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<$Project P.E.A.C.E. -- Planet Ecology Advancing Conscious Economics$>
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Cannabis Thinking:
"From Outside the Box, to the Center of the Sphere"
More people are talking about Cannabis in the world today than ever before. In fact, it is probably accurate to speculate that Cannabis is relevant to a broader range of conversations than any other single element of human discussion.
People are talking about Cannabis (a.k.a., hemp, ‘marijuana,’ ganja, ma, ‘Santa Maria’, kanopya, hennep, chanvre, hashish, hanf, etc.) for reasons, spanning the range of subjects from illegal drugs to theology, and from phytotherapy to fuel production. Unfortunately, the conversation is lagging behind mankind’s ability to communicate instantly, globally, electronically, as most of these people aren’t talking openly to each other. If we were, the world’s most useful plant would not still be prohibited today.
Only a few years ago, there was a division made in the discussion, between ‘marijuana’ as a psychoactive drug, and ‘hemp’ as an industrial feedstock. This distinction, while perhaps convenient in some ways, does not serve the broader issue of ending prohibition, necessary to evolving a balanced, productive relationship with what has been historically proven to be a critically determinate natural resource.
Instead, the thinking of people involved in various aspects of the Cannabis conversation have diverged into their areas of focus, without drawing on the strength of an inclusive, cohesive rationale. In truth, there is no definite distinction between hemp and ‘marijuana’ since both strains possess different therapeutic properties, for a range of serious illnesses, with the potential for use as an industrial feedstock.
As one who has studied the life sciences, holistic healing practices, economics and communication arts, I have filled a niche in the human web of life, serving to translate seemingly disparate concepts into understandable relation using a variety of media, applied to various, synergistically related disciplines.
I have also been involved in the global conversation regarding Cannabis for more than thirteen years. A person who has openly grown and used this “forbidden fruit” therapeutically for several conditions and personal reasons, for the past twenty-five years, I am in a unique position to help people understand Cannabis from a perspective that is broadly compelling and universally relevant.
Ecologist, agriculturist, artist, and global communicator, I have cultivated a well-founded and meaningful appreciation of Cannabis, as the most useful and valuable plant on Earth. Rather than talking about Cannabis as a problem to be solved, in Project P.E.A.C.E., I direct people’s thinking to consider Cannabis in the rational context of prolonged essential resource scarcity, population dynamics and behavior.
Without question, Cannabis is our best opportunity to heal many imbalances our species is facing. Because of the fundamental nature of the cause for these imbalances, they also span the range of topics, from global warming, health and food security, to economic disparity, war and terrorism.
As the threat of synergistic collapse of critical systems looms ever nearer, and our species begins to demonstrate symptoms of a species on the verge of extinction, then it becomes increasingly urgent to address problems from more fundamental perspectives if we are to adjust our collective thinking in time to avert disaster on a scale that is perhaps unthinkable for many people.
Limitations of thinking do not serve us at this time when in history, when what is critically needed is an expanded consideration of solutions, and recognition of the profound nature of problems which have been impacted in human society by generations of limited thinking.
Holistic, pro-active adjustment to the direction of the collective human consciousness is the only measure that will prevent the collapse of natural systems and social order upon which all life depends. Systems thinking “outside the box” doesn’t mean thinking away from the box, isolating the different planes of discussion as is being done presently.
Effective measures to coordinate the various subject areas of the box, translates into a conscious transformation of the box into a sphere. In this way all aspects of all issues seamlessly connect, where Cannabis and man are contiguous elements within a much larger, cohesive equation of survival.
The two most critical, incalculable variables of the equation to recognize and consider are the elements of ‘time’ and inertia. Both are operating as unknowns, critically determinate to the success or failure of our species.
It is a huge mistake for people to assume that conditions on this planet will continue to afford the possibility of recovering the possibility for sustainable existence. In fact the changes that are taking place will continue to carry us further from where we need to be, even after we make all of the changes that are necessary.
Only if we begin to implement immediate and radical measures of change in fundamentally destabilizing global policy will mankind have even a slim chance for recovering the quality of life that existed only a few short decades ago, which presently does not exists.
The single greatest change that mankind can make in the interest of recovering balance, is to respect the value in Nature’s operating system. Recognizing the Cannabis plant as an essential component in the system we call the Natural Order is the first step toward demonstrating respect for the primarily significant paradigm within which our species is struggling to find our place.
for peace, health, justice, enlightenment,
Paul von Hartmann
Project P.E.A.C.E.
Planet Ecology Advancing Conscious Economics
http://www.webspawner.com/users/projectpeace/
Any who would care to support this individual effort to heal fundamental imbalances and end prohibition of the world's most useful natural resource, is encouraged to get in touch with me at
projectpeace@yahoo.com or projectpeace@gmail.com
Thought for the day:
"We have nothing to fear but the atmosphere itself."
- PvH
namaste
All Our Relations
All Are Relations
We Are One
posted by projectpeace @
7:46 AM
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Thursday, May 06, 2004  |
The Hamilton Spectator
April 19, 2003
Marijuana May Slow Effects of Aging
By JEREMY LAURANCE
The Independent, London
Cannabis, the third most popular recreational drug after alcohol and tobacco, could become as widely used as aspirin in the 21st century. There is growing evidence that its compounds may protect the brain against the damaging effects of aging.
Although the drug distorts perception and affects short term it may also help prevent degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and motor neurone diseases.
Scientists at the Institute of Neurology in London, say the "huge potential" of cannabis compounds is emerging, as understanding of its biological and pharmacological properties improves. Professor Alan Thompson and his colleagues wrote in Lancet Neurology: "Basic research is discovering interesting members of this family of compounds that have previously unknown qualities, the most notable of which is the capacity for neuro protection."
