I wonder what the criteria was for calling it the best selling crop.

My guess is that it might be the most profitable if the 'farmer' doesn't get caught. Imagine what the street value would be for a bushel of maryjane as opposed to corn.

I'm not shocked, though I might have been had I actually heard the reports.

Both large and small plantings are found often within a 100 mile radius of me. Occasionally (I think) the street value is a million dollars or more. A farmer would have to raise a far greater amount of corn or beans to be worth that amount of money.

Sue

Take the report with a grain of salt...

It was written by California marijuana policy researcher Jon Gettman who wants potlegalized nationwide....

Figues can't lie, they say.

But - liars can figger.

Have no idea regarding the validity of the claim ...

... but we can believe everything that we see on TV ...

... read in the paper ...

... can't we?

ole joyful

Now if only someone could figure out how to use it for fuel to run our cars. hmmmm gosh I wonder if the smoke in the air would make people a little more mellow or maybe that would be a bit to dangerous. ok never mind I'm babbling now. Sorry! lol

carealot, Patent that idea. We can send the fuel everywhere war breaks out. LOL
oakleif

Actually, hemp can be used as fuel, same as any other plant--turn it to ethanol. Like corn. And it has the added advantage of not making foods more expensive because of increased demand.

It's also a better source of paper pulp than trees. Grows quicker, more renewable.

I wish they'd give up already and admit they've lost the 'war on drugs' worse than iraq. Around here the biggest crop isn't MJ, it's meth. Tiny towns w/ populations in the low hundreds have a few meth busts every year. And yet, it doesn't go away. And the rest of us can't buy a freaking cold pill because they're used for meth production. And yet, it doesn't go away. Because the dealers are smarter than the govt, and find another ingredient.

Just legalize it, sell it at CVS, and tax it like cigarettes. The deficit would be gone in a year. Or, people would lose interest because it's no longer 'forbidden.'

But ...

... but ...

... then the growers'd want a heavy duty government subsidy!

Have a great week, everyone.

ole joyful

I wish they'd give up already and admit they've lost the 'war on drugs' worse than iraq. Around here the biggest crop isn't MJ, it's meth. Tiny towns w/ populations in the low hundreds have a few meth busts every year. And yet, it doesn't go away. And the rest of us can't buy a freaking cold pill because they're used for meth production. And yet, it doesn't go away.

Hear, hear!! To me, that "war" and useless programs like D.A.R.E. are poster children for zero-based-budgeting the entire government. It's just money spent stupidly, with no consideration as to the return on the investment. It probably sounds quite cold of me to say that, but every single one of us balances cost versus benefit all day, every day. Why we cannot apply that kind of judgement to the "war" on drugs or the wisdom of subsidizing tobacco farmers and then paying for the long-term care of tobacco users just completely escapes me. Unfortunately, anyone in elected office who raises such questions probably will hear carefully-edited bites of those trenchant questions come the next election; soundbites that will make him/her sound like they're against apple pie and puppies. :-(

Add me to the chorus, too! I'm nearly 50, and like many of you I've had too much experience to buy into the notion of a "war" on drugs. For heaven's sake, let's move on and deal honestly with the issue.

The meth. issue is just starting to become problematic in my state; there was a pretty big bust a month/so ago. Insulated as we have been (relatively) I was unaware of how sweeping the problem is in the mid-west. AND how expensive a problem it is in the penal system... evidently, meth. destroys teeth and the costs to taxpayers who fund the medical/DENTAL care in correctional facilities has increased exponentially in the past few years.

And we're still flipping out about grass?! Why am I even surprised?

Just think if there were no drug laws, prostitution legalized as well as gambling, the mobsters would be unemployed!

And your point would be?

You want to end drug use, stop trying to block drugs. You need to make people want to stop using drugs.

There's a simple solution: posion the drug supply.

I thought prostitution and gambling were legalized. But i'm just an old country girl and all i know is most tv stars today appear to be prostitutes and gambleing is also featured on tv a lot, even news,lotteries powerball etc.
Yes, down in town i hear of meth labs. For all the good laws seem to do they may as well be legalized.

Had to go to sherrifs office to complain abt a bad neighbor. There was a notice on the wall offering $2500 for info for indicting marijuana growers. I told my DD "we could make a fortune hikeing around our mts." She replied " We would'nt live to report the first grower."
vickie

But ...
... but ...

... then the growers'd want a heavy duty government subsidy!

Ha!!! Too true.