Modern Day Morocco prepares to Regulate Cannabis Production for Foreign Investors

Cannabis fields in the Rif Mountains
Source: the-misadventures-of-luciengrey.blogspot.nl

The People of Morrocco have always known the medicinal and economic value of the Cannabis Plant. For centuries. Farmers have been growing and processing Cannabis to be exported to markets throughout Europe. Although it is illegal to smoke hashish in Morocco, most of the men in the country smoke openly in cafes out of water pipes while drinking mint tea enthralled in card games and conversation with friends and family. The word ‘kif’ stems from the Arabic word for pleasure. Most of the Cannabis is grown and processed in the RIF Mountains in the North Eastern portion of Morocco. The region covers more than 11,000 square miles and supplies 70% of the European Hash Markets.

A bowl containing beaten kif.

Cannabis has been growing here since the 15th century. In the 60's and 70's people considered Morocco part of the Hippie Revolution, making the Country a popular travel spot. Back then, "kif" was produced for domestic use and fields of Cannabis were believed to cover only 5,000 hectres. Morocco obtained Pop Culture fame when legendary hashish producer  Akmed (Hole in the Head) smoked white hashish with Timothy Leary at the base of Mt Tidiquin in the highest part of the Rif Mountains. There is the inexpensive commercial product and then the good stuff, which the locals call Oro Negro, or Black Gold.  The quality hash from this region goes by many names including Ketama, Sputnik, Zero Zero, and King Hassan. Ketema Gold is the leading seller in Europe. Today, Moroccon Cannabis plants are estimated to cover more than 200,000 hectres.

The growing season here begins in March. Fields of sprouts are easily visible from the road.  Farmers use rudimentary, labor intensive processes to create hash in stone houses built into the mountainsides. The plants are harvested from the fields anywhere from July to August and bunched together. The cannabis bunches are placed in drying rooms to cure before being made into hash using several different extraction techniques for a variety of end user products. The Hashish created ranges in color and texture, some sandy in consistency, some moist like clay. Many of the hashish produced ends up the same rusty color as the clay dirt found in the land here.

It's too dry in this region to grow regular vegetables. If this region of the World did not have Cannabis, they would be forced to work in cities for salaries, only a small portion of what they receive now. For many of these families, Cannabis is the only source of sustainable income available for food, shelter and other meager living expenses.

Recently, the European Union offered Farmers other options for livelihood strategies in an attempt to curb production. They realized quickly the farmers here are not willing to do anything but grow Cannabis for the purpose of  Hashish.

An estimated one million people are thought to benefit annually on the cultivation of cannabis on more than 200,000 farms. For these poverty stricken families, Cannabis is their only option as a livelihood strategy and Hashish production techniques have been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years.

Morocco exports more than 3,000 tons of processed Hashish with estimated values of more than $10 billion. making Cannabis 10% of the Country’s economy.

Local officials have traditionally protected Cannabis Farmers from becoming a part of the larger War on Drugs with only a few scattered stories of corruption, bribery and failed attempts by the European Union to offer subsidies to farmers willing to grow other agricultural commodities. For the most part Cannabis is accepted in society as a way of life and it’s not changing any time soon.

It comes as no surprise as more countries relax Cannabis prohibition laws, Morrocco’s Parliament is considering draft legislation allowing farmers a legal system of regulation and distribution of Cannabis products. Leaders in the country see Cannabis as a way to draw foreign investment as pharmaceutical companies show more interest in distributing Cannabis medicines in global markets. Over the next three years, Governor Mohamed Boudra of Huciema-Taounate, the Country’s Northern region will be working with Parliament to enact a program designed to build confidence and strengthen ties between farmers and Morrocco’s ruling Monarchy under King Mohammad VI.

“We have to ensure that any legalization is done in an optimal fashion,”Abdelhalim Allaoui, a lawmaker with the ruling Justice and Development Party, told Business Week.“We need to establish what the medicinal virtues of the plant are and then think of exports, pharmaceutical industry developments, and how to draw foreign investment. This is a promising sector for the economy.” Business Week Article

For the families using Cannabis as a livelihood strategy and for the end user in the European Markets, this is all very good news highlighting the economic benefits of a plant known to sustain life in this region for centuries.

Hempsters Plant the Seed: Industrial Hemp bridges American History with Vision for a Sustainable Future

When most people think of hemp, visions of parental lectures and classroom moments with dire warnings about the evils of the drug marijuana flash through their minds. This common misconception is one of the main reasons industrial hemp is not growing throughout America today. Hemp is often confused with marijuana even though hemp contains less than 1% THC (Tetra Hydro Cannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana. Hempsters Plant the Seed explains the differences in the two plants and sheds light on the deep connection industrial hemp has with our past while showing how hemp can help us in the future.

Hempsters Plant the Seed takes the viewer all over the country following hemp activists commiting bold acts of civil disobedience in an attempt to end the prohibition of this extremely useful plant. Hempsters introduces politicians, farmers and industry professionals all spending their time and energy educating the general public and law enforcement of the true nature of the cannabis plant. Law enforcement is represented showing officers who claim there is great confusion when trying to decide between industrial hemp plants and marijuana plants from the air when industrial hemp is grown in American farm fields. A clear case is made to debunk this theory.

