Originally published February 28 2011
Australia to outlaw thousands of plants, including national flower
by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
(NaturalNews) In what it claims is an effort to stamp out plants and flowers that can be used as drugs, Australian authorities have proposed insane legislation that will outlaw hundreds, if not thousands, of common plant species, including the golden wattle, its national flower. If the law passes, nurseries, commercial growers, farmers, cactus collectors, and even backyard gardeners will become criminals overnight -- even though many of the plants being targeted are not even used as drugs.
Currently, only five plants are banned from cultivation in Australia because of their alleged inherent drug components. But the new legislation will ban from cultivation any plant that contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a naturally-occurring hallucinogen, which according to the Australian Attorney General includes many common and native plants, from various cacti and fodder grasses, to simple backyard ornamental plants.
The entire list of plants slated for elimination can be viewed here:
http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/rwpattach.nsf/a...
While DMT does have hallucinogenic properties, the component is found in literally thousands of plant species that are native to the Australian landscape. Farmers use many of the grasses and legumes on the list to feed their animals, for instance. Countless gardeners, landscapers, and plant collectors cultivate many of the plants on the list as well. And numerous seed banks that collect and save plant species will have to dump their seed stocks, should the legislation be passed.
The proposal is an irresponsible, ill-derived threat to Australian freedom, and it needs to be stopped. The Australian Minister for Justice, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, is accepting public comments on the issue up until March 11, 2011. Those concerned are urged to send email opposition to:
[email protected].
To learn more about the issue, please visit:
http://www.gardenfreedom.com/
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