Why should we allow or want industrial hemp to be grown in the USA?

Industrial hemp, which contains below 0.3% THC, is not the same as the recreational/medicinal cannabis—marijuana. Marijuana contains 6 to 20% or more of THC, which is the psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant. Just to name a few areas of use, industrial hemp is used for paper, clothing/textiles, biodegradable plastics, auto industry, construction, fuel, and in the health food and beauty products industries. Hemp is a sustainable plant that may be used in place of depleting Mother Earth’s forests and other resources. Growing industrial hemp requires none to very few pesticides, and it replenishes the soils with nutrients where is it grown.

Hempseed oil, aka hemp oil, is an edible oil that contains 80% essential fatty acids (EFA) and about 20% of a highly-digestible protein. Its amino acid content is almost complete when compared to sources of protein such as meat, milk, eggs, and soy. We Americans eat way to much soy, this product should not be consumed in the quantities that we do, especially women who have not gone through menopause. Soy is a good source of natural estrogen, which is great for women who have gone through the “change” but not before, as it may raise the levels of estrogen produced by your body, and with the increased levels of estrogen causing painful periods, PMS, etc. Anyway, one tablespoon of hemp oil taken daily easily provides your daily requirement of EFAs. Hemp oil is not suitable for frying nor is olive oil. Hemp oil turns rancid within a short period of time, such as flaxseed oil, if not stored properly. Keep it stored in the refrigerator and use within six months or less within the date of purchase. Also, keep in mind, when you purchase hemp oil/hemp seeds make sure that they are refrigerated (and have been kept refrigerated) at the time of purchase, as they may be spoiled. Hemp oil is also known to improve your memory and to strengthen brain cells.

Hemp seeds are great in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, grown as sprouts, used in baking, in teas, etc. These seeds contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary for daily nutrition. Hemp seeds are also a good source of calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese. Other uses for hemp in your diet are cereals, tofu, flour, and its fresh leaves used in salads. As hemp oil and hemp seeds contain these much-needed nutrients, by consuming hemp this decreases your need to depend on manufactured supplements to get the recommended daily requirements to stay healthy.

During WWII, the US used hemp in the production of military uniforms, ropes, and other items for the war. However, our “War on Drugs,” which isn’t working anyway, caused the end of growing hemp in the US. We need to educate ourselves more about this wonderful plant, industrial hemp, and the great qualities it has and how it will be an asset to our lives as a renewable resource for textiles, biodegradable plastic, paper, fuel, auto body parts, etc., and in improving our health from its many wonderful nutritional benefits. With the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency (DOJ and DEA) micromanaging understanding of the Controlled Substances Act, their interpretation of industrial hemp is indistinguishable from marijuana. This interpretation has the US importing industrial hemp to the tune of $360 Million, or more, each year from countries where its production is legal. Just think if we were allowed to grow this wonderful plant, the benefits—economically and health-wise—would be astounding, so shame on us for not standing up to have outdated laws overturned.

However, with the help of the non-profit advocacy group Vote for Hemp many states have passed or introduced hemp legislation to change this. For more information, check out their website http://www.votehemp.com/.