Should Government Regulate Cannabis Quality?

[binaryfission]

if growers would only come together and

agree on acceptable standards

for the cultivation of marijuana

they will be the government

our government is (supposed to be) the voice of the people

knowledgeable responsible growers are the people

set the ground rules

otherwise, lobbyists will set them for you

this is the answer people. we need to get on this and establish what we want now.
What we consider:
organic
and
"fair trade" ( i.e. what is an acceptable price for a "farmer" to be payed) from the wiki's: Fair Trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as social and environmental standards. It focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit, chocolate and flowers.
meaning we could, as a market and voting block, set a price for organic weed grown not for profit. and non organic weed grown not for profit. vegan weed. outdoor weed. etc. whatever standards we wanted.
mriko has a better framework in mind already.

 

[0v3r]

I think all products should have quality control by the government...
Anybody can tell me if in Netherlands the quality of the weed is controled by the government, and as such tests are made?

thnks

 

[mean mr.mustard]

I think the government should test smokers to determine the quality they ingest... and regulate as necessary.

 

[SuperHemp]

I think all products should have quality control by the government...
Anybody can tell me if in Netherlands the quality of the weed is controled by the government, and as such tests are made?

thnks

No it is not, the weed you buy in coffeeshops comes from illegal sources, and the vast majority of it isn't exactly smooth and tasty to smoke.

 

[Capn]

something should be done to make sure people don't unknowable smoke PM'd or moldy weed.

I've seen it sold and smoked by dispensaries and med patients in cali. I've been sold pm/moldy sacks the last 4-5 times goin to dispensaries in the la area.

It's like an epidemic.

 

[treewizard]

I feel like people should be able to know with certainty what is going in their herb.

Do we really know what goes into our food? Factory farming and packaging and the manner in which food is raised and transported is the main culprit in food poisoning epidemics. Dairy, eggs, and meat are loaded with more shit and fucked with more than ever before. What has the USDA done for us?

Drugs have side effects which are more problematic than their target ailment and better documented sometimes than their main proposed effect. A drug only has to be shown to be effective in three studies. There is no limit on how many studies can be done. What is the FDA for again?

Anybody who has smoked good quality tobacco can tell you that American cigs are mostly crap. Mexican brick as far as tobacco goes. That's not even counting all the bullshit that they add in. Then as far as booze go, overpriced crap is what most of the product in the liquer store is. Distillation isn't hard or all that dangerous and yet we can't do it for ourselves and because of regulation and laws, what was once a household activity is now illegal. And all alcohol is sold at an inflated price due to taxation and regulation ie the state having to be the ones selling liquer or that there has to be a middle man in the form of a distributer. What is the ATF doing for us?

While in theory it would seem that with at least the medical stuff testing should be required, it doesn't seem like the government being directly involved would be a good thing.

 

[treewizard]

"The only conceivable need for USDA/FDA regulation would be to assure low amounts of heavy metals (not sure if cannabis could have high levels of heavy metals :?) and an absence of Botrytis. "
-ClosetAdvocate

Actually that is a VERY good point. Any immune diff person needs to know about mold, as we all do really. After Chernobyl they used industrial hemp to remove heavy radioactive metals from the soil because it is so good at absorbing them. Thats why too much fish fertilizer or even rock phosphate can be a bad idea.

 

[vonforne]

Anyone remember in the 80's how the government was talking about using paraquat on large outdoor cannabis grows?

That was the 70´s. not the 80´s. I was there. And, correct me if I am wrong but isn´t that a bit off topic?


Anyway, it would be best to leave the Government out of it totally. The only ones who would benefit from Government regulation is the Government. Fees ad such. Where does that come from? Our pockets. Will the weed be safer.....NO! IMO it would become worse and controlled so only the Government ass lickers would make money on it and they will pump out a low quality end product to sell to the masses. Just like always.

My vote goes not NO but HELL NO. No Government involvement what so ever. Let the dispensaries test just like the seed companies research for THC content.

V

 

[Capn]

Well I wish the way you felt and the way things are, were the same treewizard.

Unfortunately for us, reality isn't that nice.

I certainly don't want the government involved in its regulation.

Someone like me should do it!! An honest person that will work for bong loads and bacon cheese burgers.

I'm for hire!! lol...

 

[treewizard]

I think that there should be minimum standards and full disclosure as to the content of the product. My feelings were that the feds have failed in everything that they have been entrusted to regulate. While it would be nice to think that the government could manage a seemingly small thing like this. I agree with you that they can't. I did vote for the "alcohol and tobacco" option. But that's more in theory as they can't handle those either. I think it should be mandatory third party testing, no padding though.

 

[JackTheGrower]

really good thoughts JTG

thanks for the education

didn't know all of that

eliminate the thugs from the business;

don't let them into the collective

a mental exercise

what would your perfect production-line large indoor grow,

consist of, and look like

accepting that you would be in competition with others

I hope i haven't answered this already.

Production? I have all kinds of thoughts on that but I would need to look at the place I was growing to come up with a plan.

I would figure that quality always has a place in the market so my first goal would be that.
Then of course one has to try and provide the brands people are ordering so having a good selection would be wise.

