The cannabis plant is an herb that has powerful therapeutic and nutritional properties. While we do not endorse the recreational use of marijuana any more than we do that of alcohol. If we had to choose which of the two is the greater evil we feel that the excessive abuse of alcohol can be shown to have far greater devastating consequence both physiologically and historically. The greater evil is continuance of the persecution of individuals for victimless crimes and the astronomical cost of law enforcement to the tax payer. At this point there are literally 1000's serving prolonged prison sentences for nothing more than the possession of a relatively small marijuana. The cost is incalculable both in terms of what we pay to enforce these laws and keep these individuals, who for the most part pose no more threat to society than the average individual who consumes a couple of beers while watching their favorite sports event on TV. It is a far wiser course of action to collect taxes on the sale of marijuana and earmark a percentage of those taxes in educating against its inappropriate recreational use. Furthermore, cannabis has been shown to be medicinally very effective as an adjunctive treatment for many diseases such as offsetting the nausea and loss of appetite accompanying the use of chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer.
It is a well known fact that the fathers of the United States of America, including the revered 3rd president of the United states, Thomas Jefferson, widely cultivated hemp plantations because of its valuable fiber for the manufacture of clothing and durable ropes. As an easily grown renewable resource, today, hemp has many valuable uses including the use of its strong fiber instead of the use of wood from trees for the the manufacture of paper. Imagine the forests that can be spared with this single rational alternative to wood. It is also a valuable fuel supply and again, these will create a viable alternative to the use of wood. Methane produced from the fermentation of hemp can be used as fuel for automobiles and other gasoline powered vehicles. The list could go on and on and I recommend all serious herb students to consider the ramification of this most valued herb.
Contrary to the belief of some, nothing is inherently evil except how it is used. What is evil, however is the discriminatory persecution and long term incarceration at prodigious cost to we, the tax payers for nothing more than the possession of a few ounces of marijuana.
Is marijuana addicting? Probably to some extent but it is more purely a psychological addiction rather than an inherent physiological need that is created as compared to the use of tobacco and alcohol, for instance.
Does its widespread use lead to more serious drugs? In today's climate where it is relegated to the 'shadowy' areas of our society as a controlled, illicit substance, it certainly does. It is doubtful, and in fact this has been shown in more enlightened societies where it is no branded as an illicit drug such as in Amsterdam, that it has no more tendency to lead to the use of more seriously damaging drugs such as cocaine and heroine anymore than one might expect from the recreational abuse of alcohol.
In the Middle East and various Asian countries where marijuana is not an illicit controlled substance, societal pressure against its recreational use dissuades the majority of the populace to abuse it. Therefore it is probably used at least no more in those countries than it is in the US as an in illicit drug and it is suspected that it is probably used even much less. People in those countries know that indulging in it can make one temporarily a little 'loco' and it is simply incompatible with the daily responsibilities of life. Similarly, we see how tobacco consumption has decreased in the US without making it an illicit drug simply because of the tremendous flow of information that is getting out about the risk of lung cancer, childbirth deformities and other problems from its addictive use.
In China, hemp is a valuable commodity for all of the above reasons. Furthermore, in rural populations, the seeds are regularly consumed in daily porridge by millions of people daily with no detriment to health. Quite the opposite as you will read of the nutritional benefits from the excerpt by Bridgitte Mars' new book below. TCM doctors regularly prescribe it for its nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Like flax seed, it is a proteinaceous seed food and one of the richest sources of Omega fatty acids. It the the best bowel regulator, far better than either flax or psyllium, and at the same time has potent yin-tonic properties. Individuals with yin deficiency, with corresponding dry stool, will benefit from the daily consumption of cannabis seed meal added to the morning cereal by powerfully overcoming years of chronic constipation while at the same time providing far more potent nutritional benefit than either flax or psyllium seed.
Today, it is possible to purchase sterile, crushed cannabis seed from many Chinese pharmacies because it is a regular herb use in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine. Following is a trail mix that I have created for some of my more yin-deficient, malnourished and constipated patients:
CANNABIS SEED TRAVELER'S HERBAL TONIC BARS (TRADEMARK)
Mix crushed cannabis seeds with ground powders of astragalus root, lycii berries, longan berries, codonopsis, lotus seed, lightly toasted and coarsely ground black and yellow sesame seeds, crushed Silymarin seeds dried organic tangerine or orange peel, licorice and cardamon. Since each person is different this should be done to taste. It is very delicious and a type of Middle Eastern "halva" or confection can be easily made by mixing this with lightly heated honey to a thick paste and spreading it in a plate. This is then placed in the refrigerator to further solidity so it can be cut into bite sized pieces. Its a great way to take the more pleasant tasting herbal tonics. Try it.
Finally, the following article from an excellent forthcoming book on cooking with cannabis written by professional AHG herbalist Bridgitte Mars who is a former student, close friend and colleague. Look for her book in the months to come.
