Hemp should be legalized. The people of the United States of America have been kept in the dark from this problem for too long! At one point in time hemp was considered to be the most profitable and desirable crop that can be grown. It is an excellent source of paper, and using it could help reduce the amount of trees being cut down each year. When hemp became illegal the most useful crop known to man became a drug, and our planet has been suffering ever since.
Up until the late 1800’s hemp was used for just about everything. The first bibles, maps, drafts of the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution were all made from hemp. 80% of all textiles, fabrics, clothes, linen, etc. were also made from hemp. Henry Ford’s first Model-T was built to run on hemp gasoline! The car itself was even constructed from the plant! It was the largest cast crop until the 20th century.
So many trees are being cut down each year to produce paper. This is slowly destroying our ecosystem. Hemp cultivation and production do not harm the environment. Hemp produces four times as much pulp with at least four to seven times less pollution. It also has a short growing season, where trees can take a lifetime. It can be grown in any state. The long roots of the plant penetrate and break the soil to leave it in perfect condition for next year’s crop. The dense shock of leaves, eight to twelve feet above the ground, chokes out weeds. It is very durable, and hemp has a higher quality fiber than wood.
In September of 1937 hemp became illegal. It was declared dangerous and a threat to billion dollar enterprises such as paper, plastic, and synthetic manufacturing. Yellow journalism was used in the late 1920’s and 1930’s to emphasize the “horrors of marijuana”. Propaganda was designed by industrialists to create a public enemy.
Earth is now suffocating due to the loss of rainforests, pollution, poisons, and chemicals. We have consumed 80% of our gas and oil reserves. Hemp is the...