The World’s Most Understood Crop: Industrial Hemp and Its Economic Benefits

Ms. Bonner English 290 16 December 2011 The Worlds Most Understood Crop industrial hangmans rope and its Economic Benefits When more(prenominal) or slight people hear the word haltere the first thing that comes to take heed is marijuana. While marihuana and marijuana argon of the same instal species, marijuana Sativa, they argon different full treatment lifes with their own chemical typography. give the axenabis has been known as iodin of the knowledge domains greatest agricultural crops of solely date with a wide intermixture of works. Unfortunately the United States still sees hackamore as drug and the manuf work outuring of hangmans rope is still misappropriated today.The United States is outlawing single of the approximately stinting every(prenominal)y beneficial and functional crops of either times beca handling of its full cousin marijuana. hangmans rope was the arenas greatest agricultural crop for more than 1000 long time before Christ until 188 3 AD (Herer). The manuf fleckuring and cultivation of hangmans halter has been used for thousands of products and m either a nonher(prenominal) different industries including producing a majority of the worlds fabric, fibre, oil, study, and nevertheless up food. The earliest known fabric was made of hackamore roughly 8000 BC (Herer).Ninety per centum of all ships sails from at least the fifth speed of light BC until long after the invention of the steam engines in the mid- to late-19th light speed were made from marihuana (Herer). numerous of the ships logs, maps, and charts were made on haltere paper from the time of Columbus to the too soon 1900s (Herer). In the first speed of light AD, the Chinese found that ganjaen necktie paper lasted 50 to 100 times semipermanent than well-nigh(prenominal) conceptualisations of papyrus and that it was 100 times easier and cheaper to learn (Herer).Eighty portion of all humankinds textiles and fabrics for clothes, tents, linens, rugs, drapes, quilts, bed sheets, towels and diapers were made principally from enkindlenabis fictitious characters in oft of the world until the 20th degree centigrade (Herer). Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew halter and Americans were even licitly bound to grow during the Colonial Era and Early Republic ( hemp Facts). With all these uses for marijuana, from almost the beginning of the known world, why would cannabis be outlawed today? Marijuana and industrial hackamore come from the same species of position, marihuana Sativa.The species can yield two different plants, marijuana and industrial hemp. equivalence marijuana and industrial hemp is like comparing field corn whiskey whiskey and sweet corn. While they are both from the same species, the chemical formation and final product is very different. cannabis produces two major cannabinoids-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) (West, Hemp and Marijuana). tet rahydrocannabinol is the sensation responsible for the psychoactive effect that you get from heater marijuana. CBD, on the other hand, has been found to block the effect of THC in the nervous system (West, Hemp and Marijuana).Marijuana usually contains 3 to 15 percent THC, while industrial hemp being grown usually contains little than 1 percent THC (industrial Hemp in the United States). M all people believe that if industrial hemp was allowed to be grown that some(prenominal) people would still try and flock it, nevertheless if wiz was to batch industrial hemp, which is high in CBD and low in THC, it would actually prognosticate act the THC and block the effect of a marijuana high. This shows that not only is hemp not marijuana still could mayhap even be called anti-marijuana. Even with this scientific information and the United States continues to outlaw the manufacturing of hemp. other(a) countries have acceptd the difference between marijuana and industrial hemp. a ctual hemp varieties being grown in Canada and Europe are qualified to have THC levels below 0. 3 percent (West, Hemp and Marijuana). The credentials system was originally developed in Europe to allow for the commercialisation of industrial hemp and takes into consideration the ratio of CBD to THC as tumesce as the absolute percent THC (West, Hemp and Marijuana).The original THC threshold was 0. 