Mountain Xpress Forums

Adding Industrial Hemp to Barney Frank’s HR 5843

2008-08-29T19:06:57-05:00

110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5843
To eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2008
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts (for himself and Mr. PAUL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

A BILL
To eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults’.
SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN MARIJUANA-RELATED PENALTIES.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no penalty may be imposed under an Act of Congress for the possession of marijuana for personal use, or for the not-for-profit transfer between adults of marijuana for personal use. For the purposes of this section, possession of 100 grams or less of marijuana shall be presumed to be for personal use, as shall the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce or less of marijuana, except that the civil penalty provided in section 405 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 844a) may be imposed for the public use of marijuana if the amount of the penalty does not exceed $100.

Co sponsors:

Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 5/20/2008
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 6/24/2008
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 4/24/2008
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 6/25/2008
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 6/5/2008
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 4/17/2008

The above text describes Rep. Barney Frank’s (D. Mass) Bill to eliminate most, not all criminal penalties on the federal level. In other words, it will not legalize possession and use of marijuana, it merely eliminates the federal government from the equation and leaves it up to the states to decide on what to do. On its own this bill won’t fly, as too many legislators will continue to pander to what ever special interests they are attached.
What is needed are well crafted amendments to HR 5843 to bring those reluctant to support this bill on board. One such example is Industrial Hemp, the non-stoney kind. Industrial hemp has many uses, from rope to bio fuel, from cosmetics to fabrics and more. Living in North Carolina I have seen many textile mills shut down and hemp could easily re-employ many of the workers who lost their jobs in the textile industry, just to mention one example.
Another is bio fuel. Hemp produces slightly over twice the oil as corn (280 lbs of oil @ acre from hemp, 135 lbs of oil @ acre from corn) and can be used to make bio diesel, which will run any diesel engine without modification. Bio diesel runs much cleaner than petro diesel, has better lubricity than petroleum based diesel and can be produced locally. This will accomplish a number of benefits. Besides reducing carbon emissions, bio diesel feedstock production will be a boost to agriculture as Rudolph Diesel said in 1911, “ The Diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would help considerably in the development of agriculture of the countries which use it.” In 1912 Dr. Diesel said, “The use of plant oil may seem insignificant today. But such products can in time become just as important as kerosene and these coal-tar-products of today.” His foresight is inspiring, but after his untimely passing in 1913 his engine was developed to run on petroleum based diesel, which at the time was cheaper. Today, non food crops, such as hemp and others, should be used and converted into bio diesel, a carbon neutral fuel. By planting these crops and producing the fuel locally would not only improve local or regional economies, it would also save huge amounts of fuel as transportation distances would be cut by thousands of miles, compared to crude oil from Saudi Arabia, for example. Of course, National Security would be enhanced, as well as eliminating disruptions from hurricanes as during storms like Katrina in 2005. Cellulosic ethanol is another fuel that can be made from hemp and help us in reducing our dependence on foreign fuel sources.
Of course the ‘drug warriors’ will be quick to argue that Industrial Hemp fields would be used to camouflage pot for smoking, which is absolute nonsense, as Industrial Hemp is grown quite differently from marijuana. Industrial Hemp is harvested at a different time than pot and lastly cross-pollination between hemp and pot plants will almost completely reduce the THC content of the pot plant making it useless for smoking.
These are but a couple of suggestions for possible amendments to Rep. Frank’s courageous and long overdue bill. For more on Industrial Hemp check this link:
http://www.naihc.org/hemp_information/content/hemp.mj.html

Can I change my name

2008-08-29T15:04:53-05:00

To Rock Thunderballs?

Gangaji Visits Asheville

2008-08-28T08:04:15-05:00

The spiritual teacher, Gangaji, will be visiting Asheville in September. Sat with this lady a couple of times out west. Very sweet and inspirational. See comments made by one of our locals by a man who claims to have had an awakening in her presence.

