used illicit drugs. Today, after a trillion dollars spent on DEA enforcement efforts, over 119 million Americans have used prohibited substances according to federal data. Rather than reducing availability and use, drugs are unquestionably more prevalent across all demographics than before the DEA’s creation.
Not only has the DEA’s drug war failed to reduce drug use, but it has enriched and further empowered the highly organized, well-resourced, and increasingly ruthless criminal cartels that control the lucrative illegal drug trade. Before the harsh prohibitions, drug operations were unrefined and largely limited to small crime rings. But cartels grew into the multinational billion-dollar enterprises they are today precisely because of the high-risk, high-reward economics created by blanket criminalization.
Essentially, the DEA’s drug enforcement policies turbocharged the profitable international drug trade into a full-blown cartel-controlled battlefield with thousands of lives lost in drug-related violence every year. In many regions, murderous cartels exert more control than governments due to the lawlessness and fortunes enabled by harsh prohibition.
Simply put, the DEA has undeniably lost its militarized crusade to extinguish drug use and suppress drug supply through harsh criminalization. It is clear that continued prohibition and DEA enforcement actually makes drugs more available, more potent, more adulterated with dangerous additives, and more consolidated under the control of bloodthirsty criminal enterprises.
Since the DEA has manifestly failed in its purported core mission after a half-century of trying the same unsuccessful strong-arm tactics, it’s time for America to radically renegotiate its relationship with drugs and drug policy. Clinging to this quixotic, destructive “war on drugs” only perpetuates injustice, enriches murderous criminals, erodes civil liberties, inhibits research into potential cures, and debases America’s founding ideals.
The first step in renegotiating this relationship is ending the DEA’s fundamentally flawed, uniquely American strain of blanket drug criminalization that gifted cartels their very power and riches. Only then can the nation reclaim its principles and pragmatically regulate drugs in a manner that improves public health and safety.
The inescapable reality is that the DEA’s prohibitionist policies have utterly failed to curb drug use, availability or the power of violent criminal cartels. In fact, the evidence shows their harsh crackdown tactics have made the drug supply more dangerous and emboldened criminality. This raises the uncomfortable but imperative question – is the DEA itself more detrimental to America’s overall health and wellness than the drugs it futilely aims to eliminate?
By decentralizing drug policy away from the DEA’s one-size-fits-all criminalization model, America can open the door to responsibly exploring therapeutic psychotropics like psilocybin and LSD. These could provide psychiatric breakthroughs, yet their potential remains bottlenecked by the DEA’s restrictive drug scheduling system which fuels a cruel cycle of patient suffering.
Disbanding the DEA does not mean descending into some Mad Max drug apocalypse fantasy peddled by drug warriors. Rather, it simply unlocks the gates restraining scientific inquiry into these substances’ medicinal wisdom for the betterment of society.
Moreover, America cannot continue moralizing about illicit drugs being universally “bad” while simultaneously celebrating mind-altering drugs like alcohol that are scientifically more toxic and lethal than cannabis. This blatant hypocrisy and muddled messaging undermines credibility. Alcohol objectively fits the profile of a Schedule I narcotic far more than marijuana, yet it’s aggressively marketed during events like the Super Bowl while the DEA places its watchful eye on those seeking alternative paths outside the mainstream river of pharmaceutical junk.
For those adamant about “unfucking America,” one of the most imperative first steps is dismantling the DEA power structure and reclaiming individual bodily autonomy from the state’s draconian prohibition regime. America’s founders envisioned a society of personal freedoms, not one where federal foot soldiers infringe on liberties under the prejudiced guise of keeping “dangerous” plants from citizens who wish to consciously explore their own consciousness.
THE DEA ON CANNABIS, READ ON…
Ohio Hemp Company, based in Dayton, has signed a substantial deal with Heartland Industries, headquartered in Detroit. According to this new deal, the Ohio Hemp business will supply hemp fibre to aid the development of bioplastic, which will then be used in the fabrication of automobile components by a Belgian business.
Following the federal legalization of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill, Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine supports the state’s legalization of the substance in 2019. TJ Richardson and Justin Helt, proprietors of Ohio Hemp Company, were among the first farmers in Ohio to produce hemp. They began a planting effort in 2020 with 11,000 cannabinoid hemp plants in an attempt to capitalize on the then-growing CBD business.
Through this partnership, Ohio Hemp Company increases its customer base to include a processor in Michigan, marking a significant new milestone. The company’s position in the market is strengthened by this strategic collaboration, which allows it to source raw hemp material to create bioplastics.
Shifting Focus: Transitioning to Hemp for Grain and Fiber Production
Following the downturn in the CBD market, Richardson and Helt shifted their focus to cultivating hemp plants optimized for grain and fibre production rather than CBD and other cannabinoids. Recognizing the versatility of hemp, the company continued to explore various opportunities within the crop.
Helt shared insights with agricultural news outlet Farm and Dairy, citing his grandfather’s belief that hemp represents a significant development in agriculture akin to the emergence of soybeans in the 1950s. This perspective underscores the potential growth trajectory for hemp within the state.
