Hemp, Legalize It......

[Sly21C]

Hemp, or industrial hemp (from Old English hænep), typically found in the northern hemisphere, is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago. It can be refined into a variety of commercial items including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.

Although cannabis as a drug and industrial hemp both derive from the species Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they are distinct strains with unique phytochemical compositions and uses. Hemp has lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD), which decreases or eliminates its psychoactive effects. The legality of industrial hemp varies widely between countries. Some governments regulate the concentration of THC and permit only hemp that is bred with an especially low THC content.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp

The Hemp plant is not only one of the oldest cultivated plants, it is also one of the most versatile, valuable and controversial plants known to man. The industrial Hemp plant has a long history, which has proven its innate worth and its stalks and seeds can serve as raw material for an exciting array of many diverse products. The plant’s Latin name "Sativa" means "useful Hemp" and it definitely measures up to its name!

The potential contribution of the Hemp Seed to human nutrition is gaining world wide recognition. Like no other plant resource, the Hemp seed has both a high content of easily digestible, complete protein and a rich endowment of oil providing the most favourable ratio of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) required for proper human nutrition. In addition, the Hemp Seed provides a significant contribution of Gamma-Linolenic acid which has potential therapeutic efficacy.

The Hemp Seeds are pressed to obtain oil, crushed to create flour or eaten as a nut substitute. The various grades of this EFA rich oil can be used as a nutritional supplement, in aromatherapy, in the manufacture of body care products and cosmetics, as a lubricant, in the manufacture of alkyd resins etc.

The Hemp Cake (which is the remains of the seeds once it has been through the oil press) can be used as animal feed, in plant fertilizer, in bait and much more.

Hemp is currently not grown in South Africa. It is regulated and can only be grown under license. All licenses to date have been issued for research purposes only.

All Hemp products available in South Africa are therefore imported.

http://www.hempsa.co.za/

Hemp, Cannabis sativa L, is an industrial crop and is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. Hemp is cultivated in many countries, including, China, Canada, Russia, the USA, and several European countries. In these countries hemp farming is regulated.

It is illegal to cultivate hemp in South Africa as it is classified under the Cannabis species. A permit is required before one can plant hemp and this permit is obtained from the Department of Health under the Medicines Control Council.

The plant has been used for a wide variety of purposes. It is used to make over 25,000 consumer products, from hemp apparel and accessories to house-wares and hempseed oil cosmetics. Some of the products made from hemp are: clothing, shoes, diapers, rope, canvas, cellophane, paints, fuels, chain lubricants, biodegradable plastics, paper, fibreboard, cement blocks, food, cosmetics, and soap.

Hemp is described as an annual herbaceous plant with an upright growth habit and its characteristic leaves are composed of five to seven leaflets. The hemp plant can reach nine metres in height, but under cultivation it averages between two to four metres. Hemp is from the same plant species (Cannabis) as dagga (marijuana). Although similar in appearance, the dagga plant may develop more side branches and has a more bushy appearance in contrast with hemp. Hemp is mainly cultivated for fibre and oil and because the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content is very low, it cannot be used as a drug. Dagga, on the hand, has such a low fibre content that it is not suitable for fibre production. Hemp generally refers to the fibre-producing strain of Cannabis. Currently three main groups of varieties under cultivation, namely, varieties cultivated primarily for fibre, varieties grown for seed and varieties grown for their medicinal and narcotic properties.

http://www.arc.agric.za/arc-iic/Pages/Hemp.aspx

Not sure why it's illegal to grow such a plant, or why it has only been issued for research purposes.

 

[Nick333]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp


http://www.hempsa.co.za/


http://www.arc.agric.za/arc-iic/Pages/Hemp.aspx

Not sure why it's illegal to grow such a plant, or why it has only been issued for research purposes.

Because cannabis makes black men rape white women.

 

[Ancalagon]

Because cannabis makes black men rape white women.

No, apparently it causes white women to seek sexual relations with black men.

According to some racist white lawman from America, circa 1930s I think.

