Hemp
Why is our government so opposed to industrial hemp production in the United States? OK now that I have all you dooby doers attention out there, industrial hemp in not pot. You would have to smoke so much of it to get even the least amount of buzz since the THC content is so low. It would be easier getting stoned by drinking too much water.
Industrial hemp could be a major player in biofuel production eliminating the present use of canola, a plant with the potential to spread disease within the canola plant community, and has danger of cross pollination contamination. Hemp plants grown for fiber already can produce as much oil as soy.
Though many states are for hemp in their local agricultural programs, it is Federal regulations that prevent anyone from starting the process. Experimental hemp crops in the US are hidden behind 12-foot razor wire fences.
Presently hemp is in production for seed oil in Canada. The Europeans grow it more often for fiber. With this one plant we can improve soil tilth, make clothing, biofuels and ther products like plastics. There are over 25,000 products that can be made from hemp. It is disease and pest resistant and cross pollination would only result in pot with a lower amount of THC. The EU and Canadian regulations limit THC content to 0.3% in industrial hemp.
I encourage anyone who finds themselves in the area of a hemp shop, please go in and see all the great things made from hemp. If you see a product you can use, buy it. Money talks...
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 5:07 AM
6 Comments:
Well you already answered your own question; crosspollination would lead to pot with lower levels of THC. That's why we ban hemp.
Actually I love hemp products and it is ridiculous that our government bans hemp as a crop. Of course, I also think it's ridiculous to make any drugs illegal.
Interesting post. And it encouraged me to Google "hemp in Canada." I'm impressed with my country.
I'm wondering - is there some behind the scenes (don't let the public know)kind of thing going on there with your Federal regulations re: growing hemp?
I agree with you Zoe. 100%
Beth, it's all wrapped up in a red, white and blue ribbon and addressed as the war on drugs. The equivalant is the war on terrorism and all the liberities we've lost over that.
Hemp products are made from a renewable resource. I am all for it...
It's actually more than that. We have our friend, newspaper and papermill baron William Randolph Hearst to thank for blocking the production of hemp in the USA. Hemp was grown quite productively up into the 1920s here, however, when it became apparent that it was a viable and cheaper option for paper and Hearst would have losts millions via his forests becoming worthless (in his view) he had his cronies in congress declare it illegal to grow. Along about this time prohibition had ended but opium and cocaine were still in use. Along about 1937 Hearst and DuPont (who had a brand new patented process for making newsprint and textiles from trees) began pushing for the Marihuana Tax Act and with Hearst controlling the media they were able to convince the public that there was eminent danger from drug crazed gurues waiting to prey on impressionable youth. (gasp for breath after long paragraph)
Thanks CB, I didn't know any of that...Damn...
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