Emily McCauley's Hemp Page

What is Industrial Hemp?
History of Industrial Hemp
Overview of state proposals and legislation
Countries growing industrial hemp
Possible Markets
Those involved and their positions
Facts
Works Cited

~ What is Industrial Hemp? ~

Cannabis Sativa L. is an annual plant originating from China. The versions of this plant with high levels (3-15%) of delta-9 tetrahydrocannibinol (THC) are considered marijuana. THC is the psychoactive ingredient that gives user a 'high'. Plants with lower levels (0-1%) of THC are usually considered industrial hemp. Smoking these plants will not result in a 'high'. Industrial hemp is grown tightly to minimize leafing; the most useful part is the stalk. Marijuana plants are given much room to leaf and bud since THC occurs in these areas. Cannabis is compatible with the growing season of every state in America.

This is the current definition of marijuana, it is very unclear.
USC Title 21 (Food and Drugs) (1988), Chapter 13 (Drug Abuse Prevention and Control), Section 802

(16) The term 'marihuana' means 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. Such term does not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber provided 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 extracted therefrom), fiber, oil or cake or the sterilized seed of such plant, which is incapable of germination. 1

Dr. William C. Woodard, legislative counsel, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL gave this testimony against Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.
"I use the word "Cannabis" in preference to the word "marijuana", because Cannabis is the correct term for describing the plant and its products. The term "marijuana" is a mongrel word that has crept into this country over the Mexican border and has no general meaning, except as it relates to the use of Cannabis preparations for smoking....It was the use of the term "marijuana" rather than the use of the term "Cannabis" or the use of the term "Indian hemp" that was responsible, as you realized, probably, a day or two ago, for the failure of the dealers in Indian hempseed to connect up this bill [the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act] with their business until rather late in the day." 2

~ History of Industrial Hemp ~

Hemp cultivation has roots in ancient Chinese cultivation. It has been grown since 4,500 BC for cloth, food, medicine, and shelter. Even the oldest known piece of paper contains hemp. Hemp was cultivated in Europe by 400 BC. and in New England by 1629. "The Gutenburg Bible (15th Century), the King James Bible (17th Century), the first and second drafts of the Declaration of Independence, and the original works of Mark Twain, Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas, Lewis Carroll, and Thomas Paine were all printed on paper made of hemp fibers." 3 It was Kentucky and Missouri's principal crop at one time. Hemp cultivation is possible in every state in America; in some places it is possible year-round.

Cotton began passing industrial hemp production due to the invention of the cotton gin in 1793. However, 1917 saw the invention of the decorticator, a hemp fiber separator. The hemp market was on the verge of taking off again when a few industries got together to bury it for their own interests. DuPont, a petrochemical producer, invented nylon in 1935, often used for rope and clothing, and did not want the competition from hemp. This was a result of their recently patented chemical processes for producing plastics and paper from petroleum and wood. William Randolf Hearst also had a vested interest in subduing the hemp industry. He was a main user of chemically treated wood pulp and owned a newspaper he wanted printed on trees. (His company owned many forest logging licenses.) Hearst is responsible for the Mexican slang word 'marijuana' entering America's vocabulary. He, with DuPont and other's help, began scarring the public into distrusting all strains of Cannabis. "[By] portraying it as a drug that causes minorities to rob, rape, murder,...Hearst created a climate of fear that laid the groundwork for the plans of Harry Anslinger, head of the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics." 4 Using articles from Heart's 'yellow journalism', Anslinger pressured Congress into passing the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act. The American Medical Association testified against the act but to no avail. 2 Representatives of seed and lubricating industries also testified against the act, but were reassured by proponents that it would not effect their business and that the intent of the act was not to hurt industrial hemp. Anslinger, was asked by Senator Brown at a Hearing for the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, "What dangers, if any, does this bill have for the persons engaged in the legitimate uses of the hemp plant?" Anslinger replied, "I would say that they are not only amply protected under this act, but they can go ahead and raise hemp just as they have always done it." 5 Industrial hemp remained 'legal' and was grown in Wisconsin until 1958, but the red tape, over taxing, and deterrent of its association with marijuana slowly killed the industry.

For four years during World War II, industrial hemp was relegalized when Japan cut off jute imports. Farmers were exempted from the war if they would grow hemp to be used for ship canvas, fuel, soldiers clothing, rope, etc. The USDA even produced a propaganda film entitled 'Hemp for Victory' to encourage farmers to grow it. "The U.S. government distributed 400,000 pounds of cannabis seeds to American farmers from Wisconsin to Kentucky, who produced 42,000 tons of hemp fiber annually for the war effort until 1946." 6

The 1937 Marijuana Tax Act was repealed in 1970 and was replaced with the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 wherein the definition of marijuana remained the same. 7 President Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in 1973 and abolished the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) by transferring drug enforcement authority to the Department of Justice. 7 The definition and supposedly the intent [not to harm industrial hemp production] remained the same. Courts have consistently returned to the intent of the 1937 Congress when "attempting to discern the meaning of the federal definition of marijuana." 7

In 1988, the FDA classified marijuana and industrial hemp as a schedule I drug, the worst class. Heroin is in schedule I, cocaine is in schedule II, and amphetamines are in schedule III. Looking at industrial hemp, it is unreasonable to classify it as a schedule I drug.

"The Controlled Substances Act mandates that schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse." 8
Industrial hemp is not worse than cocaine.
It cannot be smoked to get a high; THC, the psychoactive ingredient, is low (0-1%)or non-existent in industrial hemp. Smokable plants contain 3-15% THC.
We have the technology to differentiate between the two.
Legalization would not say to children that drugs are alright if the effort is made to educate them on the difference between the two kinds.
Regulation of industrial hemp is not difficult; cultivation patterns are different. Industrial hemp is grown close because the focus is on the stalks. Marijuana is given plenty of room to encourage the growth of leaves and flowers where THC is concentrated.
Marijuana cannot be hidden within an industrial crop because the cross-pollination renders it impotent. 9
Licenses can be issued and checked regularly. Fields can be tested for THC levels.

