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A full assignment about hemp
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Industrial Hemp is an ancient crop, which has a multitude of diverse uses. The earliest uses of Hemp can be traced back to the Sumerians and probably even earlier in man’s unrecorded history. Industrial Hemp is not Marijuana though the two plants are of the same family and have passing resemblance to one another. Industrial Hemp’s myriad uses are being rediscovered and at the forefront of research in diverse fields. I will be attempting to dispel some of the myth, and providing history and proven uses of this amazing plant.
The scientific name for industrial hemp is Cannabis sativa; which, is one of the strains of marijuana (Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis). The major difference in the different strains is the almost complete lack of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the industrial hemp strain. Another prominent feature is the industrial hemp grows tall and narrow whereas the psychoactive and medicinal strains grow short and bushy with large flowering buds. Many governments worldwide recognize this difference and allow the cultivation of industrial hemp even where marijuana is not legal. Unfortunately the United States of America is not one of those countries yet. But many in roads to legal cultivation are being made. (Andrews 10)
Historically industrial hemp has been grown on every continent with the exceptions of Antarctica and Greenland due to the harshness of their respective climates. Hemp usage has been archeologically dated to the Neolithic Era; with, pottery imprinted with hemp fiber found dating to the fifth millennium B.C. Hemp is believed to have been cultivated by man for over 12,000 years. The earliest hemp paper that survives to the present day is from the Western Han Dynasty in China. Hemp...
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Martino, Joe. "Hemp Makes Big Strides: It’s Now Legal To Grow In Certain States." CollectiveEvolution RSS. N.p., 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
Mist, Kali. "One More Way That Hemp Plastic Could Save Our Lives." One More Way That Hemp Plastic Could Save Our Lives. Soft Secrets USA, 14 Oct. 2011. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
""NEW BILLION-DOLLAR CROP"" Popular Mechanics Magazine 1938th ser. Feb (1938): n. pag. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. .
Robinson, Rowan. The Great Book of Hemp: The Complete Guide to the Environmental, Commercial, and Medicinal Uses of the World's Most Extraordinary Plant. Rochester, VT: Park Street, 1995. Google Books. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co, 1996. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
Roulac, John. Hemp Horizons: The Comeback of the World's Most Promising Plant. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub., 1997. Print.
In Kansas, he speaks to a farmer, who relays the transformation of American agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial farming via the tale of his family. The farmer’s deceased relative had only grown enough for his family and livestock. Additionally, the grandfather’s field had been the size of only one of his grandson’s fields. At this time, Kwon discusses one of the United States’ largest crops: corn. The host discusses the idea that corn is found in almost all prepackaged foods, and that it makes it possible to produce beef at an industrial scale, as it is fed to cows. Thus, American companies prove able to export beef around the world. Kwon continues the television program by discussing means to keep crop pests at bay, a task that the post-war chemical industry revolutionized. Today, there are 3,500 aerial crop-protection pilots in the United States, offering forty to fifty pesticide products. Farmers, in turn, hire these pilots to tend to pesticide issues. Additionally, as Kwon points out, farmers have begun to hire companies to harvest crops, and bees are sent around the country for the purposes of
Ganzel,Bill “farming in the 1930s” Wessels living history farms. 2003. Web. 19 Nov. 2013 http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/farminginthe1930s.html
Hemp was viewed as a threat to several competing industries which caused them to create a smear campaign against hemp. By associating hemp with marijuana and by creating the propaganda film “Reefer Madness” this caused hysteria amongst the population (History of Hemp, n.d.). Hemp prohibition started in the 1930s. Hemp was grouped under the umbrella of marijuana and effectively made illegal under the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. Furthermore, In 1970 Industrial hemp was classified as marijuana under the Controlled Substance Act in spite of decades of government-funded research that identified industrial hemp to have a unique structure and function (Hemp’s History, n.d.). In spite of Hemp being illegal in America, Hemp is legally grown in about 30 countries around the world, with China and France as the leading producers of hemp. Canada our neighbor to the north legalized Hemp cultivation in 1998. Farmers, there must have a licensed and also grow approved low-THC seeds. Hemp grown in Canada has to be tested to ensure they contain less than 0.3 percent THC. This essay will
The country at the time was in the deepest and soon to be longest-lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized world and this caused years of over-cultivation of wheat, because “during the laissez-faire, expansionist 1920’s the plains were extensively and put to wheat - turned into highly mechanized factory farms that produced highly unprecedented harvests” (Worster 12). The farmer’s actions were prompted by the economic decline America was facing. With the economy in a recession, farmers were looking for a way to make a living and in 1930 wheat crops were becoming very popular. In 1931 the wheat crop was considered a bumper crop with over twelve million bushels of wheat. Wheat was emerging all over the plains.
In 1940, the import of hemp during World War II was a big factor in creating supplies such as parachutes or cordage. In the 1960’s, President Kennedy found from research that marijuana does not induce violence or lead to heavier drug use. George Washington, the first president of our beloved country, grew cannabis on his plantations. Thomas Jefferson also grew hemp as a reliable
The 1920’s were the singularly most influential years of farming in our country. The loss of farms following the war, and new agricultural practices resulted in the dawn of modern agriculture in our country. The shift from small family to big corporation during this time is now the basis for how our society deals with food today. Traditional farming in the 1920’s underwent a series of massive transitions following WWI as the number of farms decreased and the size of farms increased.