8 percent. When varieties with lower levels of THC were developed by french breeders, the breeders were able to persuade the European Union to reduce the tolerance upgrade (West, Hemp and Marijuana). In the United States, cannabis with whatsoever(prenominal) measurable speck of THC is illegal, CBD concentration is not considered at all. The United States is outlawing this potentially economic beneficial crop with no just cause and they are all in all overlooking all of its uses and benefits. The United States laws have not always handle marijuana and hemp the same.The 1937 Marijuan a Tax bout outlawed marijuana. The 1937 marihuana Tax represent defined marijuana as (A)ll parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L. , whether growing or not the seeds thereof the rosin extracted from any such plant and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or zeal of such plant, its seeds, or rosin but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin xtracted there from), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination. The Act outlawed marijuana and retaliateed people who grew it, without infringing on the rights of hemp growers. The act did not gear up hemp illegal but simply just put a tax revenueation on hemp. Dr. Andrew Wright, an agronomist with the University of Wisconsins gardening Experiment Station and steward o f the Wisconsin hemp industry during the first half(a)(prenominal) of the twentieth century, wrote in 1918, There are three fairly decided types of hemp that grown for fiber, that for birdseed and oil, and that for drugs. (West, Hemp and Marijuana). This shows that even in the premature 1900s, we knew and understood there being a difference between hemp and marijuana. However, in 1970, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act repealed the hemp Tax Act and instead changed its interpretation The term marihuana substance all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa (L. ), whether growing or not, the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of such plant and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin . . The key difference in this cookery was that the 1937 Act used a system of taxation that allowed the government to revenge the marijuana growers without punishing hemp growers. The 1970 Act abolished the taxation approach and efficaciously made all Cannabis cultivation illegal (West, Hemp and Marijuana). This act lumped marijuana and hemp into the same category. Why did the United States change their commentary of the word and make hemp illegal? Why the United States changed its genius and decided to make hemp illegal is not really clear.There are not any definite final results. It could be that they realized that they couldnt tax it anymore, the war on drugs, or that people that were growing hemp were abusing their rights and too growing marijuana. It is up for anyone to speculate on. The only thing that is clear by hemp being illegal is that the United States is ignoring the economic benefits and uses of one of the most functional crops of all times. Hemp has been used for a wide var. of products for almost 3000 old age.Overall, hemp is the strongest, most durable, and longest lasting natural tardily fiber on the planet, which makes its fabric protracted lasting, tou gher, cheaper, cooler, and more absorbent than like (Herer). Hemp seed can be pressed into a hale oil, which contains the highest amount of essential fatty acids of all plants. The byproduct of the pressed hemp seeds can be baked into cakes, breads, and casseroles and contains high quality protein (Hemp Facts). Another use for hemp is that it can be made into provoke.Hemp is the Earths take one biomass resource, capable of producing 10 tons of biomass per acre in only cardin in any caseme months (Hemp Facts). This biomass can be converted into methane, methanol, or gasoline at a cost very similar to the cost petroleum (Hemp Facts). It can besides produce 10 times more methanol than corn (Hemp Facts). Since hemp is a natural plant, the use of hemp as a give notice makes it better for the environment. It does not add to global warming. Not only is hemp as a fuel better for the environment, but using hemp fiber for paper is likewise better for the environment.One acre of hemp produces as some(prenominal) fiber as 4. 1 acres of trees (Herer). While trees cut put obliterate to make paper usually take about 50 years to grow, hemp is ready to be harvested in about 120 years (Hemp Facts). Since hemp takes less time to be ready to be harvested and it can produce more fiber per acre, hemp could possibly be the settlement to the deforestation problem. Only eight out of about one ampere-second known pests cause problem to the plant so hemp is usually grown without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides (Hemp Facts).Hemp is also a natural weed suppresser gene due to the fast growth of the canopy causing a auction block of the sun that does not allow for the weeds to grow (Hemp Facts). All of these things make hemp a cheaper, more environmentally friendly crop. Hemp has been one of the most widely used crops, all approximately the world, for more than 3000 years. With hemps thousands of uses, it could possibly save our country in this time of deficit. How ever, the United States still refuses to gain it has being a potential economically beneficial crop because of a plant of the same species.Works Citied Hemp Facts. HempUSA. org. HempUSA. org, 1 June 2009. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. Web Herer, Jack. The forget History of Hemp. Earth Island Journal 5. 4 (1990) 35. EBSCOhost. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. Web industrial Hemp in the United States Status and Market Potential. Rep. no. AGES-ERSAGES001. Ers. usda. gov, Jan. 2000. Web. 25 Nov. 2011. Web West, David P. Hemp and Marijuana Myths and Realities. Prescott, Wisconsin North American Industrial Hemp Council, 27 Feb. 1998. PDF.The Worlds Most Understood Crop Industrial Hemp and Its Economic BenefitsMs. Bonner English 290 16 December 2011 The Worlds Most Understood Crop Industrial Hemp and its Economic Benefits When most people hear the word hemp the first thing that comes to brainpower is marijuana. While hemp and marijuana are of the same plant species, Cannabis Sativa, they are different plants with their own chemical makeup. Hemp has been known as one of the worlds greatest agricultural crops of all time with a wide variety of uses. Unfortunately the United States still sees hemp as drug and the manufacturing of hemp is still illegal today.The United States is outlawing one of the most economically beneficial and functional crops of all times because of its cousin marijuana. Hemp was the worlds greatest agricultural crop for more than 1000 years before Christ until 1883 AD (Herer). The manufacturing and cultivation of hemp has been used for thousands of products and many different industries including producing a majority of the worlds fabric, fiber, oil, paper, and even food. The earliest known fabric was made of hemp around 8000 BC (Herer).Ninety percent of all ships sails from at least the fifth century BC until long after the invention of the steam engines in the mid- to late-19th century were made from hemp (Herer). some of the ships logs, maps, and charts were made on hemp paper from the time of Columbus to the early 1900s (Herer). In the first century AD, the Chinese found that hemp paper lasted 50 to 100 times longer than most preparations of papyrus and that it was 100 times easier and cheaper to make (Herer).Eighty percent of all humankinds textiles and fabrics for clothes, tents, linens, rugs, drapes, quilts, bed sheets, towels and diapers were made principally from cannabis fibers in much of the world until the 20th century (Herer). Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp and Americans were even lawfully bound to grow during the Colonial Era and Early Republic (Hemp Facts). With all these uses for hemp, from almost the beginning of the known world, why would hemp be illegal today? Marijuana and industrial hemp come from the same species of plant, Cannabis Sativa.The species can yield two different plants, marijuana and industrial hemp. study marijuana and industrial hemp is like comparing field corn and sweet corn. While th ey are both from the same species, the chemical makeup and final product is very different. Cannabis produces two major cannabinoids-THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) (West, Hemp and Marijuana). THC is the one responsible for the psychoactive effect that you get from bullet marijuana. CBD, on the other hand, has been found to block the effect of THC in the nervous system (West, Hemp and Marijuana).Marijuana usually contains 3 to 15 percent THC, while industrial hemp being grown normally contains less than 1 percent THC (Industrial Hemp in the United States). Many people believe that if industrial hemp was allowed to be grown that many people would still try and smoke it, but if one was to smoke industrial hemp, which is high in CBD and low in THC, it would actually reappearance act the THC and block the effect of a marijuana high. This shows that not only is hemp not marijuana but could possibly even be called anti-marijuana. Even with this scientific inform ation and the United States continues to outlaw the manufacturing of hemp. some other countries have recognized the difference between marijuana and industrial hemp. present-day(prenominal) hemp varieties being grown in Canada and Europe are show to have THC levels below 0. 3 percent (West, Hemp and Marijuana). The deposition system was originally developed in Europe to allow for the commercialisation of industrial hemp and takes into consideration the ratio of CBD to THC as substantially as the absolute percent THC (West, Hemp and Marijuana).The original THC threshold was 0. 8 percent. When varieties with lower levels of THC were developed by French breeders, the breeders were able to persuade the European Union to reduce the tolerance only (West, Hemp and Marijuana). In the United States, Cannabis with any measurable mark of THC is illegal, CBD concentration is not considered at all. The United States is outlawing this potentially economic beneficial crop with no just caus e and they are alone overlooking all of its uses and benefits. The United States laws have not always hardened marijuana and hemp the same.The 1937 Marijuana Tax Act outlawed marijuana. The 1937 Marihuana Tax Act defined marijuana as (A)ll parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L. , whether growing or not the seeds thereof the resin extracted from any such plant