This War On Drugs Is For Suckers

MayorBob.

Posted to Etcetera on Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:41:31 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

America's drug warriors never seem to tire in their quest to have something to get their bowels in an uproar. It's not enough that they seem intent on creating another "illegal drug" they can prosecute. Although, they might have an argument here - the use of Salvia divinorum does produce hallucinations (although not addictions). But our drug warriors are now onto another insidious drug-related threat to America. This substance doesn't produce highs, lows, or much of anything beyond potential tooth decay. No, the main thing about this substance is that the damned pot suckers taste just like weed.

Georgia is taking the point in this battle against pot suckers. Governor Sonny Perdue signed a measure this past week banning their sale to anyone under the age of 18 which will take effect in July. The legislative hero of this battle is a State Senator with the unlikely name of Doug Stoner. Stoner says the law is necessary because the candies are "gateways to drug use" and are "particularly targeted to minority communities."

The candies, sold with names like Chronic Candy and Pot Suckers, are made with hemp oil. The oil is not psychoactive, thus the suckers don't deliver a buzz. But, they do deliver the distinctive "grassy taste" of weed. As the company motto proclaims "every lick is like taking a hit." Just to show that fear of a pot-tasting candy isn't the dominion of the Bible Belt, a New York City Councilwoman plans on holding hearings this summer. Seems she spotted them on the counter at convenience stores in her district.

Vote Hemp is the national organization "dedicated to the acceptance of and free market for low-THC industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow this agricultural crop." Vote Hemp official Tom Murphy fears the Georgia law might become the leading edge of an attack on the entire hemp industry, "this law may unintentionally ban hemp foods and other hemp products in Georgia as well." Murphy mentioned that state authorities, never what you might call friends of hemp, could attempt to apply this law against products such as hemp milk, hemp granola and cosmetics such as lip balm made with hemp.