Hemp was one of the first plants ever cultivated by humans. It provides society with many different uses including; paper, biodegradable plastics, food, textiles, and fuel. Hemp is harvested all over the world from Canada to China. One country that is not reaping profits from hemp is the United States.
Industrial hemp production has been banned in the United States since the Marijuana Tax Act was passed in 1937. This law was passed to stop the recriational use of marijuana but it also doomed the industrial use of the hemp plant. This law overlooks the fact that marijuana has a THC content of up to 20% while hemp only contains a THC content of .3%.
Hemp has a very fast growth rate and needs very little pesticide and no herbicide. Hemps low use of dangrous pesticides and herbicides would make it a great replacement for cotton. Other environmental benifits could be obtained if hemp replaced trees as a source of paper.
It is time for the federal government to recognize the difference between marijuana and hemp. The United States spends large amounts of capital on imports of this product when we have the potential to become a leader in the production of this comodity.
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1 comment:
i bet legalizing it, even for a mere ten year term, would provide a much needed stimulus to the american economy...
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