Hemp-The Versatile Plant

Hemp is a perfect source of human nutrition. The Hemp plant has complete protein as well as oil from the seeds, lanolin and linolenic acids, in ideal ratios for humans. Linolenic acids are a vegetarian source of Omega 3 oils. Omega 3 oils are in short supply in our everyday modern diets and have a myriad of health benefits.

The benefits of the Hemp plant do not stop at its nutritional value which is mainly due to this plant's unique qualities, making it tough enough to substitute it for paper and wood, yet, pliable enough to be made into clothing and biodegradable plastic. Unfortunately, what is preventing the United States from utilizing hemp to the fullest in a vast array of products which could in effect lessen the mounds of plastic waste floating in the Pacific ocean as well as provide an alternate fuel source for our cars, can be summed up in one word-"politics." During the 1970's, the United States Congress designated hemp, along with its "kissing" cousin, Marijuana, as a "schedule 1" drug under what is called the Controlled Substance Act. In short, this made it illegal for anyone in the U.S. to grown hemp without permission from the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency). The United States is currently the only country to ban the commercial growth of this crop. Our neighbors to the north, Canada, have taken advantage of this ban and have consequently made a lot of money in exporting goods produced from Hemp to us. Ironically, Hemp was not always viewed as a dangerous plant as can be evidenced by the utilization of it historically. The Declaration of Independence was written on Hemp and our forefathers, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, once made a living growing and selling Hemp. Also, during WWII, Hemp was valued as a very important crop, so valuable in fact, that the U.S. government paid subsidies to farmers to convert their current crop fields to Hemp fields. The knowledge of the utilization of Hemp throughout U.S. history simply makes the current ban on growing it in this country more suspect. It is not a far stretch of the imagination to piece together why a benign plant like Hemp, which is a non-psychoative, low THC variety of the Cannabis Sativia plant, would not be subsidized by our government. What would be gained if a crop which grows well without herbicides, pesticides and fungacides, were allowed to be planted? How would the major chemical corporations be able to make "loads" of money if they could not sell their chemicals to cotton farmers? Upwards of 50 percent of these pesticides, fungacides and herbicides are applied to cotton crops, so, why plant a crop which could benefit planet Earth and mankind, when the pockets of some politicians as well as corporations can be lined? There could be a very promising future for this country if  Hemp was a legal crop. This single action would ignite jobs and have a greening effect on the entire planet as well as boosting the general health of the population. I would suggest visiting: http://www.votehemp.com/ frequently to both voice your opinion as well as become educated further regarding this miracle of a plant.