Industrial Hemp Activists have made incredible sacrifices to relay their message to the masses and make change. Hempsters has a teacher fired for showing examples of industrial hemp clothing products in a class about agriculture, an activist living in an old growth tree for an extended period to keep timber companies from cutting it down and the Lakota Indian Tribe exercising their sovereign rights by planting industrial hemp crops multiple times only to have the Drug Enforcement Administration cut them down just before harvest. Woody Harrelson and representatives of Hemp Industry Association are arrested and jailed for planting industrial hemp seeds in Kentucky and Washington DC. Hempsters shows the determination and resolve of these individuals, inspiring the audience to get involved with a strong call to action.

Andy and Jake Graves, Kentucky Farmers

Hempsters goes beyond activism, showing the plight of the small American farmer competing with corporations to sustain their livelihood. The film follows Kentucky State House Bill 855 authorizing the growing of industrial hemp for research purposes sponsored by The Kentucky Hemp Collective, a highlighted organization comprised of politicians and farming families through due process in Kentucky legislature. "Since 1985 more than 250,000 farmers have lost their farms, every week 500 more farms go out of business." states Woody Harrelson. Industrial hemp would be a solution for Kentucky farmers, serving as a sustainable cash crop easily grown without the need for pesticides. Kentucky farmers point out industrial hemp is grown in 29 countries including Canada and their desire to restore the crop to American farmlands.

Most people are unaware of Kentucky's role in industrial hemp's history. At one point, the State of Kentucky was the leading producer of industrial hemp and housed the largest seed bank in the United States. In 1942, the US Military destroyed all of the seeds being stored in the State as a part of marijuana prohibition and American Farmers were unwillingly forced into corporately producing cash crops like soy, corn and tobacco. After World War II when American Farmers were ordered to grow hemp for military rope and canvas, the government destroyed all of the hemp seeds in Kentucky. If American Farmers were to return to growing industrial hemp, they would have to purchase seed stock from foreign countries.

Hempsters presents the industrial hemp plant as a solution to many tough environmental problems people face today including replacing trees as a source for paper pulp, using hemp oil in a diesel engine vehicle and substituting traditional building material with hemp products. It shows a hemp house in the process of being built with Hempcrete, hemp roofing shingles and hemp particle board. The viewer walks away with a wider understanding of the potential of industrial hemp and highlights some of its many uses.

Hempsters Plant the Seed is an excellent educational tool for activists and individuals to show when presenting industrial hemp as a sustainable solution. Every person leaves from viewing the movie with an understanding of hemp's rich history in the United States and what hemp can do for the economy, the farmers and the environment.

Cinema Libre studios, full service production and distribution company serving independent film makers, released Hempsters Plant the Seed in 2011 as a part of their EarthNOW! series. Other films released include Fuel, Gashole, End of Poverty? and NORML Life. For more information on these and other titles visit their website.

Agricultural Dietary Hemp Foods: A Look at How Amino Acids Function in the Body

Information about agricultural dietary hemp is available almost everywhere.  Scientific studies, internet bloggers, raw food recipes and bodybuilding fact sheets tell us hemp foods provide all of the essential amino acids and some non essential ones. Hemp provides the perfect ratio of essential fatty acids. But what do these things really do for the body? I found myself working and failing to remember basic biology class from high school and decided to do a refresher course on proteins and other nutrients on a cellular level.

 

Proteins do millions of things for the body; anything from carrying cells to areas affected by diseased cells to rebuilding and restoring with new cells. Proteins in food are broken down into amino acids in the stomach which are carried into the body and distributed according to need.  The Body needs millions of proteins to carry out basic functions and in fact amino acids make up three fourths of body solids. 

 

After obsessively watching video after video of random letter and number combinations used to describe proteins, I started to understand that proteins are not as important as the Amino Acids themselves. In fact, Proteins are a nothing more than a transporter used to take in amino acids so they can be broken down by the digestive process and reassembled where they are needed in the body.  Here is the first video from the Raw Foods movement I found interesting: 

According to the Raw Foods Muscle Building movement, it’s not about protein. In fact, protein is nothing more than a middle man of sorts. The body works harder to break down proteins while amino acids in their raw natural state are all ready to go to work wherever they are needed in the body. 

Amino Acids by definition are described as are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain that varies between different amino acids. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. They are particularly important in biochemistry, where the term usually refers to alpha-amino acids by Wiki. Wiki for Amino Acids

When I read this for the first time, the whole article seemed as if it were written in another language. To make sense of it all, I had to look at the function of each acid. Muscles are made from Amino Acids and heal faster when given a steady daily supply.  Amino acids work in many ways in basic and advanced brain function. There are Globulins serving as transporters carrying antibodies into the body to fight invading cells. Antibodies gather up bad elements and isolate them so they can be removed or destroyed. Hormones are used to communicate from one gland to the next.  Enzymes are important in the digestive process.

