Topic: Hemp

A federal bill is moving toward legalizing industrial hemp for the first time in 80 years as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. The hosts discuss the economic potential of the CBD market and the historical reasons for hemp's prohibition. Dvorak attributes the original ban to William Randolph Hearst's desire to protect his timber investments from hemp-based paper competition.

The show acknowledges high-tier donations from producers, including a $1,000 contribution from James Jackson and David from Scottsdale. Star Hill Hemp is featured for offering a "DUCKIT22" discount code to listeners, with a portion of sales going back to the show. The segment also touches on the health concerns of producers regarding "turbo cancer" and heart attacks in their communities.

The hosts read a long list of $50+ donations, many of which include birthday wishes for Adam Curry. They also promote Star Hill Hemp, a producer-owned company providing hemp derivatives and a new testosterone-boosting formulation for the hosts.

The Mayor of Miami is moving to allow city services and taxes to be paid in Bitcoin, with plans to hold the cryptocurrency in the city's treasury. This "progressive" move contrasts with warnings from Christine Lagarde, who views crypto as an "exit ramp" from central bank control. There is a suggestion that Texas should similarly embrace Bitcoin mining and hemp farming.

The hosts addressed backlash from the cannabis community regarding previous discussions on "scromiting" (cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome). They clarified that their concerns center on the use of toxic pesticides in commercial marijuana cultivation rather than the plant itself, urging users to seek reputable sources that test for chemical contaminants.

The history of hemp in America is discussed, including 17th-century laws requiring farmers to grow it and its later suppression by paper and pharmaceutical interests. A case study of a child with epilepsy shows a 40% reduction in seizures using CBD, raising questions about the "shameful" lack of research permitted in the U.S. The hosts argue that the film "Reefer Madness" was a tool used to associate the plant with racial minorities and criminal behavior.

Nick Raimondi is knighted in a formal ceremony following a long-term "layaway plan" of donations. His official title includes a diverse list of items: garlic, broccoli, espresso, hemp milk, fry bread, fembots, Dilaudid, Dramamine, mutton, and mead. The hosts also discuss a title change for Countess Tanya Wyman and the importance of the peerage map in the event of an "Armageddon."

The hosts recount a recent trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and a stop in Van Buren on the drive back to Austin. They discuss the local culture, the quality of regional cannabis which they jokingly refer to as "research," and the history of hemp growing in the area.

Section 538 of the new omnibus bill effectively prevents the Department of Justice from using funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. The bill also protects industrial hemp research. In California, Governor Jerry Brown granted a pardon to actor Robert Downey Jr. for past drug and weapon convictions, a move the hosts suspect was influenced by Disney.

Authorities in India are implementing a 10-year plan to clean the Taj Mahal, which is being discolored by air pollution from Agra. Measures include banning the burning of cow dung for fuel. Adam Curry shares an anecdote from a 1990 documentary in Jamaica where he was told that hemp burns hotter than coal, a claim John C. Dvorak views with skepticism.

A C-SPAN caller's claims about hemp being a "multi-trillion dollar" green energy source are debunked. While hemp is a versatile agricultural product, the assertions that the first diesel engine ran on hemp oil or that the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper are identified as common myths within the pro-marijuana community. The hosts argue that these historical inaccuracies are used to pander to activists rather than provide sound energy policy.

The hosts acknowledge a birthday shout-out for Dame Heather of the Lost Boys and read a donation note from Mark Plattenkamp in Amsterdam. The donor discusses the benefits of non-psychoactive hemp oil and recalls Adam Curry's early career in the Netherlands. The segment includes various "de-douching" requests and "stoner karma" for the contributors.

The discussion explores the versatility of the hemp plant, which can be used for milk, rope, paper, and fabric. It is suggested that the Hearst Corporation historically lobbied against hemp to protect its timber and paper mill interests. The hosts note that industrial hemp contains negligible THC and is an easy-to-grow "weed" that was unfairly criminalized.

The hosts discuss the use of natural hemp in other cultures versus the immediate prescription of drugs to children in the U.S. They criticize California Attorney General Kamala Harris and the "myth" of California liberalism, noting that voters failed to legalize marijuana due to negative media campaigns.

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), backed by George Soros and Paul Volcker, is a primary supporter of marijuana legalization. It is theorized that the true goal of the movement is the centralized regulation and patenting of industrial hemp, a trillion-dollar industry. The DPA's website and podcast are criticized for being outdated and poorly maintained.

A segment from Family Guy advocating for marijuana legalization is discussed, referencing the historical role of William Randolph Hearst in criminalizing hemp. The hosts also note a Wall Street Journal report on the "Emerald Triangle" in Northern California facing competition from large-scale pot farms in Los Angeles County.

Listener emails describe extreme adverse reactions to high-potency medical marijuana, including prolonged paranoia. The hosts compare these modern accounts to the 1930s "Reefer Madness" propaganda campaign led by William Randolph Hearst. They debate whether current media stories about "flipping out" on weed are organic or part of a campaign to prevent legalization in California.

Marijuana is the highest-valued crop in California, estimated at $17 billion annually, which dwarfs traditional agricultural products like milk ($7.3 billion) and grapes ($3.1 billion). Proponents argue that legalizing and taxing the industry could generate $1.4 billion in state revenue. Beyond its use as a drug, the hemp plant is noted for its potential in fuel and industrial production.

A nuclear high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) consists of three components: E1 (high frequency), E2 (medium frequency), and E3 (low frequency). Together, they can destroy electronic control systems and long-distance transmission lines. Additionally, non-nuclear High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons are being developed by nations like Sweden to disrupt electronics from a distance.

New research from Spain indicates that THC may prompt the death of brain cancer cells in mice without affecting healthy cells. Simultaneously, Representatives Ron Paul and Barney Frank have introduced a bill to legalize industrial hemp. The hosts discuss the historical reasons for hemp's prohibition, citing competition with the paper industry and William Randolph Hearst's media campaigns.