Nexus - 0215 - New Times Magazine-pages

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along with a deep and vigorous tap root which remains in the soil after harvest, will actually improve soil structure in long- term cultivation. that all work that had found potentially therapeutic applications or other beneficial effects of cannabis, was to be deleted from the literature. Of course, this type of manipulation was more usually associated with eastern bloc countries, but in the war on drugs the first casualty is truth. There are now hundreds of research papers published in the world literature on the applications of cannabis fibre for paper- making. Only minor alterations are required to optimise produc- tion to a particular situation. Countries around the world and states in Australia are finding that a relaxation of prohibition, such as the Cannabis Expiation Notice System in South Australia (so that those interested can grow up to half a dozen plants), does not lead to increased usage in the community, but has tremendous social advantage with savings of many millions of dollars in jail costs, a major redistribution of police manpower into areas of more importance—such as crimes of violence—and an : enhanced public image of j the police force, as a major area of potential corruption is removed. Would the country benefit from the introduction of a paper- pulp industry employing thousands of people more than the cap- ital-intensive Kraft mills, and without the insidious problems caused by the accumulation of dioxin and other as yet not even categorised organochlorides? The future of Australia is in the balance. Our balance of trade deficit is a staggering $145 billion and rising at a frightening rate, whilst our traditional export commodities are attracting very low prices and suffering severe dislocation due to United States and European trade policies. The export of crude agricul- tural products such as woodchips derived from old-growth forests inflicts maximum envi- ronmental harm, whilst returning very little wealth to the country. For example, we sell our old-growth forests as woodchip for $60/ton, whereas refined bast fibre from hemp or kenaf is worth $400/ton, and a high-quality pulp, such as organosolv, from this fibre could fetch over $1,500/ton on export markets. nflicts maximum envi- Many Mullons OF Goliars 1n Jail Costs, a Major whilst returning redistribution of police manpower into the country. areas of more importance—such as sell our crimes of violence—and an its as "7 enhanced public image of ton, i the police force, as a major area of potential corruption is removed. The time to take a rational view of cannabis has arrived. The prohibition of cannabis is incompatible with public welfare. The alcohol and tobacco industries kill 23,000 Australians each year, and cost the country . over $6 billion annually in medical costs alone. They contribute only $800 See million in taxes paid as ‘ramme. excise, can-grown The legislative vendetta sted from nil in k against cannabis was originally ter of a million acres applied by a series of lies and the worst ramme was the subject of a type of racial vilification in order to gain an ‘ational film designed to re-educate the advantage for petrochemical items over natural fibres. Some bout this “ancient and versatile crop". public officials have been completely brainwashed by fifty years ie . ae of propaganda, and maintain the prohibition with a misguided military-industrial complex, again in control fervour, This attitude must change. Cannabis hemp will return al resources and again fearing competition _ tg agriculture, Whether Australia is one of the countries to take icts, attempted to destroy all traces of the advantage of this new industry and invest early, remains to be ‘ilm. This included erasing it from the —_seen—but we live in hope. uy electronic files. An old copy was found What we require is that our specially developed low-drug cul- moe on a card file. Following a court order, —_tivars are placed in a separate schedule to the drug varieties so forced to admit its actions, and the film has ve can pursue our developmental work. This arrangement has recognised. worked in Europe for ‘Many years without any negative impact tion in attempting to rewrite history isnot an _—_ on society. Indeed, it is a profitable industry bringing benefit > the 1970s President Richard Nixon ordered _ thousands of people. During the Second World War, the United YJtates Department of Agriculture, finding _ itself short of strong fibre for the produc- tion of essential items, initiated the “Hemp for 2 ‘ Victory” programme. \ Output of American-grown 4 cannabis was boosted from nil in 1940 to over a quarter of a million acres in 1943. This programme was the subject of a documentary/educational film designed to re-educate the American farmers about this "ancient and versatile crop". After the war, the military-industrial complex, again in control of the petrochemical resources and again fearing competition from natural products, attempted to destroy all traces of the industry and the film. This included erasing it from the Congressional Library electronic files. An old copy was found in a catalogue reference on a card file. Following a court order, the department was forced to admit its actions, and the film has now been officially recognised. This Orwellian action in attempting to rewrite history is not an isolated event. In the 1970s President Richard Nixon ordered 18¢NEXUS AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1993