Recently, over 25 nations have relegalized or continued its cultivation. Several states in the US have attempted to pass laws acknowledging the difference and legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp. However, the DEA is preventing most action.

~ Overview of State Proposals and
Legislation Concerning Industrial Hemp ~

~ Countries Growing Industrial Hemp ~

Hemp is grown in over 25 nations including Chile, Georgia, Hungary, Korea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, and Switzerland.

Australia

Australia now allows cultivation for research purposes only.

Canada

Canada is working on bill C-8. It would legalize the wearing of hemp clothing, jewelry, etc. and allow farmers to sell their hemp stalk and/or fiber (not the seeds, leaves, or flowers). However, it can be grown for research purposes only and growers must get a license.

China

China has been cultivating hemp since 4,500 BC. They recently allocated $30 million towards developing a hemp processing mill.

France

France pushed the European Economic Community (EEC) for a .3% THC policy because of a monopoly they held at one time on seeds with this level. 20

Germany

Hemp cultivation was banned in 1982 and was relegalized in 1993 Hemp can be grown if the THC level is less than .3%. Farmers are even offered subsidies to grow it. German Health Minister Horst Seehofer says, "German farmers should be able to take advantage of the market potential for the hemp plat, which has many uses in industry and may also be a source of energy...We now have strains of hemp which contain such small amounts of the drug THC that they cannot be used for drug production. The principle argument against a continuing ban on hemp cultivation is therefore no longer valid." 21

Great Britain

Upon legalization of industrial hemp cultivation in 1993, plants were occasionally stolen from fields. "By 1995, however, potential drug users appear to have gotten the message that industrial hemp serves them no purpose and have left hemp fields alone." 22

Ukraine

One strain grown in the Ukraine contains only .06% THC. 23

~ Possible Markets for Hemp ~

All of these products are natural based, not petrochemical based, and thus are associated with less pollution in production and are biodegradable. There are over 25,000 uses including:

Copy paper
Fuel
Soap
Fine linen
Newsprint
Shampoo
Diapers
Margarine
Rope
Sails
Edible seeds
Cordage
Carpet
Edible oil
Paneling Insulation
Animal feed
Fiberboard
Fabrics
Granola
Cement blocks
Shoes
Birdseed
Detergent
Oil paint
Ink
Silverware
Motor oil
Varnishes
Plates
Cosmetics
Cups
Clothing
Lip balm
Shopping bags
Hats
Books
Art canvas
Bags and totes
Biodegradable plastics
Car fenders
Surfboards
Absorbants for horse stables
Absorbants for oil spills
Absorbants for cat litter

~ Those Involved and Their Positions ~

American Farm Bureau

Representing 4.6 million members, the Bureau unanimously passed a resolution at its 77th annual convention which endorses research of industrial hemp's potential in the United States.

Farm Bureaus

Colorado Farm Bureau, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Wisconsin Agribusiness Council, Weld County Farm Bureau (CO), and many more all support the movement towards legalizing industrial hemp.

Kentucky Hemp and Related Fibers Task Force

The Institute for Hemp summarized the task force's findings. "Legal prohibition of Cannabis cultivation is the overriding obstacle to reintroduction of fiber hemp production in Kentucky. Significant progress on agronomics, marketing, or infrastructure development is unlikely, and of relative little importance, unless legal issues are resolved. Legislative action would be required at both the state and federal level."24

The task force's overall conclusion was NO for industrial hemp. "However, for reasons unknown, the chairman disbanded his task force prematurely and issued a hastily assembled report which was not endorsed by many of the task force members." 25

USDA

In 1995, the USDA issued a fairly inconclusive white paper entitle "Industrial Hemp and Other Alternative Crops for Small-Scale Tobacco Producers".26 In past reports, they have been supportive of industrial hemp.

DEA

The DEA's position is best outlined in a letter by Philip Perry, previous Special Agent in Charge, written to the members of the Senate Agriculture committee of the Colorado state legislature 2 hours before the vote on a bill relegalizing industrial hemp.

The bill violates the Federal Controlled Substances Act in Colorado.

The bill violates federal law which comes before state l aw when the two are in opposition.

It sends a harmful and dysfunctional message to the people of Colorado.

Industrial hemp is marijuana- there is no difference between high and low THC. "Calling it "hemp" on the basis of an artificial threshold level of psychoactive ingredient does not erase the fact that it is botanically and legally the same plant. An illegal drug by any other name is still an illegal drug."

Claims of economic benefit are deceptive.

This is a "shallow ruse being advanced by those who seek to legalize marijuana."27

Colorado Hemp Initiative Project

A response was written by Thomas Ballanco, the Co-Chair of the Environmental Action Committee.

Ecolution

Ecolution sells hemp clothing and accessories. They also have written to the DEA.29

Businesses

Pro: Adidas makes shoes called 'The Hemp' out of industrial hemp fiber. Several companies have expressed interest in Colorado hemp as alternative fiber sources, including International Paper, Masonite, and Inland Container Corporation. Small business have sprouted up across the country to satisfy the increasing demand for hemp clothing, accessories, paper, etc. Currently 115 U.S. companies import hemp products to sell or import raw hemp materials.
Con: Timber companies do not want the demand for wood to decrease. Paper companies with monetary ties to timber do not want the demand for wood to decrease. Petrochemical companies, including DuPont, do not want competition from natural based products.