Well given the organic soil and light I should be able to manage a few plants myself but to run a high output system and given the space more than one worker would be helpful.

On the safety side it may be best to buy only from suppliers that test the organic fertilizer products I buy or have a QC in the business to test materials.

Stuff like that.

 

[0v3r]

No it is not, the weed you buy in coffeeshops comes from illegal sources, and the vast majority of it isn't exactly smooth and tasty to smoke.

Thanks, it was a question that had doubts for some time...

 

[SouthrnPrideX]

Keep the government out of our business, please.
Too much government in all things.
They were the ones who created the problem to begin with.
They have demonstrated no expertise in the matter, actually quite the opposite. Decades of lies and disinformation. "F" the government.

I voted yes,treat it like other agriculture. But after reading what you said ... I do......have to agree with you. Fuck the government!! Stay the fuck out of my business.

 

[WaterFarmFan]

Where's the "Fuck NO! Less government, not more! No Nanny State!" option?

Amen, Brother!!!!!!!!! As I was going through the poll options, I was looking for the same thing...

WFF

 

[Botanist]

That was the 70´s. not the 80´s. I was there. And, correct me if I am wrong but isn´t that a bit off topic?


Anyway, it would be best to leave the Government out of it totally. The only ones who would benefit from Government regulation is the Government. Fees ad such. Where does that come from? Our pockets. Will the weed be safer.....NO! IMO it would become worse and controlled so only the Government ass lickers would make money on it and they will pump out a low quality end product to sell to the masses. Just like always.

My vote goes not NO but HELL NO. No Government involvement what so ever. Let the dispensaries test just like the seed companies research for THC content.

V

Now this boy knows that the only one who would benefit is government and those willing to kiss government ass.

Finally another voice of reason.

 

[Pythagllio]

Sheesh, have you anti-government folks taken a look at how people live when there's not a real government in place? Cripes, there's plenty of places in Africa, and some in South America. Why aren't you packing your bags?

The funny thing about good government is that it's invisible, and if you don't remind yourself it's in place you might tend to discount its benefits. But I can go out my door, hop in my car and go about my life without any particular worry of catastophe happening to my person and property in the civilized world. No crazed suicide bombers, no strong man that will take my shit and my daughter for pleasure, no factions fighting each other, etc, etc, etc.

But really, if you don't like government why not move to one of the places on the planet where you don't have to deal with one. A suggestion would be Swaziland. It's actually a relatively peaceful place and they love thier cannabis there, something like 30% of the population partakes and you can buy it at a farmer's market for about $2 a kilo for primo bud. Check it out, Swazi bud is very highly regarded. Like I said, it's also a relatively peaceful place for not having a particularly strong government and the rest of Africa has to pretty much go through South Africa, which does have a relatively stable gov't, to get to it.

Hey, yesterday the Swaziland Supreme Court ruled that the Swaziland Government does not have to provide free basic education at a primary school level, even though this is stipulated in the country's Constitution.
http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20100602084108971

Make sure to take a couple of cases of rubbers, AIDs is rampant. On the other hand, the women there love to fuck, or so I have read.

 

[WaterFarmFan]

Sheesh, have you anti-government folks taken a look at how people live when there's not a real government in place?

Yes, it was called America until about 1900. That is when Woodrow Wilson and gang started the progressive movement...

The funny thing about good government is that it's invisible, and if you don't remind yourself it's in place you might tend to discount its benefits.

If you think the current government is invisible, you are smoking far too much weed...

But I can go out my door, hop in my car and go about my life without any particular worry of catastophe happening to my person and property in the civilized world. No crazed suicide bombers, no strong man that will take my shit and my daughter for pleasure, no factions fighting each other, etc, etc, etc.

Why do think that is? The US has the military to back our shit up, but a bad ass military and overreaching government do not go hand in hand. Providing security for the people is one of the sole purposes of the federal government. You can only look to our porous border to the south to see where they are slacking.

But really, if you don't like government why not move to one of the places on the planet where you don't have to deal with one.

Let me pose a question to you: Does a government represent the values of its people or do people represent the values of the government? The founders would tell you the later, as the country is too diverse for the government to represent all values without infringing on the rights of others...

WFF

 

[Amos Moses]

The federal gov't should not be involved with anything related to domestic commerce. That's for state gov't.

The states already have police, health, education, tax collection, environment, welfare, courts, etc. Why duplicate it at the fed level?

The fed should only have international defense and relations.....period. They're too big and they have their tentacles wrapped around too much.

Amos

 

[WaterFarmFan]

Hey, yesterday the Swaziland Supreme Court ruled that the Swaziland Government does not have to provide free basic education at a primary school level, even though this is stipulated in the country's Constitution.

So the government is ignoring the constitution??? That sure sounds like what the current crop of political elite in America think. It starts with something small and then it gets real fucking big real fucking fast...

WFF

 

[GrnMtFinn]

FUCK treating cannabis like a pharmaceutical product! the last thing this plant needs is to be poked and prodded with cold steel instruments of a crooked corporate world. biodiversity is not what pharmaceutical firms have in mind, but money is. why spoil such a REAL thing with money and suits and ties and assholes and big business in a tall office building? keep it backyard, legalize, and keep greedy mitts at bay.