From the inception of their venture, Richardson and Helt understood the manifold applications of hemp. Transitioning away from CBD-centric hemp cultivation, they sought out local businesses in Ohio utilizing hemp in their products. This quest led them to Heartland Industries, a Detroit-based hemp processing facility established in 2020. In 2022, a partnership was forged between Heartland Industries and Ravago, a Belgian bioplastics manufacturer, wherein hemp fibre supplied by the former would be utilized.
Tim Almond, chairman and co-founder of Heartland Industries, acknowledged the challenges faced by his company and collaborating farmers in navigating the cultivation and processing of hemp. With decades of prohibition, much of the knowledge and equipment associated with hemp had either been lost or redirected to other crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. Consequently, there was a learning curve in reacquainting themselves with hemp cultivation techniques and technology.
Heartland Industries utilizes hemp fibre sourced from Ohio Hemp Company and other Midwest farmers to produce small hemp pellets known as nurdles. Following this initial processing stage, the nurdles are dispatched to Ravago, where they are blended with plastic nurdles to create a bioplastic comprising 70% plastic and 30% hemp fibre. This bioplastic is subsequently employed in the fabrication of automotive parts.
Almond emphasized the importance of environmental considerations in product development, highlighting the challenges of balancing environmental benefits with cost and performance factors. He noted that Heartland Industries has achieved a harmonious equilibrium within the plastic manufacturing realm, incorporating hemp as a 30% ingredient in the recipe. This approach not only yields cost savings and weight reduction but also maintains performance standards while significantly reducing the carbon footprint.
Expansion and Innovation: Ohio Hemp Company’s Growth Strategy
Initially, Heartland Industries established partnerships with farmers in Michigan to streamline its hemp sourcing and enhance operational efficiency. However, as the hemp fiber market expanded, the company extended its collaborations to include growers from neighboring states such as Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio.
In 2022, Ohio Hemp Company embarked on cultivating and researching dual-purpose hemp varieties capable of yielding both fiber and grain. With the successful cultivation of 100 acres of this crop last year, the company is poised to double its efforts, aiming to plant 200 acres of dual-purpose hemp this year, fueled by the recent contract with Heartland Industries.
This new agreement between the hemp grower and Heartland Industries constitutes a purchase contract, operating on a non-binding, year-to-year basis, ensuring a steady supply of hemp fiber. Ohio Hemp Company is actively expanding its infrastructure to accommodate its growing operations, investing in a new processing and storage facility while also researching innovative hemp varieties.
Helt expressed enthusiasm regarding the contract with Heartland Industries and other developments within his company, emphasizing the burgeoning demand for hemp in the region. He remarked on the significance of having a major processor with substantial demand, noting that all the elements necessary for building a comprehensive hemp industry—from cultivation to consumer products—are finally falling into place, heralding a promising future for the sector.
Cultivating Sustainable Solutions: Ohio Hemp Company’s Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
Ohio Hemp Company is still very much devoted to environmental stewardship even as it grows and develops strategic alliances. The organization has adopted a concept of sustainability that goes beyond just profitability, realizing the ecological advantages inherent in hemp growing. Ohio Hemp Company responds to the changing market conditions while staying true to its fundamental principles of supporting sustainable farming methods by giving priority to the growing of hemp optimized for grain and fiber production rather than CBD-centric variants.
Ohio Hemp Company is involved in the development of bioplastics, a viable substitute for traditional plastics with a far lower environmental effect, in partnership with Heartland Industries and other local farmers. This collaboration enables hemp fiber to be used as a vital component in the production of bioplastics, providing the automobile sector with an environmentally responsible and sustainable option. This dedication to using hemp to produce bioplastics is a reflection of Ohio Hemp Company’s proactive approach to tackling environmental issues while promoting regional economic development and innovation.
Ohio Hemp Company is firmly establishing itself as a pioneer in sustainable agriculture as it expands its hemp crop to include dual-purpose varieties capable of producing both fiber and grains. The company positions itself at the forefront of the expanding hemp sector by investing in infrastructure and research, enabling it to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly alternatives. Ohio Hemp Company is dedicated to innovation and environmental stewardship, and it aims to guide the industry and agricultural sectors towards a more sustainable future.
Bottom Line
Ohio Hemp Company’s partnership with Heartland Industries marks a significant step forward in the development of sustainable solutions within the hemp industry. By prioritizing environmental stewardship and innovation, Ohio Hemp Company not only navigates market shifts but also drives positive change in agriculture and industry. Through strategic alliances, research initiatives, and a commitment to sustainability, Ohio Hemp Company is poised to lead the way towards a more environmentally responsible and economically viable future for the hemp sector and beyond.
HEMP BIOPLASTICS, READ ON…
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Inhaling dangerous metals from rolling papers is a possible health risk for cannabis users, according to a recent study published in ACS Omega. These studies had high concentrations of heavy metals such as copper, chromium, and vanadium, which alarmed researchers since they may pose health problems.
The investigation delved into the metal composition of 53 varieties of rolling papers and cones widely used in the cannabis industry. The findings should serve as a warning to both occasional and frequent cannabis consumers alike.
