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City Commissioner: “Cannabis is the new cotton – let’s use it to our advantage.”

City Commissioner: “Cannabis is the new cotton – let’s use it to our advantage.”

April 11, 2016

By Becky Holland, editor@pineywoods.news

MARSHALL – One of the newcomers to the City of Marshall’s Commission Board would like to see the city of Marshall implement an industry that has caused many to raise an eyebrow at.

Michael Mitchell, 40, commissioner of district two in Marshall, has done an extensive study in the idea of growing cannabis as a form of revenue for the city. “We have plenty of land to do it on, and look at the jobs it would provide.”

Your eyebrows are raising higher. Cannabis – isn’t that another name for the drug, marijuana? Cannabis refers to the biological name of a plant. The most recognized is cannabis sativa. There are two names for the plant – one is marijuana – the drug and the other is hemp – used for fiber.

Mitchell said, “I am not talking about using the land to for ‘pot production-‘ but for the other uses the plant has. That production will take out the recreational effects the plant is used for. Hemp is a fiber. Hemp is used to make this linen cloth, and sacks. The oil extra of the sees are used in paints, varnishes and soaps. There is even a form of the plant that is used for the insulation of houses.”

To keep the plant from being used for recreational purposes, Mitchell said, “Different fertilizers and poisons are used to help cultivate the crop. We would get the drug off the streets. This would be the non-smokable kind – not used medically.”

Mitchell said he has spoken with a few of the other commissioners and the city manager about looking into the possibilities. It was pointed out that stories have been told that President George Washington even grew the plant – in the hemp form for years on his farm in Mount Vernon. (On the official site, http://www.mountvernon.org, there are articles discussing Washington using farm land to produce hemp.)

“I would also like to see the laws changed for those who are charged with possession of seven grams or less of cannabis in the marijuana form. I would like to see the current charge be lessened to citation in this case only. This will increase the revenue for the City of Marshall. Right now, those charged with that are taken to the county jail, and the county sees that revenue,” Mitchell said. “Our police department does the hard work in finding those who use or sell the drug illegally, and I think the city should reap the benefits.”

“Our citizens have seen and are seeing improvement to the community. Look at the tangible things that we have going on – the street improvements are very visible. We have a new street sweeper and that is helping keeping our city streets clean,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell, who is the married father of three, a disable Veteran and a college student, has lived in Marshall for the past six years, but his connection to the city goes further. This is why the commissioner really wants to see the community grow. It is his home.

“My grandparents are originally from here. I used to come here with my grandfather during the summers, and after I got out of the service, I wanted to find a place that was safe for my family.” So, he moved back to Marshall.

Mitchell just wants to see the revenue base in Marshall to grow, and to do it all correctly – using whatever resources are available – even the cannabis sativa plant. “We would be advancing agriculturally.”

To contact Michael Mitchell, email him at commissionerdistrict2@gmail.com.

*Editor’s Note – Articles and opinions of others expressed on the Piney Woods News do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the news site. The job of all who disseminate news is to present credible information as presented, and to not take sides or persuade its readers. The Piney Woods News strives to do just that in all cases.

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