Hemp: Mother Nature's Premier Renewable Resource

Have you ever eaten a bowl of hemp cereal? Worn a shirt made entirely out of hemp? Used cosmetics with a hemp base? Written on hemp paper? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you will know where I am coming from If you answered no, then you may be surprised at the wonderful benefits of the hemp plant.

There is much confusion over the relationship between hemp and marijuana, however they are completely different. The stalk size is much different, growing practices are entirely different and the tetrahydrocannabinol (THQ in hemp is much lower than in marijuana. Many people have also been led to believe that a marijuana grower could disguise his crop by planting hemp in the field. But the truth is, marijuana growers know that hemp would cross-pollinate with the marijuana plant and greatly lower the street value of the plant. It is a fact that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp on their plantations. George Washington once wrote "make the most of hemp seed and sow it everywhere". Also, for more than two hundred years in early America, it was legal to pay your taxes with hemp. During critical material shortage periods, it became illegal not to grow hemp, with a penalty ofjail.

Hemp can be used medicinal ways in the form of an oil. It contains many heating properties and may be eaten or applied topically. Hemp is used medicinally to help restore vital organs, clear up skin conditions and ward off various age related diseases.

One of the healthiest snacks you could have are hemp seeds. They are very high in essential fatty acids. Hemp cereals, chutneys, pastas, salad dressings, flours, etc., are available. Hemp has also been used to make high protein animal feed. There is even a hemp-fed organic beef ranch in Kentucky. Hen7p is the richest plant source of Ornega-3 fatty acids and it contains the highest amount of polyunsaturated acids in the plant kingdom. Hemp is also higher in protein than meat.

Textiles are being made out of hemp. Majors designers Eke Armani, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren have been using hemp fabric. Building materials, cosmetics, solvents/cleaners, paper and fuel are all made out of hemp.

Here are some interesting facts I found on the website abouthemp.com:

-The first Levis blue jeans were out of one hundred percent hemp.

-Planting only six percent of the continental United States with biomass crops such as hemp would supply all current domestic demands for oil and gas.

-The Gutenberg bible-the first book made on a printing press-was printed on hemp paper. Almost six-hundred years later, the pages are still in good condition. The original drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were also printed on hemp.

-Henry Ford designed and built a car from compression-molded hemp and other natural fibers. He designed it to run on hemp biomass fuel.

-Budda was reputed to have eaten one hemp seed per day on his six year fast to discipline himself before attaining enlightenment.

Yes, hemp is definitely mother nature's premier renewable resource. It is used to make many things. It can be grown year after year. It doesn't need any chemicals or pesticides sprayed on it so it is much better for the environment. It can be used to make paper, call me an environmental wacko (oh, hang on, I have to go hug a tree. Okay, I'm back) but think of all the trees that could be saved by using hemp to make paper. I don't know about you, but I would feel a lot better knowing that all the paper I use comes from a resource like hemp instead of wasting all-those trees.