Greetings - Here is a small excerpt from the HempNut cookbook by AHG herbalist, Bridgitte Mars. She says she loves to cook healthy food and all of her favorite recipes have been even more delicious than ever using mechanically hulled hemp seed that is unheated and legal and THC free. Love and light Brigitte Mars
From the HempNut coolbook
About 65% of the total protein in hemp seed is edestin. Edestin, which has the same Greek roots as the word edible is a sturdy, stable and easy to prepare protein, similar to that found in the albumen in egg whites and blood. It is classified as a globular protein in that it is soluble in a diluted salt solution and is easily changed by heat. It is considered the backbone of the cell's DNA. Half a century ago, edestin was one of the most studied food sources proven to be sufficient as the sole animal protein source. Determinations of amino acids were actually based upon edestin. Edestin aids digestion and is relatively phosphorus free.
Hempseed is really akin to a nutrient dense grain. The protein available in Hempseed contains all nine essential amino acids, with high amounts of the sulfur containing amino acids cysteine and methionine which are often lacking in a vegetarian diet. It is also high in glutamic acid, a neurotransmitter that helps one deal with stress.
Hempseed is second only to soybeans in vegetable protein foods yet even easier to digest and offers a much more complete range of essential amino acids. Hemp seed, unlike soybeans are free of the anti-nutrient factor trypsin inhibitors which impairs protein assimilation and oligosaccharides which cause gas. There is also a significant amount of people that are allergic to soy products yet hemp seed is rarely allergenic. Studies indicate that soybeans are susceptible to the fluctuating density of the ozone layer and their production may be soon reduced. Hemp on the other hand, resists damage from ultraviolet radiation and actually thrives in such an environment. Also soybeans are now being genetically modified and we may not understand the safety or possible ramifications of this process until several years in the future.
Hemp Oil as Food
Hemp oil is rich in essential fatty acids and tastes a lot like sunflower seed oil. Its green color is due to the presence of chlorophyll. Hemp oil contains vitamin E (gamma-tocopherol), a natural antioxidant that helps preserve the oil, but hemp oil still requires protection. Antioxidants can be added as preservatives such as rosemary extract, carotenes or tocopherols. Hemp oil is processed in a nitrogen environment to keep it fresh. It should be protected from heat, light and oxygen by storing in dark bottles and kept refrigerated and used within six months maximum, although six to twelve weeks is preferable. Buy only products that have been shelf dated. It is better to buy small quantities of hemp oil and use them fresh. Avoid rancid oils in the case of any food.
Hempseed oil can be stored in the freezer if it is not going to be used right away where it will keep fresh for over a year. The oil will not freeze, nor will it break the bottle as it does not expand. Though hemp oil is expensive in comparison to refined, solvent or heat expressed oils, it is superior in nutritional value. Some analysts believe that if it were to be legally cultivated in the U.S. that its cost would be comparable to corn oil.
Use hemp oil to dip bread into instead of butter or margarine. Pour some on popcorn. Use it instead of butter on pasta and potatoes. Hemp oil can simply be taken plain off the spoon, stirred into yogurt, applesauce or cottage cheese. Use it in salad dressings too. In Germany, hemp oil makers sell the leftover hemp flour to fortify baked goods. Oil extracted from the seeds can be used in cooking and light sautéing. Since it is rich in delicate unsaturated fatty acids, it is not recommended for deep frying or frying. However when there is adequate moisture, such as in baking a cake, hemp oil can be used to replace or be combined with other vegetable oils.
One to two tablespoons daily is suggested as a dosage for hemp oil for adults. Children can use half that amount and for infants one third. Nursing babies will obtain the benefits through their mother's milk if the mother uses hemp oil as a supplement.
AHG herbalist, founder and owner of HerbPharm Ed Smith comments as follows:
About 65% of the total protein in hemp seed is edestin. Edestin,
which has
the same Greek roots as the word edible is a sturdy, stable and easy to
prepare protein, similar to that found in the albumen in egg whites and
blood. It is classified as a globular protein in that it is soluble in a
diluted salt solution and is easily changed by heat.
Unfortunately most hemp seed and oil sold in the USA is from seed that has
been heat-treated in order to make the seeds sterile and ungrowable.
Unfortunately the edestin is destroyed by this process because edestin is
very heat-labile. This is why I never use heat-treated hemp seed or oil. BTW,
edestin is also found in flax and cotton seed. Also, a closely related
protein is found in pumpkin, watermelon and cantaloupe seed.
I love to make a seed milk from cantaloupe and other melon seeds. Blend seeds
in some water -- strain well -- and add a dropperful of vanilla extract. It
tastes so good and about 1/2 hour after drinking you peeeeeeee forever.
There is some hemp seed coming from Canada that is mechanically hulled
(instead of heath-treated) in order to make the seeds ungrowable and to
remove the small traces of THC in the hull. However, the question these hemp
seed dealers cannot (or will not) answer is what else, besides THC, is in the
hull, and what nutritional value is lost in the hulling process."