Nanny States Aren't Just Blue
This red state fears and loathes the hemp plant and your freedom to grow and use hemp for medicinal purposes. And a state senator gets caught twisting facts into his personal reefer madness.
Let’s do something a little different today.
A subscriber named Brian Ochsner reached out to me last week with this direct message:
“Matthieu, got an interesting reply from a Kansas state senator full of lies about industrial hemp and cannabis.”
Our conversation quickly turned into a guest post.
Brian is this newsletter’s first guest writer and I’m pretty sure this topic has never been covered here before now.
I should add that Brian is an authority on the topic of industrial hemp and its associated products. He has been working in the industry for many years, so he knows what he’s talking about.
So, before I let you read Brian’s in-depth expose—let me point out to you that if you are interested in writing for News Detectives, you can reply to this email your ideas.
Or send your guest writing proposals AND NEWS TIPS at this email address: breakthenarrative@protonmail.com
Without further ado—here is Brian’s expose.
Nanny States Aren’t Just Blue
by Brian Ochsner
When you think of states where Big Government takes more of your money and limits your choices, you probably think of the usual suspects: California, Illinois and New York. But Nanny State government isn't limited to blue states. Some red states do an equally good job to impose high taxes, limit freedom of choice, and unfairly tilt the economic playing field.
One red state that's acted like Soviet central planners is the Sunflower State of Kansas. How so? By keeping medical cannabis illegal, and making it as difficult as possible to grow industrial hemp. Hemp doesn't get anyone high, and is one of the most versatile and valuable crops in America today. But the Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas Bureau of Investigation are opposed to both plants. Probably because if hemp would gain greater acceptance and use (and more Kansans realized this type of plant was nothing to fear) it wouldn't be long before medical and adult use cannabis would become legal. And here's why its a threat to two major Kansas cartels.
Kansas cops want to maintain the ability to bust people for weed, have job security and bring in this type of revenue. Agriculture special interests want to protect legacy crops, such as wheat, corn, soybeans... and even cotton. That's because these trade associations want to stay important and relevant, and these groups' leaders and employees want to keep their cushy private sector jobs.
However, farmers of these crops have heavily relied on government subsidies and crop insurance. In 2022, cotton farmers received about half of their income from the federal government. When you look at our national debt at $31 trillion and climbing, it's obvious that this level of federal spending can't continue. And neither can the subsidies for certain crops or pet projects, like corn based ethanol and electric cars.
Kansas politicians have maintained the ban on “marijuana” mainly by focusing on the alleged “evils” of the molecule known as THC. Just like the political debate was over 80 years ago, most of the rhetoric isn't based on science, reason or logic. Even with all the information available on the positive benefits of cannabis, some elected officials choose to ignore it and don't even know (or bother to learn the basics) of the issue they make policy on. This was exposed in a recent email exchange I had with Senator Mike Thompson (Reefer Madness Party, Shawnee).
I told him that I believe the Kansas economy struggles because a lot of people who use cannabis (either for medical or adult use) don't like being harassed or treated like criminals. That's why they don't visit or do business in the Sunflower State. And if their vehicle has Colorado license plates, there's a good chance they'll get pulled over by a Kansas State Trooper. It seemed like common sense to point out that more folks would travel through, visit or move to Kansas... if they didn't have to worry about Johnny Law busting them for possessing or using a plant.
Fear and Loathing of Marijuana in Kansas
But Senator Thompson gave a reply full of rhetoric and lies that would make Harry Anslinger and William Randolph Hearst proud.
“Reefer Madness” Mike replied:
“"Actually the hemp growers were in my office talking to me one day and admitted that they cannot control the THC levels of the industrial hemp. The other interesting aspect is that once the portion of the plants used for hemp are harvested, they are tracked by the department of agriculture, but the rest of the plant is not tracked and is usually sold to companies to make the gummies and other products...with much higher THC levels."
I'll give ol' Mike credit, he packed a lot of myths and lies into just two sentences. I'll explain the reasons this statement is total BS, and why it reeks of ignorance.
Reason #1: Industrial hemp has very little THC in a harvested crop. In most states (and the 2018 Farm Bill signed by President Trump), the upper limit of THC allowed is 0.3 percent. Hardly enough for anyone to catch a buzz. Most Colorado dispensaries sell products with at least fifteen to 20 percent THC; and according to a friend of mine who's a cannabis grower, it takes at least five percent THC to feel any effects.
If a hemp farmer's crop tests “hot” (or over the 0.3 percent limit), they can't sell it on the open market, and the crop has to be destroyed. Thus, there can't be any “THC problem” with legal industrial hemp.
According to the February 1938 issue of Popular Mechanics, hemp was poised to be a billion dollar crop that had over 20,000 different uses and markets. That is, until the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act made it illegal to grow all cannabis, including hemp. How is a plant like this with so many potential uses and markets bad for people? It's not, unless it poses a threat to the market share and profits of big corporations and vested interests. Just like it did back in the 1930s.
Reason #2: Even if there was “excess THC” that came from harvested hemp and was transported to cannabis legal states and dispensaries, this would be considered marijuana possession and distribution. Both are illegal under Kansas law, and probably carry heavy legal and financial penalties. And if law enforcement officers knew about this, wouldn't they arrest these traffickers? And more importantly, wouldn't this make front page news in every major newspaper in Kansas?
Most crimes occur because someone's property or person has been harmed or stolen. Even if this was true (which I highly doubt it is), who's been harmed by the voluntary transaction of someone selling a crop or plant to someone else?