http://www.gangaji.org/satsang/schedules/sched.asp

Gangaji – and a little about Isaac Shapiro
Sarlo: may I give you my personal experiences with some of the PapaJi Advaita teachers? By virtue of living in Northern California, I am able to see just able everyone who comes through the Bay Area. I have spent a lot of time with Arjuna Nick Ardagh as he lives close by in Nevada City. I have also sat with Mira, PapaJi’s long time devotee and romantic interest; Hanuman; Vartman; Neelam; GangaJi; and Isaac Shapiro.
Although I benefitted from interacting with them all, it is the later two that I champion the most. GangaJi is the sweetest, most powerful teacher. I consider her my main teacher. I have spent a lot of time with her in public satsangs, semi-private meetings, and week long silent retreats. She is of the highest integrity. Virtually every word I have heard her utter in satsang has the special, deep meaning of an Awakened Master, one who is a direct mouthpiece for the Beloved Friend. The Presence at her gatherings, and surrounding her mortal body, is Silent Peace itself.
I had an extraordinary ‘experience’ of Open Awareness the first time I met her. It was Dec 1997. I had seen one of her videos and was immediately attracted. I had lost some heart in the TM Siddhi program I had been doing for 23 years (why wasn’t I enlightened yet, why is Maharishi always needing money for a new project?). My brother had died of cancer at an early age and I had even started drinking over it. I was in a real life crisis.
The morning of satsang day I awoke in an irritable mood with lots of physical discomforts. It was such a bad day I almost didn’t go. When I arrived at the satsang venue I was beset with self-criticism and a bad case of ‘cranking mind’. I entered the hall, sat quietly will 250 others and awaited her entry.
She came and we all meditated. At first my mind raced even more than earlier. Then it happened...so unexpectedly. Everything STOPPED. No mind, no ego, no body, only I AM. Time and space disappeared. ‘I’ was so FREE, I never wanted to open the eyes again. Nothing was desired, nothing was needed. At some point she began to speak, with a rare, soft, sweet power to her voice. I opened my eyes and sat mezmerized by her every syllable for the next hour. I had had ‘experiences’ of Self in TM, but nothing as dramatic and unmistakeable as this.
The Bliss Kiss ended in a few days and ‘crap’ appeared in experience again, and still does. But my association with her the last 4 years has been so special to me. She has guided me Spiritually deeper and deeper into the True Nature. Now when unpleasantness is happening in the present moment, I am more successful at not resisting, and keyed to sink deeper into Self. I am eternally grateful to her. If you get a chance to see her sometime, it is well worth your time. Even if she isn’t your True Teacher, the interaction with the One Heart of the entire room is so wonderful.
I have really rattled on here, but I must mention Isaac very briefly. I just finished seeing him in Berkeley. My 3rd set of satsangs with him. His essence is so sweet...Kapha Enneagram 9...unflappably loving and Present. He is so surrendered to, and dedicated to What Is. He is so inspiring.
It’s good that you have GangaJi at 3 units, at least. She is definitely a cut above. But I really would like to see her at 4 units or higher. She is the real thing, the whole thing. And she has a delivery that is very appealing to a wide audience. She is at the vanguard of what I think is a new wave of Awakening. Plus, Isaac deserves at least 3 units.
Well Sarlo, I just wanted to give you a personal report of my experiences. Keep up the good work with your site. I read you and Nonduality Salon very often. Thank you for the website.
Namaste, Cullen Anderson

Why Do We Care What Other People Do?

2008-08-26T23:15:13-05:00

This is a question that has plagued me for a long time. Why do we care about what other people in our country do that doesn’t effect us in any way? Why do we feel we have to pass laws based on our personal, religious, spiritual, or other beliefs that will effect millions of people we’ve never met? While I’m talking about law being passed regarding abortion, gay marriage, and other “hot button” topics, I’m also talking about how, in some states, you can’t get a beer on Sunday. How, when some people, are offended by art or smoking or whatever it is that day, people want to make a new law.

I know people have very strong opinions on many issues, as do I. But, most of these issues do not effect me in any way.

Why do we care what other people do?

NOTE: Please do not respond with why abortion is wrong.... I just want to keep it to the reasoning behind the issues:)

what to do?

2008-07-13T18:14:23-05:00

well, here i´m.. since april living in asheville, mother of an 17 year old boy, artist with the bad habit to work all the time and a happy single…

but sometimes i would like to do something… and i have no idea what… than i sit here on my working chair and think and think and at the end… i turn the torch on and start working again…

i´m not a club person, even i like dancing sometimes.
i´m not an tittie in the wind person and do not like to be on places where all the titties have to be right on the marked table
i´m also not on the look for a date, i anyway can not understand american dating system so i stay away from that stress...smile

so, now, tell me, what can an person like me on a weekend or so do?

i´m probably more an middleway person and not from something realy straight (besides working...lol)
i do not eat lot of meat, but i´m not a vegetarian
i´m somewhat alernative but some times also conservative, so i do not realy fit in a box to be with hardcore vegans, hardcore alternatives or hardcore conservatives… i´´m just me

any idea where to go or what to do to see something different besides my work?

