4/14/01
Why Not Cannabis Hemp
To survive on this planet we need food, clean water, shelter, clothing, and most important we need to be able to breathe. Industrial hemp as an alternative to deforestation, fossil fuels, world hunger, global warming and other environmental issues can help to change our path from destruction to rejuvenation. Hemp is a plant that can provide these necessities to us.
Hemp or cannabis as Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia defines it ?Cannabis, genus containing a course, tall, hairy annual herb that provides fibred from its stems oil from its seeds and a drug from its flowers and leaves. The only species of cannabis, also called hemp or Indian hemp, is a native to Central Asia but is widely cultivated and found as a weed in North America.?(Microsoft Encarta cannabis). Or to better define industrial hemp ?Industrial hemp means those parts of the cannabis sativa plant which contain less than 1% tetrahydrocannabinols (THC). THC is the psychoactive chemical found in cannabis sativa. Industrial hemp is not to be confused with marijuana. Marijuana comes from the flowers of the cannabis sativa plant and contains more than 1% THC.?(Industrial Hemp as a Cash Crop sect1)
Deforestation or over harvesting of trees is a destructive way to use the land that we should care more about. Through heavy cutting or development a forest may be penetrated so deeply that there is little true interior with typical microclimate changes left in the forests. (Barrett 8). There are many benefits that the forests can provide to us such as food and possible medicines, which can be harvested without destroying the forest.
Many organizations have demonstrated that if the medicinal plants, fruits, nuts, oils and other recourses like rubber, chocolate and chicle, where harvested sustainable ?rainforest land has much more economical value than if timber were harvested or if it were burned down for cattle or farming operations. (Welcome to the rainforest 1).
?We all share a common thread in this relationship, and that is the preservation of the rainforests, through education and by developing ethnical, viable and economic alternatives.? (Welcome to the rainforest 2). These ecosystems should be better understood without having to destroy them. Through education and understanding we can find alternatives such as industrial hemp.
Instead of destroying the ecosystems that the forests provide, for paper, lumber, or to clear land. Why don?t we think about industrial hemp? In his book Jack Herer poses a challenge to the world:
Try to prove us wrong. If all fossil fuels and there derivatives, as well as the deforestation of trees for paper and agriculture, are banned from use in order to save the planet and reverse the greenhouse effect: There is only one known annually renewable natural resource able to provide the over all majority of our paper, textiles, and food, meet all the world?s transportation home and industrial needs, reduce pollution, rebuild the soil and clean the atmosphere all at the same time our old stand by that did it all before: Cannabis Hemp?marijuana! (5).
The raw materials found in hemp are basic and consist of three principal raw materials, which include fiber, seeds, and hurds. (Industrial Hemp as a Cash Crop sect 4). The hemp stalk is composed of 20% fiber the strongest natural fiber in the world. Hemp is a plant high in fiber and capable of making some of the finest materials available, from the finest linen, to the coarsest canvas and rope valued for its superior strength, (Industrial Hemp as a Cash Crop sect 4) ?? hemp is softer than cotton, warmer than cotton, more water absorbent than cotton, has three times the tensile strength of cotton and is many times more durable than cotton?? (Herer 6).
Eighty percent of the hemp stalk is composed of hurds, which can be used for paper or plastics. (Industrial Hemp as a Cash Crop sect 4). By first part of the twentieth century the U.S. department of agriculture had invented remarkable hemp paper making technology. (Herer 23). With hemp paper we wouldn?t have to depend on trees for paper and that could save the forests. ?In 1916 the U.S.D.A reported that one acre of cannabis hemp in an annual rotation over a twenty year period, would produce as much pulp for paper as 4.1 acres of trees being cut down over the same twenty year period.? (Herer 23). ?If the hemp pulp paper process of 1916 were in use today it could replace 40 to 70% of all pulp paper.? (Herer 23).
The hemp seed is composed of two raw materials the seed oil and the seed cake. (Industrial Hemp as a cash crop sect 4). Hemp seeds are highly nutritious in fact ?No other single plant source can compare with the nutritional value of hemp seeds.?(Herer 43). Hemp seed oil contains over 70% cholesterol-fighting essential fatty acids, the highest of any seed oil. (Industrial Hemp as a cash crop sect 4). After the oil is extracted from the seed you would be left with the hemp cake, which can make a nutritional, high-protein supplement to wheat flour containing 25% protein. (Industrial Hemp as a cash crop sect 4). The soybean is the only other plant that has a higher percentage of protein. (Herer 43). You get not only essential fatty acids but also a complete protein all from the same seed. ?Both the complete protein and the essential oils contained in hemp seeds are ideal ratios for human nutrition.? (Herer 43).
