On the topic of hemp industry - I would like to brainstorm ways to change laws, status quo, culture, etc.

Not just in Jamaica but globally.

Where does one start to campaign and draw support for an idea that one believes to be good and true?

How would one set out to achieve a goal of legislative reform?

Good question Student. We have diplomatic connections with the countries that are listed in this link: http://alturl.com/we7oo

I'm sure some of them have commercial or foreign assistance programs that would create links between their hemp cultivators/councils and ourselves. Is there a Jamaica Hemp Growers Association? If not it would be a good thing to initiate. I know of some that have expressed more than an interest and remember reading hemp encouraging articles in the newspapers a while back.

I believe it is important to explain that hemp is ganja cousin grown for uses other than psychoactivity via THC etc. As seeing is believing, various producers could be invited to showcase their wares at a lovely venue. Medicines, ice cream, energy bars, seed cakes, smoothies, cloth, rope, string, thread, animal feed and on.

Ganja legalisation is another issue that is taking it's course. Some would put them side by side, that is a debate that should be resolved from the start. My vote is to keep the two apart and to focus locally while networking globally.

Such a plant certainly dovetails into our Sustainability 2030 path. This enables public and private sector co-operation from the start.

As I see it, hemp is a wonderful idea. The problem is that it does not have the short term dollar return that the "herb" has. So most farmers may not be willing to take that course. For example, reformers have a hard time in Afghanistan encouraging poppy farmers to grow other crops because they are paid so well for opium in comparison. The challenge would be to find a way to give I and I the incentive to grow hemp.

To be commercially viable Willing, hemp would need significant acreage and specialist machines.
If hemp offers better returns and is environmentally better than sugar cane, there are thousands of acres available

If herb is legalised, the price will most likely fall as we can grow our own and the risk factors will be removed. Also, one less excuse to try fi mek man tun bwaay when caught, a value in itself.

The problem is with "significant acreage and specialist machines" turey. The ordinary man has none of that. So who will step up? Not the people who make policies and supposedly provide leadership. Take a thing like ethanol for example. See what the Brazilians have done? Then now take a look at Ja and see how many acres of former sugar-cane land now lies fallow. No vision bredren.

Small farmers could grow for a co-op which owns the equipment Willing.

A projected balance sheet would indicate if hemp cultivation is practical for us. As hemp offers protein, carbohydrates, fats and fibre; the projection would include these and other facts as externalities. I believe those in Gordon House would support land use for hemp cultivation if the facts supported it's cultivation and local processing.

An ally in the Real Green Revolution.

Hemp has been around Long Time, fought many wars and seen civilization's come and go as they have used it for its many qualities and here we are 2011 debating should we or shouldn't we because America says's no way. Do It and Do It Now. There's really no other plant like it on the planet that they have found yet. America does not own anybody. Machine Money and Land is not the problem ( Its Us ). Fight for our rights.
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