Marijuanamerica

With the national election just days away, Americans are gearing up to vote. This election year is not only about the future president, but also many pressing local issues as well. One such local issue for the citizens of Colorado is the full legalization of marijuana and hemp...otherwise known as Amendment 64 to the Colorado State Constitution. This is a classic example of a state standing up for its rights. Coloradans voted this amendment down in 2006, but it is projected to pass this election year. What does this mean? This means that Colorado will be the first state in the United States to end the marijuana prohibition that began with William Randolph Hearst and his vendetta against the hemp industry in the 1930's. Hearst owned several newspapers and was a revered American journalist in the early 20th century. He was also the owner of incredibly large tracts of land that contained a huge amount of timber. When it was discovered that hemp products (hemp paper, hemp lumber, hemp fuel) were going to be the next big thing (possibly replacing the timber industry), William Randolph Hearst used his insanely powerful political connections to destroy and entire industry. After countless lobbying and use of his political power, Hearst officially made marijuana and hemp products illegal in the United States. An industry that would have generated massive and groundbreaking revenue for our country. This concerns me. What has changes since the 30's? The rich rule the United States of America and that is a sad fact. This is just one example of thousands that this country has produced of the federal government bending to the will of the rich. Nothing has changed. There is a glimmer of hope however...and that is the state of Colorado. Let us all hope and pray that this Amendment passes. It will be the beginning of the end this unconstitutional prohibition. And let us hope and pray that this will set a trend for generations to come. Not just for the hemp/marijuana laws around the country, but for other unconstitutional laws passed by corporate America as well.