John Shaw
Introduction as your Republican Candidate for the Florida Senate
July 04, 2009
Dear Global Citizens,
My name is John Shaw, and I live in Tallahassee, Florida. I am 23 years old.
In 2007 and 2008, I ran a political campaign for the Florida House of Representatives based entirely upon the reform of drug laws. In the beginning, my platform was simple: legalize all drugs. While I was able to maintain this position for quite some time – on and off camera – it became apparent to me that changing drug laws would have to be done slowly, one step at a time. I decided to revamp my platform a bit, and announced my new objectives during a live televised broadcast at the Tallahassee Greater Chamber of Commerce Forum in August of 2008, three months prior to Election Day. My new targets for legalization were marijuana and industrial hemp.
Notwithstanding, that platform didn’t appease the pundits. I was the brunt of laughter at any major political event; I even received a zinger from the Sheriff of Leon County at a Tiger Bay Club forum, standing to ask if I had “brought any samples” with me. After the hilarity ensued, however, I noticed a quiet, natural calm that came over the audience of listeners. This hush was coupled with an eager ear; people were not only willing to let me speak, they were genuinely interested in everything I had to say – and I had quite a bit to explain. One of my most memorable moments came during an agricultural forum held in Gadsden County, during which I was the only one of 13 legislative candidates between two districts who was able to offer an entirely new cash crop to the agricultural industry – hemp.
The industrial uses of hemp are significant, and the side-effects bundled with growing such a “dangerous” plant are practically non-existent. In fact, it has been said that one could smoke an acre of industrial hemp without any effects. However, if hemp is really not at all dangerous, why then is it illegal? Keep in mind, too, that the United States of America is the only industrialized nation on this planet that has forbidden hemp from its list of allowable plants, thus allowing all other nations to benefit from its sale, while the country most capable of producing and processing the plant is left out.
In the early 1930s E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company became the largest manufacturer of plastics and nylons in America. Their plastics were created entirely from a petroleum base, which meant DuPont was in strong partnership with big oil companies and greedy politicians. In 1937, with the realization that hemp had bested them in terms of plastic production and fuel efficiency, DuPont, relying on government and private intervention, was instrumental in getting laws passed that made illegal the manufacturing and importation of hemp. The company’s success in eliminating its only competition resulted in its reaping huge profits for their own products. DuPont is currently second largest chemical company in the world.
However, banning this commodity was not an easy feat. It was quite obvious that one could not simply ask Congress to forbid the distribution of a certain product simply because it meant competition. So, in order to do this, hemp had to be identified as being harmful. Since hemp was not proven to be harmful at all, it had to be somehow publicly tainted, so that people would become afraid of it. Through the uses of yellow journalism, hemp was tarnished at the hands of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst and drug czar Harry J. Anslinger. "The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races,” said Anslinger. After a short while, hemp was successfully included within the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which effectively criminalized and banned the entire cannabis family.
Surprisingly, yellow journalism is still being practiced. “Marijuana leads to homosexuality…and therefore to AIDS.” - So said Carlton Turner, former American drug czar during the 1980s.
If you’re confused by now as to which “marijuana” I’m referring to, I’m not surprised. This is exactly how the media industry managed to fool an entire nation into believing that a seemingly harmless plant created death, dishonor and despair. To set the record straight: marijuana and hemp are two completely different plants that occur naturally. Hemp is one of Earth’s most durable fibers, and it can be used for practically anything. A few of its manifestations are paper, soaps, cosmetics, paints, foods (hemp seeds are highly nutritious), textiles, chemicals, plastics, clothing, canvas, rope, and especially biofuel. Hemp produces more energy than corn, sugar, flax, or any other biofuel currently in production – and, as long as we are investigating food crops for fuel alternatives, the cost of food will rise.
Marijuana, on the other hand, is claimed to have only one specific purpose on this planet, when in fact it has recently been found to be an extremely effective, natural healing treatment for certain cancers. This is in part because humans are created with cannabis receptors throughout our bodies.