 

[Ninja'd]

No, apparently it causes white women to seek sexual relations with black men.

According to some racist white lawman from America, circa 1930s I think.

Something like that according to a podcast I listened to but can't remember which.

 

[Nick333]

No, apparently it causes white women to seek sexual relations with black men.

According to some racist white lawman from America, circa 1930s I think.

I knew it had something to do with interracial fccking.

It's why there are so many coloureds and pot heads in CT.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

I see my step father is buying hemp seed at the pet shop, for his birds. Wonder if they'll grow if I plant them.

Friend of mine, who lives on a small holdings, is going to apply for a permit to cultivate hemp. He wants to get into the oil business. Also said he may try the eco fuel part of it, too.

 

[longboy]

There's a huge zol demand in ZA. Just legalise it already and regulate it.

 

[Sly21C]

I see my step father is buying hemp seed at the pet shop, for his birds. Wonder if they'll grow if I plant them.

Friend of mine, who lives on a small holdings, is going to apply for a permit to cultivate hemp. He wants to get into the oil business. Also said he may try the eco fuel part of it, too.

So far licenses have been issued for research purposes only in this country, which I find very odd. I'm starting to wonder and suspect that Hemp is like the diamond industry, i.e. only a select few are allowed to profit from it while the rest of us must apply to grow or pick up a naturally occurring God given (or mother nature given) Earthly material.

Let us know about the outcome of the application.

There's a huge zol demand in ZA. Just legalise it already and regulate it.

Hemp can be used for other applications too, it's not for smoking only. It can be used to make diapers, clothes, soap, etc.

I'm wondering why it's illegal if it has other applications.

 

[grok]

typically found in the northern hemisphere

Academic then, any attempts with hemp in this country would be cultural appropriation - a big no-no for people from this continent apparently..

 

[Jimmy-Z]

I'll just leave this right here

https://thehighco.co.za/south-africas-dodgy-cannabis-deal-with-canada/

 

[Lament]

Then my petshop is running an illegal business as i'm buying Hemp seeds by the Kilograms for my birds

Fun Fact, Hemp seeds induce breeding in birds. No idea if they get slightly stoned and wanna do the nasty :crylaugh:

 

[porchrat]

yes agreed. Legalise it.

 

[Ockie]

http://www.hemporium.co.za/

I agree. It could be a great crop for South Africa. Especially if you want to look at perhaps lifting poor rural workers out of poverty. Give them land that is not currently in use for food products and let them start growing Hemp. Do it in such a way that you can have a depot of some sort for different regions to make it easier for them to get their harvest to market. It can also then start up industry to start manufacturing end user goods from that raw material.

 

[Sly21C]

Then my petshop is running an illegal business as i'm buying Hemp seeds by the Kilograms for my birds

Fun Fact, Hemp seeds induce breeding in birds. No idea if they get slightly stoned and wanna do the nasty :crylaugh:

As far as I know, it's illegal to grow it. But it's not illegal to purchase it as it is imported.

 

[Sly21C]

I'll just leave this right here

https://thehighco.co.za/south-africas-dodgy-cannabis-deal-with-canada/

Let me assist you by quoting the information from the website you provided, so other people can read it easily

While thousands of South African citizens continue to be arrested daily for cannabis possession, a multi-million dollar deal has been struck with a Canadian company to legally produce cannabis in SA. All while under the protection of Government and State security muscle.

Over the course of 2017 we extensively covered numerous developments surrounding the secret legal cannabis farm operating in the Dube Agrizone in KwaZulu Natal. What had started as a rumour among local activists turned out to be a truth stranger than fiction when we were able to confirm that not only was the facility in fact growing the strictly illegal plant, but that it had also sold the majority shareholding in the project to a Canadian partner and to those who have been alleged to be heavily involved with the vast plague of State corruption associated with president Jacob Zuma.

