Comments on: Groups Fight Over Castor Bean Plan

By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:36:29 +0000

See my comments below. Helen

By: Helen Clements

Helen Clements — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:35:24 +0000

The castor bean has been a cash crop in Oaxaca, Mexico for generations, and a quick look on Google will get you to a number of references. Apparently the bean is the part that's poisonous. They have been a small market commodity, sold to vendors for their oil. It seems to me that if the Otoe-Missouria want to use this, they will have the presence of mind to study the crop carefully and guard well so that it doesn't become a problem. There are likely many other substances–for instance, rubbing alcohol–that are also toxic but are much more easy to obtain and possibly ingest. Another consideration is that if the nation use this crop to improve their overall welfare, perhaps the benefits will outweigh the risk. Helen

By: Randy M.

Randy M. — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:19:12 +0000

I agree that this very commonly grown plant should be commercially produced locally. These plants can be found all around Stillwater in yards, gardens, etc for pest repellent and for ornamental use. The ricin "cake" smells very good (like a food) so could be tempting to eat or chew. As I understand it, this "cake" is the remains of pressed seeds after the oil is pressed out for castor oil production. This cake would be produced in a processing plant & may possibly be de-toxified by steam heating it—then has various safe uses. Toxic plants are everywhere; I've read that even carrots (beta carotene?) can be toxic if excessively consumed. Mistletoe is highly toxic; oleander in southern states & the tropics is widely used as an ornamental & screening/high-hedge plants.

By: @jennymaeharms

@jennymaeharms — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:48:56 +0000

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By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:29:23 +0000

We need to safelyt allow the production of this product to further wean us from our mid-east oil dependency. The challenge shouldn't be beyond our technology…

By: Chase

Chase — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:48:01 +0000

Castor beans can't be the only crop to be labeled "dangerous" if its mixed with others. With the highly-advanced farming technology of today, I think there should be a way to safely grow the beans without endangering other crops. Oklahoma needs to be a leader in fostering new agricultural practices like these instead of creating laws to ban them.

By: Jim Richards

Jim Richards — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:37:58 +0000

If we banned every product because a toxic ingredient is required in manufacturing we would have to ban all paper products, soap, synthetic fibers, plastics, pretty much everything. I have a feeling this has nothing to do with the danger of castor beans and more to do with infringing upon the old money that controls energy in this country.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:08:13 +0000

There seems to be an issue in the rights of private land owners to grow what they want as juxtaposed with public safety. I am curious about how the growing of castor beans elsewhere has been dealt with, as this is not a new practice world-wide.