Uncovering Significant Findings and Associated Health Risks
The investigative team at Michigan’s Lake Superior State University embarked on a thorough examination of 53 different types of rolling papers and cones utilized within the cannabis industry. Their findings, published in ACS Omega, revealed a startling discovery: approximately one-quarter of the tested products surpassed established safety thresholds for metal inhalation, with copper levels being particularly noteworthy. These heightened concentrations were notably prevalent in papers featuring colorful designs or metallic embellishments, often favored for their aesthetic appeal by consumers.
Of grave concern to researchers was the potential neurological impact of these metals, especially when present in colored papers. The study underscores the alarming prospect of neurotoxic effects linked to prolonged exposure, potentially implicating a heightened risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Derek Wright, co-author of the study, expressed dismay at the lack of governmental oversight, particularly in states where regulations for cannabis flowers do not extend to rolling papers. This regulatory gap underscores the urgency for comprehensive oversight to safeguard consumers, especially those relying on cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
Wright’s observations illuminate a disconcerting reality: many consumers assume that regulatory bodies oversee the safety of products associated with cannabis consumption. However, the absence of stringent regulations surrounding rolling papers poses a tangible threat to public health, particularly for vulnerable populations. Individuals leveraging cannabis for medicinal purposes, often grappling with pre-existing health conditions, could unknowingly expose themselves to further harm through the inhalation of toxic metals.
In essence, the study’s revelations serve as a clarion call for swift action within the industry and regulatory spheres. Strong supervision procedures must be put in place as soon as possible, and safety regulations must be strictly followed in all areas of cannabis use. In addition to endangering customer safety, delaying the resolution of these issues damages the legitimacy and long-term viability of the emerging cannabis industry.
Advocating for Industry Response and Regulatory Reform
The cannabis business and regulatory agencies have both loudly called for action in response to the release of these data. Concerned about the study’s ramifications, experts stress the urgent need for stricter laws and a radical change to safer production methods. Co-author of the research Derek Wright emphasizes how crucial it is to pinpoint the origins of potentially dangerous compounds in order to facilitate the creation of safer goods.
Daniel Curtis, an analytical and atmospheric chemist consulted on the matter, underscores the importance of future research endeavors. He advocates for a deeper understanding of how metals transfer from rolling papers through the combustion process. Such insights could inform targeted interventions aimed at mitigating exposure risks and enhancing consumer safety. With cannabis consumption on the ascent, the imperative to identify and address sources of toxic chemicals grows ever more urgent.
The study’s consequences go well beyond the confines of scholarly research and have a significant impact on the hallways of industry. In order to put consumer welfare first and enact evidence-based reforms, stakeholders must work together in a coordinated effort. Regulatory agencies may protect the public’s health and promote innovation by establishing a culture of openness and responsibility. In order to overcome these obstacles and reach its full potential as a catalyst for responsible growth, the cannabis sector will need to work together and demonstrate unshakable dedication.
Pioneering Safer Smoking Solutions: Innovations Towards Harm Reduction
As worries about the safety of rolling papers grow, forward-thinking businesses are leading campaigns to reduce dangers and encourage safer smoking environments. Leading the pack of these innovators is RAW, which is well-known for its dedication to transforming the cannabis industry. In their most recent project, RAW presents a novel rolling paper designed to reduce any impurities while highlighting the organic tastes found in cannabis. With a focus on the health and happiness of the customer, this invention signifies a paradigm change in product design.
The foreword to RAW’s groundbreaking study highlights the industry’s increasing realization of how important it is to give damage reduction methods top priority. RAW is working to raise the bar for cannabis accessory safety and purity by using state-of-the-art manufacturing methods and strict quality control procedures. The notably thinner paper not only makes smoking more enjoyable, but also demonstrates RAW’s ongoing commitment to customer welfare.
Beyond product innovation, RAW’s mission represents a larger culture of business responsibility and social concern. By promoting safer smoking options, the firm hopes to provide customers with educated choices and build a harm-reduction culture within the cannabis community. Furthermore, RAW’s proactive strategy establishes a precedent for industry-wide collaboration and responsibility, igniting a collective effort to solve systemic concerns while maintaining the greatest levels of safety and integrity.
Customer safety must continue to be the priority as the cannabis business develops and diversifies. RAW’s creative efforts are a ray of hope, encouraging other industry participants to take the lead in damage reduction. Through leveraging innovation and teamwork, the cannabis sector may steer towards a more secure and sustainable future where the welfare of users is the top priority.
Bottom Line
The study’s findings underscore the urgent need for regulatory reform and industry response to address the presence of toxic metals in commercially available cannabis rolling papers. With significant health risks posed by inhaling heavy metals such as copper, chromium, and vanadium, consumers, especially those using cannabis for therapeutic purposes, are at risk. The absence of stringent regulations governing rolling papers highlights a critical gap in oversight, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive safety measures to safeguard public health. Advocacy for safer production practices and innovative solutions, exemplified by initiatives like RAW’s pioneering rolling paper, is essential to mitigate risks and promote harm reduction within the cannabis community. Ultimately, prioritizing consumer safety and implementing evidence-based reforms are paramount for the sustainable growth and legitimacy of the emerging cannabis industry.
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