People have often asked why I continue to have such a “one-issue” platform. “John, you’re not going to get many votes with that, people care more about other things, such as property insurance, tax decreases, and State employee benefits.”
Allow me to address, once and for all, why I have chosen this platform.
To be expected to stand in front of a crowd and basically lie is completely out of the question. I take offense each time someone suggests that I “expand” my platform; why on earth would I attempt to address the multitude of issues we currently face, when we haven’t even begun to address a failed and harmful global policy that has lasted over 70 years? The world’s political situation is extremely volatile; the United States’ national debt is now over 10 trillion dollars. Congressmen drive to their legislative sessions in BMWs while a five-year-old starves to death 5,000 miles away. War in the Middle East continues, and North Korea dangles a nuclear missile like a cat-toy – and this is all entirely acceptable? I pray still that the human race has a conscience.
This platform has the potential of answering many questions and alleviating many issues. The legalization of these two plants should be used as a cornerstone prior to attempting to solve any other issue we currently face. For example, it was reported in December of 2008 that Florida’s budget deficit rose from $150 million to $2.3 billion. Ideas thrown about by state lawmakers included cutting Medicaid, increasing taxes, and/or cutting funds from various statewide programs. All of these suggestions might only serve to alleviate a problem, while having a seriously negative impact on Florida’s citizens. If we were to legalize and tax hemp, not only would it provide a new source of income for the state, it would provide jobs. It is estimated that about 9% of Americans are now without work. The creation of a new industry in textiles, paper mills, plastics and other new products via hemp would most certainly, at a minimum, relieve the debt burden currently carried by our citizens – and that’s just hemp.
Now, imagine if we were to tax marijuana. Currently, all profits from the illegal trade go to international drug cartels. Instead of this rather questionable method of “drug control,” if America were to finally come to terms with the fact that prohibition does not work, we would remove a significant source of income from these dangerous and violent profiteers. This, in turn, would result in a significantly safer world, as the cartels would not have their billions of dollars of profits to spend on weapons and terrorism.
This platform is very simple, and very straightforward: legalize and tax marijuana, and legalize and tax hemp. Marijuana is currently estimated to be California’s largest cash crop – and it’s illegal. Where is the sense in that? Hemp can be used to undo the years of ecological torment we have thrust upon the planet by greatly reducing our reliance on petroleum. Replace oil with hemp. We can grow it. We actually would not have to depend on foreign countries to supply our nation’s plastics and fuels. With the legalization of marijuana, our prison populations would plunge – and who pays for the inmates’ stay at those correctional facilities? Your taxpayer dollars are currently being wasted on an outdated and entirely unsuccessful prohibition that was orchestrated by corporate capitalists. The fact that it has continued this long is an outrage, and that no one dares to publicly speak about it in order to save political face should be a good indication to you that it’s time to elect someone who is willing to at least be honest in front of voters.
Prohibition does not, has not, and never will work, on any front, for any substance, product, or idea, ever – and I have to believe that anyone who attempts to continue the prohibition of anything is endangering the well-being of others.
The term “prohibition” should never be mistakenly identified with only one period of American history – it has lived with us as a virus since the dawn of humanity. Certain religions were prohibited, under pain of death, during the early centuries. People have been prevented from living free lives due to the color of their skin. People are currently prohibited from legal unions due to their gender. If we, as individuals or groups, continue to persist in failed efforts at prohibition, we will never progress. Such attempts to force others can be likened to attempting to wield the power of a god, as one might giveth, or taketh away. As far as I can tell, our God gaveth us several things, including, but not limited to, a little green plant.
Following the public distribution of the above article, I will be submitting my oath of candidacy for District 6, Florida State Senator. It is clear and irrefutable that the generation currently in power is incapable, incompetent, and unwilling to address simple humanitarian efforts to alleviate unnecessary global chaos. Be it through this election or the next, or any subsequent election thereafter, let it be known that nothing is more powerful than the truth, and the truth shall set us free.
Respectfully submitted this 4th day of July, 2009,
John Shaw
*Independent Candidate for Florida State Senate, District 6
*Please note that I have now changed my political party affiliation. Please read the following article to learn more.
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