So I just saw a thread asking why marijuana should be legal...Since hemp and marijuana are categorized similarly by the US government, heres a possible answer.
I wrote this research paper last year and think some of you may enjoy the read. If not, atleast there are some valid points and interesting facts to discuss.
Theenvironmental and economic benefits of the hemp plant have been overlookedthroughout the world in recent years. Thomas Jefferson once said, “Flax is so injurious to ourlands, and so scanty produce, that I have never attempted (using) it. Hemp, onthe other hand, is abundantly productive and will grow forever on the samespot” (Nix). George Washington also once said, “Make the most you can of the Indian hemp seed and sow it everywhere”. Hemp has to be a serious considerationas an alternative for petroleum, timber, and cotton byproducts. Petroleum,timber, and cotton cultivation, manufacturing, and usage are harmful to theplanet. Hemp is a crop that could potentially replace toxic and harmfulproducts while cutting down on deforestation, global warming, air pollution,water pollution, and various other forms of practices that are harmful to theenvironment.
Hempis a tall variety of Cannabis sativa, nativeto Asia, and containing a very minimal amount of THC, which is said to besomewhere between .05% and 1% (Soiferman). THC is an acronym fordelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the primary psychoactive substance foundin marijuana, containing between 3% and 28% THC. Currently 2 to 3 doses of highfiber laxatives would produce the same psychoactive effects as if someoneattempted to ingest enough industrial hemp to get “high”. Hemp has beeneffectively cultivated for fiber and food for the past 12,000 years (NAIHC).Currently industrial hemp is produced in China, Canada, Germany, Netherlands,France, Spain, England, Poland, Russia, Hungary, and many other easternEuropean countries. Industrial hemp can be grown as fiber, seed, ordual-purpose crop, which is similar to flax, kenaf, and jute (USDA). Hemp canbe grown on a variety of soil, but prefers loose, well-drained loam soils withhigh fertility and abundant organic matter (USDA). Hemp is known as the world’sstrongest natural fiber and hemp seeds/nuts are the most complete source ofessential amino acids and essential fatty acids on our planet (Conte). Otherfood products aside from nuts and seeds are hemp milk, smoothies, cereal,butter, along various other foods and beverages. In addition to being a greatnutritional source, hemp is the number one biomass producer on earth. Moreover,hemp is also a great crop because it conducts heat, resists mildew, blocks thesun’s UV light, and has natural anti-bacterial properties. Hemp can be producedand manufactured to replace nearly everything that is made with timber,petroleum, and cotton.
Hempholds a comparative and absolute advantage over cotton. According to the NorthAmerican Industrial Hemp Council, hemp fibers are longer, stronger, moreabsorbent, and more mildew-resistant than cotton. Cotton is dubbed the “world’sdirtiest crop”, and for a reason. Cotton accounts for 25% of the world’sinsecticide usage and 10% of world’s pesticide usage, while only covering 2.5%of the earth’s cultivated land, which is more than any other single crop(Organic Trade Association). According to the Pesticide Action Network, $3billion worth of pesticides are spent on cotton annually, worldwide. As statedby the Organic Trade Association, “Aldicarb,cotton's second best selling insecticide and most acutely poisonous to humans,can kill a man with just one drop absorbed through the skin, yet it is stillused in 25 countries and the US, where 16 states have reported it in theirgroundwater”. Not only are thepesticides, herbicides, and insecticides used on cotton harmful to humans, butalso to the environment and other forms of life.
Thereare several instances of cotton production destroying the environment right inAmerica. In 1991, a train carrying a soil sterilizer used for cotton derailed,spilling its contents into the Sacramento River. The spill caused the death ofevery living organism 40 miles down the river. Another issue occurred whenheavy downpours washed the chemical Edosulfan from cotton fields in Alabama.The result was the death of approximately a quarter million fish in the BigNancee Creek (Fagerlund). It is said that if hemp were to replace cotton, itwould cut down on pesticide usage by 25% while cutting down on deforestation(Fagerlund). By replacing cotton, hemp would have a positive impact on theenvironment. Cotton is currently severely contributing to soil degradation,water pollution, and many other environmental issues that need resolving.
Hempdoesn’t only hold environmental advantages over cotton, but the productsthemselves are also superior. The Director General of China’s Hemp ResearchCentre, Zhang Jianchum states, "Compared with cotton,hemp fiber has greater heat resistance and better moisture absorption anddispersion, while its high rate of absorption of toxic gases makes it excellentfor use in household textiles”. Any fabric, yarn, or textile made from hemp aredurable and can be combed into any gauge or quality of fiber.
Hemp is a vital crop for improving foodsecurity in many countries. However, China seems to be one country taking thebiggest initiative to increase hemp production. Hemp production can provide anew major source in the textile industry, reduce dependency on cotton, and freelarge areas of cotton fields for food production. In addition, hemp could potentiallystrengthen China’s food security, economy, and environment. Currently, theChinese government is providing hemp seeds for farmers, technical training, andinstructions in attempt to increase hemp cultivation. Hemp would provideenormous profits for the poorest rural farmers in China, doubling their annualincome. It has the potential to raise the living standards of farmers, increasethe income of local farmers, and help with income inequality (Xinhua). Not onlywill hemp cultivation have a huge impact on China’s poorest rural farmers, butwill also potentially contribute to bringing 3 million people out of poverty(Xinhua). Hemp cultivation is viable and sustainable alternative to cotton. Inturn cotton fields in China can be freed up for food cultivation, whileimproving pollution issues.