What has come as a new revelation though is that this grow facility is being treated as a key point and is now under government mandated security. You may recall how key points were a contentious issue when Jacob Zuma and the ANC used this apartheid relic of a law in an attempt to cover up the dumpster fire that was Nkandla, justifying the hundreds of millions of tax Rands squandered on the president’s private home as necessary for his personal safety. The Nkandla scandal was however concluded, sort of, despite government’s embarrassing best efforts to indefensibly justify the vast expense of what eventually became a symbol for the cancer of corruption capturing the country.

In a recent online interview, John McMullen of LGC Capital confirmed that “Security is being provided by the government. The national key point security guard will oversee, watch and secure the entire facility.” among other claims that they would be producing between 7 and 19 tons of medical cannabis products per year to be sold locally.

What this boils down to is that there are now questionable international deals to grow tons of high grade cannabis while receiving state sponsored security, the profits of which will likely find its way into the pockets of a few politically connected and foreign investors. Which in my mind creates a bit of a paradox. The costs of prohibition are shouldered by us. Cops, prisons and orange overalls are all paid for by the tax payer, but we are now also footing the security bill for those who are set to make billions from these ‘legal’ cannabis farms, while the other 99.9999% of us continue to be persecuted for possessing so little as a single gram of the stuff.

Despite this deal receiving much attention it remains to be seen how it will be more than another attempt to pilfer African resources for the benefit of a handful of interests. The words of a source close to these shenanigans now rings clearer than when I first heard them nearly a year ago. “It’s none of your ****ing business!” is perhaps the truest thing I’ve heard about any of this.

Clearly this is meant to be none of your, my or anyone else’s business, economic freedom or human rights. So long as we continue to know our role as mere second class citizens who are only good for paying for our own cages while a handful soar freely on stolen wings.

Very interesting! If this article is true, then it means only companies are allowed to grow medical marijuana. And normal people cann't cure themselves by growing it in their backyard?

 

[Sly21C]

http://www.hemporium.co.za/

I agree. It could be a great crop for South Africa. Especially if you want to look at perhaps lifting poor rural workers out of poverty. Give them land that is not currently in use for food products and let them start growing Hemp. Do it in such a way that you can have a depot of some sort for different regions to make it easier for them to get their harvest to market. It can also then start up industry to start manufacturing end user goods from that raw material.

I don't think people occupying influential positions in government and other business people are interested in lifting the poor out of poverty. They are interested in giving the poor enough for them to shut up and not make noise or destabilize society, so those elite people will profit as much as possible. It's the name of the game unfortunately.

 

[Nick333]

I don't think people occupying influential positions in government and other business people are interested in lifting the poor out of poverty. They are interested in giving the poor enough for them to shut up and not make noise or destabilize society, so those elite people will profit as much as possible. It's the name of the game unfortunately.

Ja, I was going to say that we just don't have political to implement such a plan in SA. Hemp production could be huge for SA. It could open up massive opportunities for innovation. It just won't happen because politicians (and yes business) are more interested in personal gains than they are uplifting the poor.

Businesses see quick profits and politicians only think about lining their pockets while they can - why should they care that there would be more taxes to loot if they focused on prosperity for the country when they might not be in a position to take advantage by the time it was realised?

 

[Sly21C]

Ja, I was going to say that we just don't have political to implement such a plan in SA. Hemp production could be huge for SA. It could open up massive opportunities for innovation. It just won't happen because politicians (and yes business) are more interested in personal gains than they are uplifting the poor.

Businesses see quick profits and politicians only think about lining their pockets while they can - why should they care that there would be more taxes to loot if they focused on prosperity for the country when they might not be in a position to take advantage by the time it was realised?

Exactly! Well said.....

 

[longboy]

I used to buy zol and boil it then drink the resulting liquid. It worked well for my teenage asthama and breathing issues.

I know a few people who use the oil for a lot of health reasons too.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

As far as I know, it's illegal to grow it. But it's not illegal to purchase it as it is imported.

That doesn't sound logical. What about if I import cocaine, will that be legal?
This proably just aimed at hemp, then.