Hemp seed oil can be chemically combined easily with 15% methanol to provide a premium diesel substitute. (Industrial Hemp as a cash crop sect 4). Also known as biomass fuels. ?Hemp is the only biomass source that is capable of making the U.S. energy independent.? (Herer 46) With this diesel substitute we could make our US economy self sufficient instead of depending on foreign oil companies to supply us with our energy needs. ?Farming only 6% of continental U.S. acreage with biomass crops would provide all of America?s gas oil and energy needs ending dependence upon fossil fuels.? (Herer 47) Hemp could be a viable alternative to our destructive ways.
According to Jack Herer the author of The Emperor Wares no clothes ?In 1619, Americas first marijuana law was enacted at Jamestown Colony Virginia, ?ordering? all farmers to ?make tryal of? (grow) Indian hemp seed. More mandatory (must- grow) hemp cultivation laws were enacted in Massachusetts in 1631 in Connecticut in 1632 and in the Chesapeake colonies into the mid 1700s.?He also states ?Cannabis hemp was legal tender (money) from 1631 until the early 1800s. Why? To encourage American farmers to grow more. The United States Census of 1850 counted 8,327 hemp ?plantations? (minimum 2,000-acre farms) growing cannabis hemp for cloth, canvas and even cordage used for bailing cotton.? (1).
Hemp is a beautiful, and versatile plant and is capable of providing us with most of our needs on this planet. So why aren?t American farmers growing hemp today. Well a man named William Hearst the owner of a newspaper company fed America propaganda portraying ?Marijuana? to be monstrous and evil. (Herer 27). This off the wall statement written in one of his papers
If the hideous monster Frankenstein came face to face with the monster Marijuana he would drop dead of fright. In the mid 1930s Harry Anslinger went around the country giving speeches to judges, police, unions?etc, on the evils of marijuana. This was one of his favorite marijuana metaphors, which he assured his naive supportive audiences was not an overstatement.? (Herer 27).
Then on April 14 1937 Herman Olyphant introduced the Marijuana tax act directly to the House Ways and Means Committee instead of to other appropriate committees such as Food and Drug, American Medical Association or Agriculture. (Herer 28). This and the propaganda from the newspapers all helped in the prohibition of cannabis hemp.
The awareness of the benefits of cannabis hemp could help us in saving the planet. If hemp could save our planet then what are we waiting for. Are we waiting for someone to say that prohibiting this plant was a mistake or should we just forget that it?s illegal and grow it anyway? Well we can?t blame what happened sixty-four years ago on today?s society and if we try to grow it there will be someone there to tell us what we?re doing is wrong. Possibly taking our homes and families away and putting us in prison just for trying to keep this beautiful plant alive. What we might be able to do would be as simple educating our society about the benefits of cannabis hemp or just planting the seed wherever it can grow.
Work cited
Barrett, James. The Endangered Forests. Iowa: Kendal/Hunt Publication Company, 1993.
?Cannabis.? Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. 2001 ed.
Herer, Jack. Hemp and the Marijuana Conspiracy: The Emperor Wears No Clothes.
10th ed. U.S. Library of Congress: BACH, 1995
?Industrial Hemp as a Cash Crop for Colorado Farmers.? Boulder Hemp Initiative Project. http://www.welcomehome.org/cohip/PAGES/IND_HEMP/RESEARCH.HTM Colorado, 1994. 4/08/01
?Welcome to the Rainforest.? Raintree. < http;//rain-tree.com/ > Raintree nutrition, Irc, Austin, TX 78758. Copyright 1996-2001. 4/08/01
Virgil Miller
6/2001
Renewable alternative energies
As a solution to global warming
In today?s society we are pretty much dependent on burning fuel for energy mainly coal, natural gas, and petroleum. The burning of these fuels release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, which is one of the main causes of global warming. Why don?t we learn about and consider alternative renewable resources like solar, wind, water, or biomass fuels that could help in the problem of global warming, instead of using nonrenewable recourses like petroleum and coal for energy and continuing to deplete the supply provided to us by the earth.
?Fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal that are formed from ancient plants and animal remains? are burned ?In order to heat homes, provide electricity, move cars and trucks, and keep industrial plants operating. Some of the by-products of this burning, or combustion are carbon dioxide gas (CO2), methane (CH4) and water vapor. These three by-products absorb and redirect heat back down to Earth that would otherwise escape into space.? (Gutnik 1991). These gasses that are holding in the heat are continuing to build up because of the burning of fuels that release these gasses. The problem with continual build up of the greenhouse gas is to global warming.
Global warming can be a matter of the continuance of life on this planet. ?The results of global warming could be devastating. Any significant rise in the Earth?s temperature might cause the Artic ice caps to melt. If this happens, many of the world?s coastal cities could be flooded. There would almost certainly be changes in weather patterns and in the stability of ecosystems and biomes. As a result many species of plants and animals would disappear forever.? (Gutnik 1991). Gutnik also states that the first step to prevent disasters from happening is through understanding. (1991).
If we want to continue the life of the plants and animals on this planet, then we aught to find a solution, because, without a solution then we might all die. The solution would be to work on changing over from non-renewable resources that pollute the air to renewable resources such as solar, wind, water and or biomass fuels that in time might help reverse global warming hopefully helping the life on this planet. If we could depend on renewable resources instead of using resources that won?t always be there then we might be better off. But if we continue using up all the nonrenewable resources and they do run out then we would probable go through a sudden shock that could spark mass chaos or maybe a war and that?s the last thing we need. Even changing over from petroleum to something like biomass fuels could cause a shock but if we changed slowly over time then it might prove to help us in the future.
In Jack Herer?s book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, he poses a challenge to the world: ?Try to prove us wrong. If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as the deforestation of trees for paper and agriculture, are banned from use in order to save the planet and reverse the greenhouse effect: There is only one known annually renewable natural resource able to provide the overall majority of our paper, textiles, and food, meet all the world?s transportation home and industrial needs, reduce pollution, rebuild the soil and clean the atmosphere--all at the same time--our old standby that did it all before: Cannabis Hemp?marijuana!? (1995).
?Hemp seed oil can be chemically combined easily with 15% methanol to provide a premium diesel fuel substitute,? Also known as biomass fuels. ?This bio diesel fuel burns seventy percent cleaner than petroleum diesel in soot and particulate pollution.? (Industrial Hemp as a cash crop 1994). ?Hemp is the only biomass source that is capable of making the U.S. energy independent.? (Herer 1995) With this diesel substitute we could make our US economy self sufficient instead of depending on foreign oil companies to supply us with our energy needs. ?Farming only 6% of continental U.S. acreage with biomass crops would provide all of America?s gas oil and energy needs ending dependence upon fossil fuels.? (Herer 1995) Hemp could be a viable alternative to our destructive ways.
Burning biomass fuels also releases green house gasses into the atmosphere. But through photosynthesis the growing plants would to take in carbon dioxide (CO2) use the one carbon and release two oxygen molecules. This could slowly over a period of time help balance out the excess (CO2) in the atmosphere. We need some heat held in by greenhouse gasses, ?Without carbon dioxide, the Earths average temperature would be zero degrees Fahrenheit. It would be imposable for our planet, at this temperature, to sustain life as we know it.?(Gutnik 1991).
What about solar energy or wind generators neither of which release any gasses into the atmosphere nor will the wind or sun be depleted from existence. Both the wind and sun have proven to be very efficient as long as the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. All you have to do for soar energy is to buy solar panels and pace them in the sun. With wind you can pump water and or have electricity if you live in a windy area. The nice thing about wind and solar is once you have the solar panels or wind generators you get free energy.
With this free energy we can power cars, planes, and we wouldn?t have to worry about polluting the air. Free energy without the pollution what?s the catch and why aren?t we using it today instead of continuing to burn fossil fuels? That s a good question maybe it has something to do with money and mass corporations controlling the economy? Why? Are people blind or do they not care about the way that our lives are headed?
Here I have listed and somewhat explained how some alternative resources can be used and maybe help in preventing further global warming. Just writing this paper isn?t going to change what we do but it can help us to understand what is going on and what can be done about global warming and our future. We should learn to understand and appreciate what we have provided to us on this planet before it?s too late.
Gutnik, Martin, J. (1991). Experiments that explore the greenhouse effect.