Why you probably won’t see me posting here anymore

2008-08-20T15:19:40-05:00

Hello everyone, Jason Bugg here. I’ve been posting on the forums here, just having fun. I make crude jokes, share some insight, stir the pot, and generally just be myself here at the MountainX Forums. I always thought that what I do here is just fun, even with the people I’ve had disagreements with in the past. But apparently, someone here can’t separate real life from the internet.

I write for a living. When I’m not here on the Xpress boards causing chaos, I am usually writing articles for papers all throughout the country. Even though I now live in Sylva, I consider in a lot of ways the Xpress and Asheville “home base”. Although I’m not a staffer at the Xpress, I feel as if because I’m on these boards I’m often confused with an official voice of the paper. I am not an official voice.

It came to my attention that someone from this board (I have no idea who) wrote the Xpress a letter (not an email, and honest-to-goodness letter) complaining about me. Because of this, I fear that if I keep posting on this board I will endanger my standing with my local paper of choice and cause them unnecessary stress.

So effective immediately, I’m excusing myself from the table. I am a struggling writer, and every penny counts. So thanks a lot, whoever sent the letter. You, who can’t separate the internet from real life win. I will post here no longer. You are free to spam the boards with senseless hatespeak.

Have a good day, everyone. I’m sorry to anyone I’ve offended on here. Unless of course your are the person who wrote the letter. To Nam Vet I say get a life.

Jason.

GLoLady TV

2008-08-22T08:59:40-05:00

GLoLady’s topic on August 22, 2008 will be on inventing glow in the dark clothing and safety products. Included will be film from a fashion show at the LimeLight in Manhattan, NY.

LEMUR is having their annual ufo picnic tonight and next weeks show will be an interview with Joshua P. Warren.

If you have a topic or a guest that would be good for a show..... let me know!

Check out google video under GLoLady TV for repeats.

Re-run of social ills that irk

2008-08-17T20:56:19-05:00

Well, you wanted newbies to try at something so I will steal your thread idea and write another to get it going

Something that kinda irks me is “theme joints” Like a New york bar in Paris. Yacht clubs in Asheville, Mountain bars in Wilmington, faux Caribbean anywhere etc…
Hookah bars without hash....

I do like French restaurants though.....

The Citizen Times Layoffs

2008-08-18T16:38:50-05:00

I’m curious to know if anyone knows anything about the layoffs at the Citizen-Times last week. They’ve been forcing older employees out for a while, and now Gannett is having layoffs nationwide. The C-T has been virtually content free for a very long time.

Will the MountainXpress cover this? Not for the schadenfreude, of course, but because it’s part of a huge national trend this year hitting the local economy. As a one time reporter (who timed his exit from newspapers right, thank God) I shudder to think about the thousands of people who’ve been kicked to the curb or bought out in the past year. I wouldn’t want to be looking for a media or PR position right now. It’s been a bloodbath, and it’s not going to do anything good to the media situation in Asheville, which has a lot of niche publications, but very little in the way of hard news reporting. The MX does it’s best to pick up the slack, covering the city council and commissioner’s meetings religiously, but you gotta wonder what’s slipping through the cracks. Gannett’s (and the entire newspaper industry’s) financial situation isn’t going to be getting better anytime soon.

This afternoon

2008-08-14T16:23:14-05:00

I decided to lay down in a small field of grass beside my house. I listened to traffic and smelled the rough yet sweet smelling air from the paper mill down the street. I felt the grass on my legs and my feet and I realized that beyond space and time we have our actual cells.

These things have experienced all of time. We are all sections of time, and we are not in our real bodies. What is actually our real body is a process that starts when we are born and it moves forward until we die. That is what we look like when seen from the outside. What we look like is a giant centipede, spreading around all over the place, each little tentacle the things that we do, think and feel. It’s just like what we view as humans. It starts as a baby and it gets bigger.

That is the process in time. We experience it in sections and we don’t realize what it really is because we are too small to see it. Think of yourself as a process in time.