and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, or resin but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin xtracted there from), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination. The Act outlawed marijuana and punished people who grew it, without infringing on the rights of hemp growers. The act did not make hemp illegal but simply just put a tax on hemp. Dr. Andrew Wright, an agronomist with the University of Wisconsins market-gardening Experiment Station and steward of the Wisconsin hemp industry during the first half of the twentieth century, wrote in 1918, There are three fairly diaphanous types of hemp that grown for fiber, that for birdseed and oil, and that for drugs. (West, Hemp and Marijuana). This shows that even in the early 1900s, we knew and understood there being a difference between hemp and marijuana. However, in 1970, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act repealed the Marihuana Tax Act and instead changed its definition The term marihuana heart and soul all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa (L. ), whether growing or not, the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of such plant and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin . . The key difference in this provide was that the 1937 Act used a system of tax ation that allowed the government to punish the marijuana growers without punishing hemp growers. The 1970 Act abolished the taxation approach and in effect made all Cannabis cultivation illegal (West, Hemp and Marijuana). This act lumped marijuana and hemp into the same category. Why did the United States change their definition of the word and make hemp illegal? Why the United States changed its approximation and decided to make hemp illegal is not really clear.There are not any definite answers. It could be that they realized that they couldnt tax it anymore, the war on drugs, or that people that were growing hemp were abusing their rights and also growing marijuana. It is up for anyone to speculate on. The only thing that is clear by hemp being illegal is that the United States is ignoring the economic benefits and uses of one of the most functional crops of all times. Hemp has been used for a wide variety of products for almost 3000 years.Overall, hemp is the strongest, most d urable, and longest lasting natural sonant fiber on the planet, which makes its fabric longer lasting, tougher, cheaper, cooler, and more absorbent than cotton plant (Herer). Hemp seed can be pressed into a anicteric oil, which contains the highest amount of essential fatty acids of all plants. The byproduct of the pressed hemp seeds can be baked into cakes, breads, and casseroles and contains high quality protein (Hemp Facts). Another use for hemp is that it can be made into fuel.Hemp is the Earths issue forth one biomass resource, capable of producing 10 tons of biomass per acre in only four months (Hemp Facts). This biomass can be converted into methane, methanol, or gasoline at a cost very similar to the cost petroleum (Hemp Facts). It can also produce 10 times more methanol than corn (Hemp Facts). Since hemp is a natural plant, the use of hemp as a fuel makes it better for the environment. It does not add to global warming. Not only is hemp as a fuel better for the environm ent, but using hemp fiber for paper is also better for the environment.One acre of hemp produces as much fiber as 4. 1 acres of trees (Herer). While trees cut down to make paper usually take about 50 years to grow, hemp is ready to be harvested in about 120 old age (Hemp Facts). Since hemp takes less time to be ready to be harvested and it can produce more fiber per acre, hemp could possibly be the answer to the deforestation problem. Only eight out of about one light speed known pests cause problem to the plant so hemp is normally grown without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides (Hemp Facts).Hemp is also a natural weed suppresser gene due to the fast growth of the canopy causing a diaphragm of the sun that does not allow for the weeds to grow (Hemp Facts). All of these things make hemp a cheaper, more environmentally friendly crop. Hemp has been one of the most widely used crops, all around the world, for more than 3000 years. With hemps thousands of uses, it could possibly s ave our country in this time of deficit. However, the United States still refuses to recognize it has being a potential economically beneficial crop because of a plant of the same species.Works Citied Hemp Facts. HempUSA. org. HempUSA. org, 1 June 2009. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. Web Herer, Jack. The forget History of Hemp. Earth Island Journal 5. 4 (1990) 35. EBSCOhost. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. Web Industrial Hemp in the United States Status and Market Potential. Rep. no. AGES-ERSAGES001. Ers. usda. gov, Jan. 2000. Web. 25 Nov. 2011. Web West, David P. Hemp and Marijuana Myths and Realities. Prescott, Wisconsin North American Industrial Hemp Council, 27 Feb. 1998. PDF.