[savethehumans]

Thought we could use with a bit of amusement for a change:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')ednesday, July 20, 2005

Farmers low at hemp ban for cows
By Alan Little
BBC News, Liechtenstein
Calm cows have higher milk yields, say hemp farmers

Liechtenstein milk farmers have been stirred up by a government ban on their feeding hemp to their cattle.

They are the most chilled-out, laid-back, carefree cattle in the world, and happy cows produce better milk.

What is it that keeps the cash cows calm? Hemp, which is related to cannabis. And that's why Liechtenstein has banned its use.

This has in turn enraged the country's dairy farmers, who say that the hemp relaxes those jangly bovine nerves.

Hemp farmers are less then mellow about the new law.

"Hemp is good for cows because it is serves as a very small tranquiliser," says hemp farmer Jean-Pierre Egger.

"Many of the cows are stressed nowadays. If they eat hemp, they calm down. Now, a milk cow which is calm produces better milk. That is a fact."

No high

In neighbouring Switzerland, hemp is grown legally for industrial purposes but farmers are also banned from feeding it to cattle.

The authorities there say the trouble is that a chemical called THC - the chemical that helps give the "high" associated with cannabis use - can get into the milk.

The only thing which gets high is the quality of milk and the quality and general health of the cow.

Peter Malin, of the Liechtenstein Department of Agriculture, has similar concerns.

"We don't want to have to contaminants such as THC which doesn't occur naturally in milk," he said. "And we don't want it to be consumed by people, especially by children."

But farmers say this European hemp has none of the narcotic properties found in its Indian cousin.

The cattle here may be relaxed, but they are not stoned.

"The only thing which gets high is the quality of milk and the quality and general health of the cow. That's how high the cows are feeling," says Mr Egger.

But there are some other dairy-cow farmers who are sceptical about the milk-yield benefits of hemp. They welcome the ban.

Dairy farmer Simon Schiprscher says he never feeds his cows hemp.

"I thought the people that did were a bit exotic and alternative," he said.

So consumers of Swiss chocolate and Gruyere cheese can, well, relax.

For the cows who will have to change their diet though, life is about to become a little less laid back.

[Badger]

the industrial fertilzer crowd are opening up a new market

[Free]

Lol, i am not surprised, since I was born and grew up just a few kilometres over the border in Western Austria, where the people have a very similar mindset, i.e. conservative, christian farmers, so marihuana sort of represents the devil it doesn't matter in what form it comes.

And as much as there is a culture war between "traditional" (industrial type) farmers and organical/alternative farmers, there is a culture war over marihuana/hemp. There is a lot of discussion going on about legalization, because many many people here consume it, especially the kids, and claim that it has no worse effects than for example (legal) alcohol, which in the opposite, they claim, makes people more addicted and violent than dope.

On the other hand, just recently studies where published which showed horrific long term effects in the brain of dope-consumers, and I certainly can confirm this, those people who are permanently stoned are sooooo sloooooow and, pardon me, dumb! And do we really need another legal drug, don't we have enough problems with nicotine and alcohol?

Personally I would always prefer beer or wine over a joint, especially since I am a non-smoker, but I don't mind dope-heads, they are indeed peaceful. Anyway, it's the same with every drug, it's about how often and in what way you consume it, not what (except the really hard stuff of course).

[ShawnAvery]

funny how you call it dope in europe, here dope is methamphetamine. theres a little bit of difference.

[Free]

Ooops maybe I got my terms mixed up, but I think it's correct? I seem to remember my English friends called it dope, but maybe I just didn't get what they really where consuming?

I just recently read an article how metamphetamines became really big in the US because you just need a kitchen to produce it? Or am I mixing up something again? God I really should stop drinking organical milk...

[Chicken_Little]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Free', 'O')oops maybe I got my terms mixed up, but I think it's correct? I seem to remember my English friends called it dope, but maybe I just didn't get what they really where consuming?

I just recently read an article how metamphetamines became really big in the US because you just need a kitchen to produce it? Or am I mixing up something again? God I really should stop drinking organical milk...

[PlanComplete]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ShawnAvery', 'f')unny how you call it dope in europe, here dope is methamphetamine. theres a little bit of difference.

[Eli]

The Uk has had crank and it is not uncommon for a long time, that is methamphetamine.

People who take meth or booger, chizel, white bitch, drano or hillbilly crack are called tweekers.

Dope can be anything from coke to crank to pot. Meth is 1000 times worse than pot even coke won't rot the teeth right out of your head like crank.