Top 5 Reasons Why The President Should Cultivate Industrial Hemp Reform

January 21st, 2013

Weed - Top 5 Reasons Why The President Should Cultivate Industrial Hemp Reform

As hemp is emerging from the shadows of November’s election — and Colorado is taking up the cause of industrial grown hemp, many hope that it could help mend the US economy. Meanwhile America’s workforce is still struggling to get back on its feet and our President looks for new industries to fire up…could this be Hemps perfect storm – its window of opportunity to end the mindless cannabis prohibition that has plagued America for the last 80 + years. Applying any and all pressure to the federal government, forcing them to see the irrationality of their prohibition and to allow America’s farmers the same capability to grow industrial hemp – like many farmers around the world – Canada, France, and England to name a few…shoot even the Russians are allowed to cultivate hemp under certain conditions.

The unfortunate thing for American farmers is that approximately 90% of all hemp utilized in US textiles has been grown overseas and imported into the United States.

In what type of insane, bizarro world…would a nation’s government ban industrial hemp cultivation? A natural, renewable resource that could easily replace many fossil fuel based products – only to turn around and import it?

As Pres. Obama prepares to take the oath of office for his second term, “we the people” need to speak up for what we know in our hearts to be right, the legalization of hemp cultivation on an industrial scale.

With that in mind, the there is a new White House petition looking for presidential acknowledgment, pleading with our current commander-in-chief (and ex-Choom gang smoker,) to give thoughtful consideration to allowing industrial hemp to be cultivated by US farmers.

The newest pro-industrial hemp cultivation petition was created on January 16, 2013 and has thus far only gathered 1,973 signatures. In order for president Obama to address this White House petition a total of 98,027 signatures are still needed.

As a means of reminding those that already understand the useful benefits of hemp…and educating those that do not, we have put together a quick list of items that hemp is capable of producing.

1.) Hemp for Clothing: Marijuana’s black sheep cousin – hemp has been used for thousands of years in the production of textiles. As inferior modern textiles fall apart if gazed upon for too long, there are several surviving examples of hemp fabric from China, dating back to 8000 BC. Hemp has struggled the last several decades to dump the image of a tough and uncomfortable fabric, and has recently been utilized in everything from sneakers to high-fashion lingerie.

2.) Hemp for Edibles, beverages and sustenance: approximately one third of the hemp seeds weight is comprised of the highly sought after hemp oil. This nectar of the cannabis seed is not only edible but incredibly nutritious, complete with necessary essential fatty acids. Approximately 25% of the cannabis seeds weight is pure protein…as well as a tremendous source of iron and calcium. An interesting side note to hemp’s nutritional value: hemp seeds contain more omega-3 oil than most other nuts, including that of walnuts. Pointing to the hemp plant’s potential as an incredibly important food and dietary supplement.

3.) Hemp for Paper: utilized for the last 2000 years as paper, todays hemp paper generally only accounts for approximately 0.04% of the overall paper production throughout the world. One of the fastest growing renewable resources, hemp has been overshadowed by the lumber industry as the primary source for high cellulose pulp. The primary reason is simple economics, as the timber industry got their foot in the door early on, holding hemp captive with the help of the federal government. The timber industry received funding to create inexpensive, yet environmentally damaging processes to create cheap paper.

4.) Hemp for Construction materials: While most are aware that hemp can be utilized in textiles for clothing, and as pulp for the creation of paper, hemp has several lesser-known applications. From hempcrete, for building a green foundation in your environmentally friendly house. To insulation, hemp is being utilized in all aspects of green construction across the globe.

5.) Environmentally friendly plastics: Unlike DuPont, who created their plastic products from petroleum-based, nonrenewable resources. Henry Ford discovered early on that hemp makes an incredibly durable plastic like product, minus the need for fossil fuels. Current utilization of hemp-based plastic covers the spectrum of consumer goods, currently filled with land fill choking, petroleum based fossil fuel items.