Industrial Hemp can save the world

"Hemp has played a vital role in world commerce for at least six thousand years" (Roulac 27). The first people to cultivate and use hemp were the Chinese. There is evidence of rope and fishing nets made from hemp in China as early as 4500 BC. The crop was later used in making scrolls, leading to the beginning of the world’s first paper industry. Works by Confucius and Lao Tzu were both printed by hand on paper made from hemp, allowing thousands of people across the world today to enjoy their teachings and insights. The Chinese also wove hemp fiber into cloth and used the seeds in making food and oil. They did not waste any part of the plant (Roulac 28).

From China, hemp cultivation spread to Europe, Africa around 400 BC, and later to the Americas. Through

Many people believe in the theory of the "hemp conspiracy" that the government of the United States is blatantly ignoring all the benefits of working hemp into the country’s crop rotation, for ulterior motives that they refuse to admit to the public. One of the main supporters of this theory is Jack Herer, in his book The Emperor Wears no Clothes, Herer voices his opinions and concerns on the issue. As far fetched as this "hemp conspiracy" may sound at first, when examining the facts, it does not seem all that ridiculous. The U.S legislators who drafted the first laws against marijuana, made a great effort in distinguishing it from hemp, ruling that they were not the same and that the laws against marijuana did not apply to hemp. Furthermore, when prohibition started hemp was specifically excluded (Roulac 5). Despite these distinctions, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), refuses to acknowledge the difference between the two and will not allow hemp to be grown in the US. The North American Industrial Hemp Council (NAIHC), has been working for years to gain support for research and testing of the crop, but the DEA refuses to send even one representative to a meeting, ignoring every invitation the NAIHC has offered them (Roulac 6). The DEA allocates funding for the research of marijuana, providing permits and grants to those agencies involved, but they will not even consider treating hemp research in the same way (Herer 33). That is absolutely ridiculous, and they do not even offer an explanation for these seemingly senseless actions. There are so many ways our country would benefit from growing industrial hemp, it is absolute insanity that our government continues to ignore them.

The growth of industrial hemp provides other economic benefits as well, not just the prospects of producing our own fuel. It could be the answer to many agricultural problems. Farmers in the US are starting to feel as if they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They are being pressured not to grow tobacco, but there is not a crop available for them to grow that will bring in nearly as much money as the tobacco would. The tobacco industry is a very lucrative one, and so long as the government refuses to let farmers grow hemp, they can not be expected to give up their staple crop and possibly go bankrupt. There is at the moment a law suit in progress where a group of farmers along with trade organizations are suing the government to make hemp a lawful crop once again. Their main argument is that the Controlled Substance Act of 1972, which is preventing them from growing hemp, violates previously made rulings by congress that hemp does not have the same effects as marijuana and the law is therefore unjust. "If nobody considers the plight of the farmers, then we’re in a terrible fix. Everybody wants you to get rid of tobacco, but nobody wants to talk about what you do to replace it," said Andrew Graves, president of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative, at a press conference after the first day of trial. Thousands of farmers experiencing some difficult times due to adverse weather conditions and a recent agricultural slump, see hemp as the answer to their prayers, but unfortunately the government is being less than cooperative in their efforts to help. The "Hemp for Victory" drive during WWII estimated that just one acre of hemp could gross as much as $1,200, and that is just for one acre. The US spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year importing hemp and hemp products, however US farmers are not allowed in on any of the action.

Unlike trees, hemp is an annual crop, meaning it can be planted and harvested every year. Hemp can produce three to four times more usable fibers per hectare per year than trees can. (hempfortrees.html) Since the deforestation of the world is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming, hemp could possibly be the first step in trying to solve these environmental issues.

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