Essay On Hemp

2644 Words11 Pages
Hemp Legalization in the U.S “Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country,” said Thomas Jefferson (Hempcar.org). Hemp is another word for the plant Cannabis sativa L. Marijuana also comes from this plant but the strains of hemp used in industrial and consumer products contain only a negligible level of intoxicating substance delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC (www.sdearthtimes.com). For over 5,000 years, hemp has been used for textiles, paper, building materials, fuel, food and personal care products. Today Hemp is grown all over the world and used to make over 25,000 consumer products. The plant requires little or no toxic chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides (Golub 243). The illegalization of hemp in 1930s, occurred due to false study results, major business corporations, and its so called links to narcotics. Hemp cultivation could provide for our oil and gas needs as a country. The common misconception is that hemp is linked with recreational marijuana but that is not true.…show more content…
The benefits of legalizing the cultivation of hemp are endless. The uses range from food to building materials. Henry Ford made a car from hemp fibers that ran on hemp biofuels, the Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper, and the first American flag made by Betsy Ross was made out of hemp fibers (Herndon 90). Two of the most famous people in American history, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both supported the growing and manufacturing of hemp. During the 17th and 18th century in America, it was illegal to refuse to grow hemp (Hemp News). In 1916, the U.S. Government Department of Agriculture predicted that by the 1940s all paper would come from hemp and no more trees would need to be cut down according to Anne L. Ash. Cultivating hemp not only would save the environment but it would also bring in
Open Document