Herer, Jack. (1995).Hemp and the marijuana conspiracy: The emperor Wears no clothes
?Industrial hemp as a cash crop for Colorado farmers.?(1994). Boulder hemp initiative project
Retrieved 4/8/01 http://www.welcomehome.org/cohip/PAGES/INDHEMP/RESEARCH.HTM
Virgil Miller
7/15/01
Paper Evaluation
Paper is part of our everyday lives. We use it to record information, write letters, and we even use paper to keep ourselves clean, after using the restroom. I am going to evaluate the differences between wood pulp paper and hemp paper. I will determine, and explain my opinion, on the deforestation of trees for paper, and reasons for considering hemp as an alternative, source of paper. ?There is just one catch: it (hemp) is illegal to grow in the United States? (Lightparty.com 1).
Wood pulp paper is the most readily available, and its production can be considered to be extremely harmful to the environment. ?Wood pulp paper rode the chemical revolution to its apex before the public health hazards of toxic chemicals were an issue and before the environmental consequences of clear-cutting forests were appreciated? (Roussel 2).
The problem with today's paper is that so many chemicals are used to make it. High strength acids are needed to make quality (smooth, strong, and white) paper out of trees. These acids produce chemicals, which are very dangerous to the environment (Julin1).
The acids and bleaches that are used during the process of making wood pulp paper produce byproducts, such as dioxins, chloroform, and as many as 2,000 other chlorinated (bleached) organic compounds which have been identified as a result of the wood pulp paper making process (Roussel 2). This process is forever changing ecosystems and, sometimes, eliminating species from existence. Dave Seber, a former redwood logger, states during an interview with High Times magazine, ??As I see it?we've got 10 to 20 years, tops, before the entire ecosystem, as we know it, will collapse because of what they are doing in these forests??(About.com 3).
Obviously, there would have to be an alternative source of paper, if we are to continue using paper, breathing, drinking clean water and enjoying the shade of the forests. ?There is no magic-bullet solution to the dilemma of how to protect the world's forests? (Lightparty.com 1). The least we could do is try to help save what forests we have left, and with cannabis hemp we could do just that, and have paper to write on or wipe with all at the same time. If hemp were being used today, could we save our forests and have paper,? Well, the only way to find out is to try.
?Among the most environmentally benign of available alternative fibers is industrial hemp? (Lightparty.com 1). ?Hemp?s cellulose level is almost three times that of wood, so it makes superior paper and yields four times as much pulp per acre as trees. The hemp paper process utilizes less energy and fewer chemicals than tree paper processing??(Roussel 2). The hemp plant could very well be used in the place of trees for paper, not counting the numerous other benefits of the hemp plant. ?Of all the sustainable sources for consumer products, hemp is uniquely suited to provide the widest variety of life?s necessities and comforts. In this way, hemp is nature's gift to humanity? (Roussel 5).
Despite the benefits of hemp, ?There are people who are against growing hemp for paper. Their own reasoning is that hemp farming is very demanding on the environment and would negate any possible benefits ascribed to it? (About .com 2)? ?Large areas of cultivated fields would be necessary. This would, in itself, mean clearing land of trees and would comprise the best land in terms of fertility and topography.? They also go on to state that, ?Tending hemp would be expensive and would compete for land and other resources? and, in a quote from (About.com 2) by Heike Von Der Lancken states that, ??hemp pulp costs $2,500 per ton as compared to $400 per ton for typical bleached wood pulp?? (About.com 2).
Why should the factor of money be the line between life and death, and what is the price that we should pay for saving the environment? How about clear cutting trees; how ?demanding on the environment? is that? Shouldn?t there already be a significant amount of farmland already cleared, and how would growing hemp be any more competitive, when owning the land has already created competition?
?Today, only 4% of America's old-growth forest remains standing?(Julin 2). If we continue to clear forests to make paper out of wood pulp, the air and water will then be polluted. Without the forests that clean the air and filter the water, what kind of future would our children be left with? What about the trees? Who?s going to be there to tell the people that this is all that we have left, when it?s too late?
Work cited page
About.com. 2001. About.com, Inc. Save Trees Grow Pot.
< http://forestry.about.com/library/weekly/aa100100a.htm > Received on 7/14/01
Julin, Brian S. Cannabis-Marijuana FAQ. 4a How Can Hemp Be Used To Make Paper? 4b Why Can?t We Just Keep Using Trees? < http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~verdant/Marijuana_FAQ/X0012_4a_How_can_hemp_be_u.html > received on 7/14/014b)
Lightparty.com. Reprint ?Multinational Monitor,? April 98 edition < http://www.lightparty.com/Light/Hemp6.html >received on 7/14/01
Roussel, Scott. Roussel, Janice. ?The Benefits of Hemp.? Ecomall 2001. San Diego Earth Times. < http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/sdethemp7.htm > received on 7/14/01
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