Help Me Understand

Hemp (Cannabis spec.) – detail – geograph.org.uk – 538475 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Up until a few months ago, I didn’t know much about hemp, thought it was just some hippy ingredient in my soap. Then a guy in New Hampshire introduced me to hemp protein, was cool enough to give me a bag. It wasn’t the best tasting stuff I’d ever tried, but the more research I did on it, the better it sounded. It’s superior to other forms of protein in a number of ways, and I was sold on it after using it for a few weeks. For those that are interested in learning more about the nutritional aspect of hemp protein, here’s a good article where the author discusses his two month trial run using it.

It’s the plant itself that interests me. Farmers call it a wonder crop, environmentally and economically friendly, a sustainable alternative. Besides being a great source of nutrition, hemp is stronger than wood and could replace cotton, which just happens to use over half of the world’s pesticides and herbicides. As an alternative to wood-pulp paper and construction materials, hemp would help save our forests. Not to mention it could also be used as a bio-fuel and replace most toxic petrochemical products.

Sounds great, right. Every industrialized nation in the world seems to think so and allows for hemp’s production. Every country except one.

Here in the US we can import, sell or consume hemp, but can’t grow or cultivate it. I’m hoping that one of you can explain to me why that is. Before you start guessing, though, I’d recommend reading this excellent article: Arguments Against Hemp and Why They Are Wrong.

I’ll do my best to sum it up for all of you who are lazy like me. Hemp is not psychoactive. It can not be used as a drug. It contains only trace amounts of THC and no amount of hemp will get you high. The plant is also easily distinguishable from marijuana and wouldn’t be used as cover for these plants as they would cross-pollinate and ruin the weed.

So why is it illegal to grow, especially when there is a high demand from the American people, with farmers leading the cry for the federal government to change their position? I really would like to see a single valid argument for it. If there isn’t a good explanation then that means our government is not acting in our best interests. They can’t plead ignorance either, because they have all the details. Surely they must understand that hemp is both beneficial and harmless.

But hemp isn’t harmless to everyone. If hemp were legalized, there would be quite a few major corporations who’d lose a fortune. I completely understand why those parties wouldn’t want hemp on our lands. I’m just wondering how much they may influence decision making. Is it the will of a few companies or that of the people?

I didn’t write this so I could get lumped in with those ‘crazy’ conspiracy theorists. I’m just trying to understand what’s going on. Show me why we shouldn’t be following the rest of the world in the production of hemp. Convince me hemp is a bad idea and I’ll gladly apologize for the tone of this article. Let’s assume my one day of research shouldn’t be considered diligent. Someone enlighten me. I’d love to believe that our government wouldn’t forsake the greater good of our country so the privileged few could prosper.

Until then, I say we listen to what George Washington said over two hundred years ago. “Make the most of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere.”