There are many different words for what was originally considered, “hemp” to the ancient world. Some are, cannabis, marijuana, weed, and pot. Over time, the different words have reflected the views and uses of hemp through different societies and time periods. Hemp dates back to the early Mesopotamian days in what is considered Turkey today. It is the first known plant to be domestically cultivated. According to research, “The oldest relic of human history is hemp fabric dated to 8,000 BCE.” In 1492, Christopher Columbus brought hemp as a rope to America. His ships were full of hemp fabric used for uniforms, parachutes, ropes, sails, baggage, shoes and many more military uses. To free the American colonies from England press, Benjamin Franklin started a paper mill, which used cannabis to create paper and print books. This allowed America to have free colonial press from Britian without having to ask for them. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both drafted on hemp paper. Betsey Ross made the first flag of the United States of America out of hemp, which was the strongest known fiber at the time. “Farmers from 1942 through 1945 who agreed to grow hemp were waived from serving in the military, along with their sons; that is how vitally important hemp was to America during World War II.” Henry Ford also used hemp-based plastic to create vehicles, which was proven to be stronger and lighter than steel and could withstand much more impact without denting. He also used hemp-based ethanol fuel, which was more efficient. Hemp had been used widely throughout the United States before it became illegal and served many purposes.
As I said earlier hemp is the longest, strongest, and most durable fiber known. This means it surpasses other fibers like cotton, the most common in today’s world. According to Chris Conrad (man behind Hemp: lifeline to the future) On an annual basis, 1 acre of hemp will produce as much fiber as 2 to 3 acres of cotton. Cotton grows only in moderate climates and requires more water than hemp. Where as hemp is frost tolerant, it requires only moderate amounts of water, and it grows in all 50 states (Hemp Basics, para 2). Not only is hemp better than cotton in terms of agriculture, but hemp fiber is softer than cotton, lasts twice as long as cotton, and will not mildew. Literally hemp surpasses cotton in almost every
The Jamestown settlers cultivated hemp produced by the marijuana plant. They used these fibers to make clothing, rope, and canvas because of its quality and durability. Physicians in the 19th century were prescribing cannabis as a pain reliever, an anticonvulsant, and for migraine headaches (Doweiko, 2002). Following his work in India in the 1840's William
American colonists planted the first hemp crops near Jamestown, Virginia in 1611 (Mehling, 2003). The hemp was used for a variety of textiles, including sails, ropes, maps and even clothing because of its durability and resilience to mildew. With the New Land having an ideal climate for the growing of the Cannabis plant, King James I of England mandated the cultivation and relied heavil...
The Roaring Twenties approached and the citizens in Colorado were facing rough times. In 1920, many people such as farm owners, manufacturers, and even miners were having a hard time making a living due to an economic downfall. The farmers especially, where facing the toughest of times. The price of various farm-grown goods like wheat, sugar beets, and even cattle was dropping because their goods were no longer needed by the public. Wheat had dropped in price from $2.02 in 1918 to $0.76 by the time 1921 came around. Sadly, the land that they were using to grow wheat became dry and many farmers had to learn to grow through “dryland farming” which became very popular in the eastern plains from 1910 to 1930 (Hard Times: 1920 - 1940). Apple trees began to die due to the lack of desire for apples, poor land, and decreased prices. Over the course of World War I, the prices of farm goods began to increase slowly. Farmers were not the only one facing this economic hardship while others in big cities were enjoying the Roaring Twenties.
The history of marijuana in the United States dates to early colonial times. ``In 1619, America's first marijuana law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Va., `ordering' all farmers to `make tryal of' (grow) Indian hemp seed.” (Tribune) A by-product of the cannabis plant is hemp. Today, hemp can be used to make fabrics, construction, paper, medicines, oils, body care products, and molded plastics. In colonial times hemp was used to make various textile products and in the 1800s hemp was found to have medicinal benefits. Herer says in his book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, “various marijuana and hashish extracts were the first, second or third most-prescribed medicines in the United States from 1842 until the 1890s. (Herer) For centuries people have recognized the medicinal properties of cannabis; “depending on the c...
Also, the medical sales of marijuana would create an alternative source of natural medicine that has less harmful side-effects than some prescription medicines. Another more practical use for the cannabis plant is “hemp”. Hemp is another variety of cannabis that is used mainly for its fiber, oil, and seeds. The fiber can be used to make anything from clothes to cars, as Henry Ford shows us with his 1941 car made of hemp fibers mixed with other types of plant fibers, and ran off of hemp biofuel (Lance).... ...
Walsh, John. "Q&A: Legal Marijuana in Colorado and Washington." The Brookings Institution. Washington Office on Latin America, 21 May 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Despite the 1976 ruling by the federal government that marijuana has “no acceptable medical use”, sixteen states have passed medical marijuana laws that allow for patient use o...