Legalise Marijuana? Hemp is the far bigger economic issue behind this smokescreen.
Eco-Friendly Hemp Can Provide A Economic Boom To Any Economy.
California is about to vote on the legalization of cannabis. And if California legalizes pot, it will save the state millions in avoided legal and imprisonment costs, while raising millions in taxes. A boom to the economy.
Hemp is already legal is 31 countries, including neighboring Canada, Germany, England, Australia, Japan and China.
It seems as though no one has the answer to turn the global economy around, however through a bit of innovation and creativity, we can achieve the impossible through an age old agricultural product. The product is commercial hemp which has been around for a long time and with focused commitment from farmers, entrepreneurs and citizens a long list of hemp producing countries can experience a resurgence in their economy through job creation.
Depending upon the laws of a given country, hemp’s commercial use continues generating revenue for many industries. Industrial hemp comes from cannabis and is noted for being a soft and durable fiber that is used to make textiles, clothing, jewelry, lotions, biodegradable plastics, food products, dietary products and is an excellent source for health foods including the all important omega fats such as omega-3 and omega-6.
The next time you’re in a meeting taking notes take a quick look at your notebook to see if it’s made out of hemp, likewise with your writing paper, envelopes and books. Some of the major car manufacturers also use hemp plastic material in cars. Speaking of cars, hemp oil delivers clean burning fuel, as opposed to its counterpart which contributes to the greenhouse effect.
Most people don’t know hemp is used for building (thermal insulation) products and material. Medicinal marijuana also help patients suffering with physical disabilities and other abnormalities, thus in keeping with its versatility, hemp is one amazing crop.
Not only is hemp one of the fastest growing crops, it’s also environmentally friendly which is consistent with the going green movement. The beauty of the hemp plant is that it requires no pesticides or herbicides, making it one of the most environmentally safe crops on earth. In a side by side comparison, hemp grows over 10% more in the same soil as cotton.
Paper can be made out of hemp which is a testament to its durability. The long stem portion of the hemp is called bast which is used in paper production, however it cost more because of the limited production and the methods to harvest and storing it requires considerable time and effort.
Hemp may be the real reason marijuana is illegal. In the 1930s, the Hearst family set out to protect their vast timber holdings, much of which were being used to make paper. Hemp produces five times as much paper per acre as do trees. Hemp paper is strong. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. But the Hearsts used their newspapers to incite enough reefer madness to get marijuana banned in 1937. With that ban came complex laws that killed off the growing of hemp. The ecological devastation that’s followed with continued use of trees for paper has been epic.
Historically hemp farmers in the United States date back to the founding of the country, to the extent the first President of the United States, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were hemp farmers. In fact, the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.
Legalizing cannabis or commercial hemp is congruent with what countries all over the world are currently doing, investing in going green. Rightfully so since, we only have one planet we inhabit, thus we should do everything in our power to make our planet as sustainable and livable for our children and children’s, children.
Incorporating new ways to go green using commercial hemp can add a boom to any economy by putting people to work and manufacturing products. Isn’t it amazing how something with as much history as commercial hemp is one of the world’s most versatile agricultural plants and it’s also one of the fastest growing and environmentally safe crops that exist in the world, and is still illegal to grow in the USA?
For the uninformed, hemp has been used by civilizations for thousands of years and has been a primary crop since the founding of Ancient China, India and Arabia. In the United Kingdom hemp is one of the major sources of manufacturing in the European Union.
Commercial hemp use in England dates back to the sixteenth Century, in other words its use has a strong track record consisting of producing a multiplicity of products. Hemp is also used as bedding for horses in England, thus its uses service a multiplicity of industries.
Make no mistake about it; there is something great about learning new things about an agricultural product that has been around since the dawn of civilization. Commercial hemp is eco-friendly and will play a key role in the future of green movement. Knowledge is power; share this information with someone you care about, we’re all in it together when it comes to our economy, commercial hemp can make a tremendous difference in our future.
It’s going to be interesting to see the result of the upcoming mid-term elections in the state of California. Proposition 19 is an initiative on the ballot to end marijuana prohibition, if approved, commercial hemp may possibly make a comeback in America and the creation of a significant amount of new jobs and nothing less than a new industry.
A nation founded on hemp could be revived from the economic and ecological downturn.
Paul Benhaim is a hemp consultant helping mentor those interested in setting up successful hemp businesses. Paul has done that for himself with hemp foods, hemp plastics, hemp skincare and hemp textile businesses globally. More on hemp at http://www.hemp.co.uk
