President Ronald Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
He was exactly right. Sadly, he was already decades too late.
Government bureaucrats love to claim that the red tape they put in place is supposed to be for the greater good. What they are failing to comprehend is that we, as a people, know that’s a bunch of…. Well, you know where I was about to go with that! What these unelected bureaucrats are really trying to do is expand government command and control over the lives of We the People. Far too often, federal agricultural policies focus on helping farmers navigate through massive programs rather than focusing on how the over bloated government itself creates the problems for farmers and ranchers alike. Massive regulations, in particular, being at the top of the problematic list. Regulations tend to limit farmers and ranchers the ability to address agricultural risk by making production and innovations more difficult and hinders them from working their lands to meet market needs. In general, due to unsound science and data provided by paid for “experts”, federal agencies develop unnecessary regulations which ultimately impose major compliance costs and other financial burdens. These regulatory measures not only affect the regulated parties but are also passed on to consumers who wind up paying higher prices for goods, services, and interestingly enough in some cases, inferior quality. The cannabis industry being one of them.
Let’s ask ourselves this… Do members of Congress have a clue what they are voting for or against when it comes to the topic of cannabis? Perhaps a few, but doubtful as they rely on the advice of “experts” who are bought and paid for by big corporations who want to have a monopoly over certain products. Then there are also members of Congress who are quite happy to be bought and paid for themselves to push whatever agenda makes them the most money. Because of this, the battle between the federal level and states to “legalize” cannabis continues to march on. We already know this has caused many small CBD manufacturers and small business to close shop because of the rising costs to them. The costs have forced them to increase prices and lose customers because their products are no longer affordable. Not sustainable in any way, is it?
You know, sometimes I sit here and ponder how we got to this point. I think of the Original Constitution that was put in place to protect our rights. (Never forget, we have Sovereign rights, NOT Constitutional rights. There is a difference.) I think about how the only laws passed by Congress are supposed to be laws to keep governments in check. How ironic is it that We the People are having to fight, not only the non-elected who continue to impose unlawful regulations for “The Powers that Think They Be”, but the very Congress itself that are supposed to be protecting our rights to pursue life, liberty, and happiness which would include, growing, consuming, and creating what we want, where we want, especially on our own lands, as long as we harm no one? At what point did these ill-educated people decide we needed THEM to tell us what is best for us? Honestly, I could pinpoint an era in time when it all started, but that’s for another story. Instead, I will remind you of two alphabet soup entities who dictate to Congress as opposed to Congress keeping them in their place. Two entities that were created to implement control and not elected by “We the People”
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the oldest comprehensive consumer protection agency in the U.S. federal government. The law was a quarter-century in the making and was headed by Harvey Washington Wiley, Chief Chemist of the USDA Bureau of Chemistry, who provided basic elements of protection that consumers had never known before that time. Although it was not known by its present name until 1930, the FDA has changed along with social, economic, political, and legal changes in the United States. Examining the history of these changes illuminates the evolving role that the FDA has played in promoting public health and offers lessons to consider as we evaluate current regulatory challenges.”
Yes, the same Food and Drug Administration that approves food and beverages that contain poisons and toxins for U.S. consumers. Many of which have been banned from other countries because consumption of those same products is harmful to humans. How fascinating!
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.
- We have a vision to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve our Nation’s natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.
- Our strategic goals serve as a roadmap for the Department to help ensure we achieve our mission and implement our vision.”
How are you doing out there Rural America? How are those overly regulated innovations going for you?
In the end, knowledge is power. We as consumers and/or business owners, etc. need to back and support those fighting against all the restrictions placed over ALL of us. And, for those invested in the cannabis fight, I would encourage you to read the article “Outlawed, the Banning of Industrial Hemp” as a reminder of how cannabis came to be illegal in the first place. We can never forget, it’s all about a power struggle for those that have a burning desire to remain in control and rule over the mass population.
The question is will we continue to allow it?