The results of two trials in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are expected this summer and the first cannabis-based medicines are being considered for licensing.
None of them will have the psychoactive properties of the raw drug when smoked or ingested. Thompson's team says: "Even if the results of these studies are not as positive as many expect them to be, the fact that we are only just beginning to appreciate the huge therapeutic potential of this family of compounds is clear." Cannabis was thought to affect the cells like alcohol by seeping through the cell membrane. But in 1990 the first cannabinoid receptor was found, which revolutionized the study of cannabinoid biology. The discovery revealed an endogenous system of cannabinoid receptors, similar to the opioid system, to which the drug bound when it was ingested.
Just as endorphins are the body's natural equivalent of heroin, a fatty acid called anandamide (Sanskrit for "inner bliss") is the natural equivalent of cannabis.
The natural system of cannabinoid receptors plays a role in maintaining the balance of chemicals in the brain, which regulate the rate at which neurons fire.
By altering this system, scientists believe it may be possible to slow or prevent the process of brain decay. David Baker, lead author of the Lancet review and senior lecturer at the Institute of Neurology, said: "Alzheimer's disease is the result of very slow degeneration caused by the death of nerve cells. We probably don't see symptoms until 30 to 40 per cent of the nerve cells have died. "Something regulates this decay and if we could slow it by even a small fraction we might delay by a decade the point where someone loses their memory."
But cannabis is a double-edged sword, with potentially damaging side effects.
"It may be possible to develop drugs that allow selective targeting of different areas of the brain and spinal cord and there may be a way of limiting the negative effects," Baker said.
A study by Baker and colleagues, in which the natural system of cannabinoid receptors was removed in mice, showed that the rate of nerve loss was increased, indicating its role in preserving brain function. The study, accepted for publication in a medical journal, "really clinches the argument," Baker said.
He added: "Cannabis has gone from the drawing board into trials in record time, largely because of patient pressure. Hopefully it will work and be acceptably safe."
posted by projectpeace @
11:00 AM
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Tuesday, May 04, 2004 |
The folowing letter was sent to the Eurodrug group today
(See http://www.encod.org/), in response to the document
A CHANCE FOR EUROPE
THE WAY TOWARDS JUST AND EFFECTIVE DRUG POLICIES
STATEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN NGO COUNCIL ON DRUG POLICY
TO THE EUROPEAN UNION CONFERENCE ON A NEW STRATEGY ON DRUGS
10/11 MAY 2004 - DUBLIN, IRELAND
(See www.encod.org/dublin.htm)
Dear Joep and friends,
ENCOD is presenting a strong statement, bearing considerable weight of reason with dignified efficiency and eloquence. I send my sincere personal thanks and congratulations to all who have participated in producing this powerful and important message. As per your permission and instruction, I will be proud to distribute this announcement far and wide, to policy reform activists and media in the U.S., and other non-European countries.
In the cover letter I will write accompanying the ENCOD statement, I will add the following points of discussion, which I feel are vitally important, broadly compelling considerations:
1. Because of its association with 'marijuana' in the context of the current atmosphere of drug prohibition, realistic valuation of the unique and essential value of the entire Cannabis species, has induced imbalances at fundamental levels. Awareness of the true value of this sustainable, organic agricultural resource, which is in fact, the most useful plant on Earth, has been severely constricted and actively suppressed. There is no other species that even comes close when considering organic production of biofuels, vegetable protein, herbal therapeutics, paper, cloth, building materials and thousands of other essential products.
2. This profoundly inefficient, criminally negligent, mis-valuation has resulted in the present condition of essential resource scarcity, which is directly responsible for mass starvation and malnutrition on epidemic scale. Literally billions of people are impacted by the scarcity of hemp seed proteins and essential fatty acids (EFAs) unique to the hemp seed. Mankind's disregard for such a critically determinate rotational crop, and absence of a free agricultural market, are directly responsible for environmental, economic, and social imbalances which perceptably degrade the quality of life for every creature living on this planet.
3. So extreme is society's under-valuation of the Cannabis species, that insane strategies of bioterrorism are being employed as part of the global Cannabis eradication effort. Measures being carried out by the U.S. and the United Nations, include mass displacement of entire agricultural communities in Colombia and Peru, where the spraying of glyphosate has caused unconscionable human suffering, illnesses, and has been linked to the spread of the Fusarium oxysporum fungus.
4. In the U.S. mad science is being conducted by the Department of Agriculture's Research Service (ARS), whose plans for introduction of Eurasian insect pest species, meant to be used in 'marijuana' eradication, are actively underway at the University of California in Davis. This is relevant to mention in the context of European drug policy, since it is predictable that such ill-advised and short-sighted measures will eventually be implemented by the United Nations, whose regressive drug control strategies typically emanate from the U.S.
5. Finally, also worth considering is the extreme danger of biological weapons, such as anthrax, being spread via currently unregulated routes of drug distribution. While this has not occurred yet, it is certainly within the realm of possibility, and must be foreseen as a real and present threat to public safety under current, unregulated black market conditions.
Ofcourse, anyone in the eurodrug group who cares to comment on this is invited to do so. Such critical and timely observations can only benefit from recognizing the value of such an informed and thoughtful gathering of minds as is present in this group. Thank you for allowing me to participate in this essential globalization of reason.
for peace,
Paul von Hartmann
Project P.E.A.C.E.
Planet Ecology Advancing Conscious Economics
http://www.webspawner.com/users/projectpeace/
http://projectpeace.blogspot.com/
http://formalcomplaint.blogspot.com/
posted by projectpeace @
8:20 AM
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