Why Use Hemp?
Poor hemp. As soon as you mention it, people's ears perk up and they
immediately think of marijuana. It's illegal to grow hemp in the United States,
so there must be something wrong with it, right? Because of my
background in plant biology, I have taken a special interest in why this plant
is so controversial. First, a few facts:
- Both hemp and marijuana come from the same species- Cannabis
sativa. However, one species can include countless varieties (depending on
which botanist you ask!). In this case, hemp has been cultivated for at least
12,000 years, with selection being for fiber and seeds . The useful parts are
the stalk (fiber) and the seeds (oil content). In marijuana, selection has been
for flowers with a high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content. THC is what makes a
person "high."
- THC values for marijuana are about 15-20%. THC values for industrial hemp
are about 0.3% . No matter how much hemp a person smokes, they will not get
high.
- If industrial hemp were grown near marijuana, cross-pollination would be
inevitable, contaminating and reducing the THC content of the marijuana. What a
boon to the war on drugs that would be!
So we can safely lay to rest the notion that growing, buying, and using
industrial hemp is in any way akin to growing, buying, and using marijuana. Now,
what is so great about industrial hemp fiber?
- Long fibers, which mean longer garment life and more absorbency
- Naturally resistant to mold and UV light
- Grown very close together to encourage tall stalks- this also means that
weeds are excluded, eliminating the need for herbicides
- Naturally resistant to most pests, so no need for pesticides
- Leaves the soil nitrogen-rich, rather than depleting nutrients
- Produces 250% more fiber than cotton with much less water
For an excellent dissertation on industrial hemp, read "A Renewal of
Common Sense: the Case for Hemp in 21st Century America"
For tons of great information on industrial hemp, please visit these web
sites:
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