drugs

So this is pretty fun. Bill Vermillion, the Birther running mate of underdog KY gubernatorial candidate Bobbie Holsclaw, sent out this press release yesterday morning, adding that it was “sent to places of worship”.

Ladies and gentleman, you’ve heard of the “gateway drug” scourge of marijuana. Now be prepared to be scared out of your mind by a new lurking danger: industrial hemp, the “gateway crop”:

I am writing to tell you about a very serious issue facing our state. As a retired Navy veteran, a high school teacher, husband, father and grandfather, I am appalled and have grave concerns over a proposed plan by our opponent, Phil Moffett and his running mate, Mike Harmon. As you may know, the Moffett camp has proposed the legalization of a plant that is the cousin to marijuana, also known as hemp. While it would take an excessive amount of hemp to produce a mind-altering state, it is currently illegal to grow it under the DEA and federal regulations in the U.S. However, we believe that cultivating this crop puts us one step closer to the legalization of marijuana; therefore, we consider hemp as nothing more than a gateway crop. Mr. Moffett suggested in interviews that even a ten year old could tell the difference between a hemp plant and marijuana plant. However, local state and federal agencies disagree with Mr. Moffett on this fact. In my experience as a member of the United States Navy, I have learned to listen to the experts in the field on issues such as this, and not to idealize politicians.

We’ve also learned how Mr. Moffett plans to override federal laws that prohibit the growth of hemp in the U.S., which is to suggest nullifying the Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Agriculture. We can argue the size and scope of these federal agencies, but to eliminate these three important agencies is extreme and unwarranted. Even Ronald Reagan, the founder of modern day conservatism, did not want to dismantle government, but rather have the government work beside us – not over us.

There are many questions that must be asked when looking at Phil Moffett’s plan to nullify these government agencies:

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SECOND: Who will police these new hemp farms that Mr. Moffett is suggesting we plant? We already have a huge drug problem in this state. Marijuana is our state’s largest cash crop. Local, state, and federal agencies are against the growth of hemp because it makes their jobs harder to control the growth of marijuana. Our state is already bankrupt and we can barely fight the drug problems we have, even with the help of the federal government. Who will be policing these hemp farms once Mr. Moffett gets rid of the DEA, FDA and Department of Agriculture? And again, does this mean increased state taxes to do so?

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FOURTH: Mr. Moffett claims that his plan for the legalization of hemp has nothing to do with legalizing marijuana. If that is the case, then why is this plan supported by the Marijuana Party of Kentucky? And why is the Marijuana Party of Kentucky openly raising money for the Moffett campaign?

There are many more questions that must be asked when looking at Mr. Moffett’s plan to legalize the growth of hemp in our Commonwealth. Recently, two supporters of Phil Moffett were apprehended in a drug raid. This raid was conducted at their place of business, where police collected guns, money, drugs and marijuana smoking devices. Those involved in the raid are not only supporters of Mr. Moffett, but also the same people who helped organize a December 7, 2010 fundraiser for him! Both donated $1,000 to the campaign and were with the Moffett entourage in Washington, DC while their store was raided. When the Moffett campaign was asked about this their answer was, and I quote, “innocent until proven guilty.” One of these supporters even belongs to the Facebook group “Marijuana is Safer” where pictures are posted of her at the DC event wearing a Moffett sticker and standing with the Co-Founder of the Marijuana Policy Project.

I will also tell you, as a candidate, neither I nor Bobbie would ever accept the support of anyone who was involved in such activities. And I can promise you if we had ever accepted money from folks like this, we would return it and renounce this type of activity.

Yes, farmers growing industrial hemp will just think that they’re having a good time, but the next thing you know they’ll be addicted to growing pot, and soon after that they’ll graduate to growing poppies. An endless cycle of agricultural abuse, with farmers strung out on their profitable living all over the state.

Also, I think this lends a great deal of credibility to the theory that the entire Holsclaw campaign is a clever ruse by the Williams camp to siphon away votes from Republicans that are frustrated with Williams, so that Moffett doesn’t get close enough to pull off a shocker.

Unless the Holsclaw campaign is just a clever ruse to make us laugh. In which case, bravo.