Industrial Hemp
1. One acre of hemp can produce as much usable fiber as 4 acres of trees
or two acres of cotton.
2. Hemp paper is longer lasting than wood pulp, stronger, acid-free, and
chlorine free. (Chlorine is estimated to cause up to 10% of all Cancers.)
Hemp paper can be recycled 7 times, wood pulp 4 times. Hemp fabric
requires fewer chemicals than cotton and is stronger and longer lasting.
3. 5-10,000 Cancer related deaths are caused yearly from pesticide use.
Cotton uses as much as 40% of all agricultural pesticides. Hemp uses no
pesticides and crowds out weeds without herbicides.
4. Cotton has a drinking problem...extensive water subsidies. Hemp
requires less water than cotton and grows in cooler climates.
5. Hemp should be worth $500 per acre if used for low end products such
as
particle board. If higher use products can be developed such as specialty
paper and fabrics, the value could be even greater.
6. Hemp is an excellent rotation crop: it crowds out weeds and its deep
tap roots break up hard pan soils.
7. Hemp particle board may be up to 2 times stronger than wood particle
board and holds nails better.
8. Low-THC fiber hemp varieties developed by the French and others have
been available for over 20 years. It is impossible to get high from fiber
hemp. Over 600,000 acres of hemp is grown worldwide with no drug misuse
problem. One study indicates that fiber hemp may act as aversion therapy
to help people to stop smoking marijuana.
9. In 1941 Henry Ford built a plastic car made of fiber from hemp and
wheat straw. Anything made from a hydrocarbon can be made from a
carbohydrate. The 21st century should be the era of the carbohydrate
(sustainable agricultural products.) Hemp plastic is biodegradable,
synthetic plastic is not. Over 25,000 products can be made from hemp.
10. Cross pollination with low-THC industrial hemp would reduce the THC
content of marijuana.
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