Cannabis News
Murderers Are Now Blaming Cannabis for Their Killings
As Predicted – Now Murderers are blaming weed for their killings!
THE RETURN OF REEFER MADNESS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
I knew this was going to happen, I wrote about it, I talked about it on a podcast recently – and like the stoner prophet I am…it happened! What you ask? Another killer used the “Weed made me do it” defense, but this time in Ireland.
Remember the Bryn Spejcher case I wrote about earlier? The California woman who violently stabbed her boyfriend and a dog over 100 times, then claimed “cannabis-induced psychosis” made her do it? She ended up getting just community service. I warned everyone then that by creating such a legal precedent, this “cannabis madness” defense would become increasingly common for violent criminals to exploit. It seems those warnings are now becoming a reality.
The latest case involves a man named Diego Costa Silva in Ireland. He decapitated his wife, claiming he believed she was possessed by a serpent due to “cannabis-induced psychosis” – and that he had to remove her head to kill the snake entity. Two psychiatrists backed up his insanity plea, testifying that Silva genuinely suffered delusions and hallucinations from heavy cannabis use, rendering him legally not guilty by reason of insanity for the grisly murder.
Both the prosecution and defense told the jury the evidence only points one way – that Silva cannot be held criminally responsible for his actions due to the cannabis-induced psychosis. It’s a carbon copy of the Spejcher case playbook of using supposed marijuana madness to justify heinous violence.
This is the disturbing trend I cautioned against. If we continue allowing such cannabis insanity defenses, where does it end? Schizophrenics, murderers, and other violent criminals will increasingly lean on this to ease their sentences or walk free altogether. And it provides ammunition for the government to further crack down on cannabis under the guise of public safety.
In this article, we’re going to explore these troubling cases in-depth and discuss what we as a society must do to stop this madness from spiraling out of control. The stakes are high – both for justice being served properly and the cannabis movement’s hard-fought progress staying on track. This budding legal loophole needs to go up in smoke before it’s too late.
Let’s first break down the disturbing Diego Costa Silva case in Ireland. Silva claimed he decapitated his wife Fabiola because he was suffering from “cannabis-induced psychosis” that made him believe she was possessed by a demonic serpent that he needed to kill by removing her head.
Two psychiatrists, Dr. Brenda Wright and Dr. Mark Joynt, testified that Silva’s heavy cannabis use caused him to develop a legitimate psychotic disorder involving delusions and hallucinations about his wife being a threat. They stated Silva did not understand the moral or legal wrongness of his grisly actions due to his impaired mental state.
Both the prosecution and defense agreed Silva could not be held criminally culpable due to this “cannabis-induced psychosis” – a convenient label that provided him with a legal insanity defense for literally beheading his wife.
The eerie parallels to the Bryn Spejcher case are overwhelming. Spejcher also relied on testimony from psychiatrists who claimed her history of cannabis use caused her to develop a “cannabis-induced psychosis” that compelled her to carry out the frenzied stabbing murders of her boyfriend and a dog over 100 times.
In both cases, psychiatrists were the determiners and enablers of these “weed madness” defenses being successfully deployed to secure enormously lenient treatment for horrific murders. Not behavioral psychologists who study abnormal patterns of thought and action. Not neuroscientists who investigate brain function and chemistry. But psychiatrists – the same professionals who have a financial incentive to legitimize loosely defined “disorders” to prescribe psychiatric drugs as treatment.
Does this sound like justice to you? Weed smokers, does this culture of unhinged violence fueled by the munchies sound familiar? Of course not! These are calculated legal defenses by criminals looking to play the system and get-out-of-jail-free cards enabled by pill-pushing psychiatrists.
The idea that smoking marijuana can induce temporary insanity so extreme that it causes otherwise normal people tolose touch with all moral reasoning and turn into deranged killing machines is patently absurd on its face. It perpetuates the discriminatory “Reefer Madness” myth that cannabis causes mental illness and violence – the exact opposite of mountains of medical evidence showing it is a safe substance for most people that does not induce psychosis or increase aggression.
There has been an influx lately of negative cannabis articles, alarmist “studies,” and other propaganda demonizing marijuana. Things that the government and anti-drug establishment have been pushing for over 50 years in some capacity, regurgitating the same old claims, but now trying to brand them as “new” problems with weed.