Hemp could alsoplay a role in improving food security in South Africa as well. Not only canhemp contribute to improving food security, but can also strengthen the economyby providing farmers with a very profitable crop that can be grown in variousconditions. Hemp possesses drought resistant properties and has the ability towithstand the harshest conditions. In addition to being a very hardy plant, ifmanaged correctly, hemp can improve soil stability and prevent soil erosion(UKCIA). According to the UKCIA, hemp can be produced at a much lower cost andwith greater nutritional value than traditional food crops such as simplegrains and rice. Even if hemp is only used as a reserve crop, its hardinesswould allow it to survive, leading to a backup crop should all other crops fail(UKCIA). South Africa is dealing with reduced food security, soil degradation,population increases, and unsuitable growing conditions; all of which could bealleviated by hemp cultivation.
Thedestruction of forests around the world indicates the need for an alternativesource for tree byproducts. Hemp could serve as a substitute for regular treepaper and wood, while providing various other benefits aside from paper itself.According to Richard Fagerlund, “Hemp also produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainablebasis, and can be used for making every quality of paper. Moreover, hemp papermanufacturing would reduce wastewater contamination”. Hemp holds an absoluteadvantage over trees in terms of paper production. Hemp yields 3-8 tons of dryfiber per acre, which is four times the yield of an average forest. (NAIHC). Hemppaper is said to be more durable and can be more frequently recycled than woodpaper (Nix). Dave Seber, a redwood logger and president of C&S Lumber, an R&Dorganization in Oregon believes, “we've got 10 to 20 years, tops, before the entireecosystem, as we know it, will collapse because of what they are doing in theseforests” (Nix). Deforestation is currently one of the biggest environmental issuesoccurring worldwide; destroying natural habitats along with the animals thatlive there. “Hemp can single-handedly stop world deforestation”, according toCarol Moran, CEO of the Living Tree Paper Company in Eugene, Oregon.
Notonly is hemp a great substitute for wood paper and cotton, but would also be agreat solution to the oil crisis. In our search for sustainable energy sources,the crop that produces the most biomass has been disregarded. In his article,Richard Fagerlund states, “According to the U. S. Department of Energy, hemp as biomass fuelproducer requires the least specialized growing and processing of all plantproducts. The hydrocarbons in hemp can be processed into a wide range ofbiomass energy sources, from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gases. Obviously,development of biofuels could significantly reduce our consumption of fossilfuels and nuclear power”. Hemp could lead to being energy independent,clean energy that does not harm the environment, and hemp biomass technologycan meet all of our energy needs (Conrad). Chris Conrad believes that hemp isone farm crop that can fill all of our energy needs, which would make humansindependent of nuclear power.
Hemp would be theperfect crop for the new concept of “energy farming” where farmer cultivate andharvest crops for biomass production. Hemp has a great characteristic in thatit can be harvested on soils that are too low in nutrients to support growth ofother crops (Wagner). Conrad is convinced that hemp is the only crop capable ofmaking America energy independent. Hemp fuel can be made using the same processas crude fossil fuel, while being beneficial to the environment. When hemp isgrowing, it takes carbon dioxide from the air while releasing oxygen, so whenit is burned for an energy source, the carbon dioxide it releases creates abalanced system. After this process takes place, the problems of acid rain willbegin to disappear. Global greenhouse warming and adverse climactic change willalso automatically be suppressed.
Hemphas various other uses that have potential to strengthen economies all over theworld and can be manufactured into countless different applications. It is saidthat hemp byproducts can make up 25,000 industrial uses and products (Briggs).In addition to paper, fabrics, fuel, and food, hemp can also be used to producesoap, plastic, clothing, sports equipment, building materials, animal careproducts, and cosmetics (Briggs). The emergence of various new hemp marketswill provide a boost for the economy as well as numerous innovative jobsworldwide.
Althoughhemp is an incredibly useful and beneficial agricultural crop, there are somedrawbacks. In the United States, the main drawback to growing hemp would bethat it’s cultivation is illegal, so we have to import it from other countries.The United States is the only industrialized country to make hemp illegal dueto not being able to differentiate it from other plants in the family, whichcontain THC. However, imports of raw hemp into the United States have increaseddramatically over the past few years, rising from 500 pounds in 1994 to over1.5 million pound for the first 9 months of 1999 (USDA). When growing, hemp hasa very strong, naturally occurring odor, which leaves no substitute forodorless fibers and may offend neighboring farmers or towns. Hemp proteinpowder does not offer the same sources of nutrition as other powders such aswhey protein due to only being 66% digestible. Another drawback of hemp forproduction of biofuels is that it would be very expensive to manufacture andsell. Wagner also believes in cold temperatures that hemp biofuels will turn toa slush or gel.
Hempis a crop that could single-handedly change the world for the better. Its vastamount of applications could prove useful for just about every country. Itsnutritional, environmental, and economic benefits should not be overlooked orunderestimated. Hemp could have a great impact on the world’s poorest countriesand citizens. From the economic benefits hemp provides for China, to theimproved food security in South Africa, along with the reduction ofenvironmental damage around the world, hemp needs to be considered as a cropthat could potentially “save the world”.
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