Reason #3: Even if a hemp farmer “couldn't control the THC level in their plants,” why would they admit their incompetence to anyone, especially a politician?
Reason #4: Most of the industrial hemp grown in Kansas is produced for grain and fiber, not flower. The flower part of the plant is where THC, CBD and other cannabinoids reside. According to March 14, 2023 testimony before the Kansas legislature House Agriculture Committee, farmer and crop researcher Melissa Nelson Baldwin said that about 95 percent of industrial hemp is grown for fiber and grain (or seed). Thus, only about five percent is grown for flower production.
Ms. Nelson's excellent presentation can answer almost any question anyone has about industrial hemp.
In 2022, only 481 acres of hemp were harvested in the entire state of Kansas. The amount of land for hemp production that could have this “excess THC problem” at five percent of the harvested hemp, comes to about 25 acres. The total amount of farmland in the state of Kansas is a whopping 45.7 million acres. So less than one in a million acres (according to Reefer Madness Mike) poses an alleged “threat” to Kansans.
How and why is this a problem or threat to people in the Sunflower State?
Reason #5 : While Industrial hemp and marijuana are members of the cannabis plant family, they are two genetically distinct and different plants. This was proven by a 2015 University of Minnesota study that came to this conclusion after 12 years of research. Here's the link:
https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/u-m-study-explains-why-hemp-and-marijuana-are-different
Thompson seems to believe that hemp and marijuana are the same plant, and they're not. Hemp has much lower THC levels, and is grown for uses such as hempcrete to build homes, horse bedding, and an ingredient in a sealant used by oil drillers to reduce groundwater pollution from fracking. Marijuana has naturally higher THC levels, and is used for medical and psychedelic purposes.
I'll repeat these phrases again: 1) Hemp and marijuana are different plants. 2) And nobody can get high if they try to smoke a joint or consume an edible made from industrial hemp.
Reason #6: While some gummies and edible products may have higher THC levels, a majority of these allegedly “evil gummies” have a much lower amount of this naturally occurring molecule, and doesn't produce a “high.” These CBD/THC gummies give adults another natural way to relax, other than alcohol or prescription drugs.
I don't have a large THC tolerance, and I hate to get high. That's why I take gummies with low levels of THC. Just like the majority of adults have a bottle of beer, glass of wine or mixed drink at the end of a workday, why shouldn't other folks in the allegedly “Free State” of Kansas have this option to relax?
Although people opposed to cannabis love to demonize this molecule, THC has positive attributes. THC helps reduce pain, reduces nausea and vomiting, stimulates appetite, and may be effective to fight cancer and reduce tumors. And just like different percentages of alcohol in beer and liquor, cannabis users have the choice to take products with higher or lower THC levels.
No one has to fire up a joint or eat a gummy with 30 percent THC if they don't want to. Just like no one is forced to down shots of Fireball or Everclear. They can enjoy a Coors Light with only 3 percent alcohol, or an edible with just five milligrams of CBD and THC. The testimony in the Kansas legislature against medical cannabis was almost entirely focused on the danger of higher THC levels in marijuana plants and products; and all the problems that legal cannabis has (allegedly) brought to states like Colorado.
The Real Reasons For Increased Costs In Legal Cannabis States
Thompson claimed in his email exchange with me that for every $1 gained in cannabis revenue, there was over $4 in costs to deal with problems like increased levels of crime, homelessness, and other medical costs. However, he never showed the hard copy of this study to prove these numbers.
As a resident of Colorado, I'll admit that the quality of life hasn't been a “green paradise” since cannabis was made legal. But the increase in problems can't be blamed only on cannabis. Governments Covid policies caused financial, physical and mental health problems for households and busineses. Increased illegal immigration has put a strain on the government social safety net, and increased costs.
But the biggest reason for increased health care costs isn't a plant, but federal and state governments allowing health care providers to charge whatever they want for their drugs, procedures and services. These outrageous bills in this industry provide more jobs and tax revenue. And politicians are willing to ignore anti trust laws to keep milking this cash cow. Even though it financially harms and bankrupts a sizable number of folks in Kansas.
Karl Denninger has done excellent research on this topic. He's explained why “health care” costs are the #1 reason our country is going bankrupt, and a feasible solution to fix this problem... if politicians would have the guts to implement it. But they probably won't, because pols always take the easier way out. And they receive generous bribes... er, campaign contributions from this industry.
Is Opposition To Legal Cannabis Based on Science or Fear?
Based on testimony in the Kansas legislature and Senator Thompson's response: A lot more fear than actual science. That fear is based mainly in ignorance, fear of what the state will look like with legal cannabis, and fear from industries and cartels (such as health care and law enforcement) that it'll negatively affect their income, status and/or job security. And those fears are justified if you work in these fields.
In today's world, it's impossible to avoid risk in almost any area of your life. Whether it's your business, career or finances, you have to learn to manage risk. And that involves taking responsibility for you, and if you're a parent, for your children's actions. You shouldn't rely on government to do this for you. Because the Sunflower State has tried to play it “safe” and not allow medical freedom, its citizens have suffered the economic consequences.
If Kansas continues to prohibit even medical use of cannabis, the state will continue to lose population and stagnate economically (especially in the western 2/3rds). Freedom can be messy and uncomfortable at times, but history has proven that freer nations and states are better to live in than those that aren't.
The Alabamacannabiscoalition.org is working hard for the citizens of Alabama for cannabis legalization. Please consider joining with us to further cannabis legalization efforts.
If the Sacklers were in the hemp business in Kansas they'd get it legalized. Politicians are the scum of the Earth