American farmers can't freely grow industrial hemp because our government apparently refuses to recognize that there is a clear difference between industrial hemp and its distant cousin marijuana. Some farmers are fighting back in court but it's an uphill battle.
Hemp, the fast growing, incredibly versatile, renewable and sustainable plant is an environmentalist dream come true! The hemp oil is fantastic in cooking, high in essential fatty acids (the ones that help reduce cholesterol and unblock the arteries). Hemp seeds make a super delicious snack alone or by a handful on a salad, making for a perfect complement and it is a awesome addition in all the culinary adventures including baking.
A pair of hemp jeans may outlast 10 pairs of regular jeans and it will keep its shape nicely. The oil from hemp can also be used to produce clean burning biodiesel fuel and methanol (10 times more ounce for ounce than from corn).
Henry Ford made a car from hemp plastic that ran on hemp-based fuel and outperformed metal parts in crash tests.
Plastics, paints, varnishes, tubing and insulation were all far less toxic when produced from hemp but has that irritated petrol giants?
Let’s not forget in 1777 the US flag with its stars and stripes flying above the sky was made from hemp. First and second draft of the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. Paper production from hemp could save millions of trees, helping our environment. Hemp can be used to produce thousands of different products.
The question we need to ask ourselves is why are we not demanding that our government remove barriers to hemp farming in the U.S.? Even when some states approve growing of hemp (like in VT, news link HERE), there is still the need for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to reverse its policy of banning domestic hemp production.