For those of us who have been writing and advocating in the cannabis space for over a decade, we can sense the steadily shifting tone and renewed pushback against legalization from the powerful entities that have existed to uphold prohibition – the UN, DEA, big pharma, law enforcement, and prison-industrial complex.
Dig into some of the foundational treaties that codified the global “War on Drugs,” and you’ll find suspicious linguistic choices like using the heading “Marijuana and Drugs” – subtly separating it from other substances as if it didn’t even belong grouped with them initially.
I’ve read accounts from historians and researchers speculating that cannabis was almost an afterthought addition to the Controlled Substances Act and UN drug conventions – a last-minute play to criminalize the most ubiquitously consumed “illegal” substance on earth.
This questionable legal status was then perversely exploited by governments worldwide to wage a militarized war on their own people under the patently false pretext of protecting us. Using the drug war as a thin veil to deprive citizens of bodily autonomy, personal freedom, and human rights, while enriching those in power: “You’re too idiotic to think for yourselves, you peasants!”
At least, that’s how this state-sanctioned oppression and plundering of communities can feel when you’re on the receiving end of a no-knock raid, watching families torn apart over a plant. We cannot allow this to go unchallenged yet again. We cannot afford to sit back complicit and silent like the generations before us who witnessed the most valuable crop on earth get insidiously stolen away.
Not this time. This latest resurrection of reefer madness propaganda and quietly escalating reversion to the failed policies of the past will be met with a fervent resistance. We will expose the motives and rigorously debunk the junk science being pushed by those threatened by the cannabis reformation.
It’s our duty as citizens to defy unjust laws. When tyranny appears, it never does so overtly with absolute force at first. That would spark an immediate and overwhelming backlash. Instead, it insidiously codifies itself into the legal system first, giving its oppression a veneer of legitimacy and “justification” for using force.
Those who engage in these authoritarian power grabs understand this well. They exploit the legal process to slowly tighten the vice of control over the populace. They commandeer institutions like the media to proliferate their narratives and propaganda. And they hijack law enforcement to criminalize competitors and dissenting voices, jailing them under the flimsiest of pretenses.
If the forces working to re-criminalize cannabis are successful at rolling back hard-won reforms through deceptive means like these “cannabis insanity” defenses, it will be a legal form of tyranny. One that strips us of our fundamental rights over our own consciousness and bodies under the guise of sham concerns like public safety.
We must resist this at all costs through peaceful, civic, and legal avenues first and foremost. Flooding the comments on every negative cannabis article. Calling out the fallacies and ulterior motives. Protesting unjust policies and laws. Using our voices, our voices, our wallets, and our votes to fight the injustice and rewrite the unjust laws in a credible way.
But if all that fails, and the tyranny persists in totalitarian fashion? Well, we must be willing to move beyond civility. Throughout history, unjust laws have required a form of mass civil disobedience to rectify grave injustices when the system becomes too corrupted to fix itself through proper channels alone.
I warned that the “cannabis made me do it” murder defense was going to become a disturbing trend, and unfortunately, I don’t think the Diego Costa Silva decapitation case will be the last grisly act pinned on the scapegoat of marijuana psychosis.
But now is the time for the cannabis community to get activated. To call out this bullshit for what it is – cynical manipulation of the legal system and public opinion. We cannot be passive spectators letting this theater of injustice play out unchallenged.
It’s time to claim our power as conscious consumers and citizens. If corporations support oppressive policies or peddle prohibitionist propaganda, we starve them of our money and find ethical alternatives. If politicians vote against our interests and freedoms, we vote them out.
We must draw a hard line in the sand and declare “Enough is enough!” We cannot buy into the lies and anti-cannabis hysteria anymore. Not after everything we’ve been through as a community to reform draconian marijuana laws through facts and truth.
Become free thinkers who scrutinize every claim and accusation. Build an unshakable personal understanding of this plant and its impacts grounded in objective research, not garbage inst-reefer scare tactics.
The future of cannabis legalization is ours to uphold, but only if we remain united, vocal, and defiant against any forces attempting to gaslight us back into the nightmarish days of reefer madness. This latest insanity plea loophole cannot be the spark that lets that smoldering $64 billion industry up in smoke.
MURDERING IN THE NAME OF WEED, READ ON…
MURDERING IN THE NAME OF CANNABIS – GET 100 DAYS COMMUNITY SERVICE!
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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