Amino acids function in so many ways in the body, life would not be possible without them.  Essential amino acids are not able to be created by the body and have to be obtained from an outside plant source.  I found this video of a human representation of how proteins work in the body directed in 1971 by Robert Alan Weiss for the Department of Chemistry of Stanford University and it helped me understand a bit of the process. 

How do Agricultural Dietary Hemp products help? This Hemp Oil Profile presentation given by Mary Beth Augustine, RD, CDN, an Integrative Medicine Nutritionist presented to 2002 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference, hosted by Patients Out of Time helped me understand the role of the nutrients, fatty acids and amino acids found in hemp foods in my body. 

I found it interesting that all amino acids and essential fatty acids transferred to the human body through meat come from the animal eating plants or sea weed in the wild. This backs up the proteins as a middleman theory. The protein is nothing more than a transmitter. MaryBeth also compares soy nutrients versus hemp nutrients citing hemp as a more complete source of nutrients in optimal ratio for ease of use in the body. 

 

In addition to providing all of the amino acids necessary to life, hemp foods also provide an adequate daily supply of calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, Copper and Manganese. Hemp contains antioxidants and chlorophyll. Omega 3’s and 6’s which attract oxygen, absorb sunlight, reduce lactic acid and play a crucial role in brain functioning, skin and hair growth and eye development. 

Agricultural dietary hemp products are easy to include in daily meals. Hemp flour can replace conventional flour for breads, pastas and pastries. Hemp oil can be used on salads and in any recipe calling for oil as an ingredient. Hemp protein powder makes a wonderful addition to fruit smoothies. 

Agricultural Dietary Hemp Foods do so much for the body. Why is the United States government so dedicated to continuing the senseless prohibition of its use? Consumer demand is the most powerful way to effect legislation.  Get involved today by contacting your local State and Federal representatives to let them know you support Industrial Hemp and would like for American farmers to be able to grow and produce this beneficial plant. VoteHemp's What I Can Do Page

Restaurants Serving Agricultural Hemp Foods Improve Quality of Life

The oldest known food catering establishments dated as far back as the Song Dynasty (960-1279) whose paper money economy and healthy middle class allowed them to cater to the residents who lived there as well as travelers. All other examples of eating establishments came in the form of Inns and catered to the weary traveler. Though located in busy areas, the local residents were not patrons of these establishments. 

 

The word Restaurant comes from the French Word Restaurur meaning “a food which restores”.  The first restaurants emerging in Europe, specifically France, Spain and England in the 16^th and 17^th centuries served food family style or as buffets bringing people together to share a common meal. Waiters did not begin carrying around platters of food as a part of service until the beginning of the 18^th century around the same time patrons began choosing items from a menu. 

 

Throughout history, restaurants and eating establishments have provided nourishing social experiences locally and abroad. Community meetings are held in these spaces as well as personal and business engagements, making restaurants the backdrop for memorable human interactions. At this point there are so many restaurants in so many places many no longer eat at home preferring the convenience of a well cooked meal without having to deal with the business of making it. Serving a meal for people is an art that spans time and centuries, but today’s market is competitive and saturated.

 

It must be difficult to own and operate a restaurant. Politics, society and misinterpretations of what is real and healthy shape the decision businesses have to make.  Tough times means cutting costs wherever possible and restaurants often times are forced to compromise quality products used in the foods served just to keep the lights on. To make matters more gloomy, today’s degrading economy brings health articles advising people not to eat out to avoid health issues and reports of families cutting their entertainment budgets to make ends meet.  

 

What can a restaurant do to stand out in a sea of dining choices? Old marketing models sell atmosphere and service, friendly staff and discounts for large quantities of food. These models do not fit in a World where people care about what they eat. The staff can be as nice as they want, but ultimately, if the food lacks nutrition, there is no value in what’s being offered to the community. 

Agricultural Hemp provides a solution. Hemp Seeds and Oils provide all of the amino acids, Omega 3 and 6’s and numerous other necessary nutrients the body needs to function properly. One is able to get the complete recommended daily supply in less than 3 Tablespoons of seed, oil or protein powder. On a molecular level, the proteins supplied by hemp rid the body of bad cells and replace them with new functioning cells daily. All of that and it’s organic, glutton free and hypoallergenic. 

Hemp Flour, Hemp Oil, Hemp Protein Powder and Hemp Seeds are easy to use as substitutions in recipes already served on the menu or inspire something new! Restaurants are able to boast the healthiest food in the market and the community benefits all the way down to the cellular level. It’s easy to produce effective, truthful marketing copy when the food served improves the quality of life in such a personal way. Mission statements should reflect the restaurants desire to serve food allowing them to live up to the standards the French name implies when defined as “a food which restores”. 

Consumers have been known to choose healthier products and services over destructive ones. They have proven the value of focusing on buyers needs and many businesses have endured the downturn of the economy because of their commitments to the good of the communities they serve. This is the year to try something new and Agricultural Hemp Foods are a perfect way to show appreciation for your customers and communities as a whole. What could be more sustainable than that?