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09-17-2008, 04:12 PM | #1 |
Avalon Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 182
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The Wonders of HEMP! The weed that could save the world!
Here are facts about HEMP taken from various sources. HEMP FACTS: 1) Hemp is among the oldest industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginnings of pottery. The Columbia History of the World states that the oldest relic of human industry is a bit of hemp fabric dating back to approximately 8,000 BC. 2) Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp. Americans were legally bound to grow hemp during the Colonial Era and Early Republic. The federal government subsidized hemp during the Second World War and US farmers grew about a million acres of hemp as part of that program. 3) Hemp Seed is far more nutritious than even soybean, contains more essential fatty acids than any other source, is second only to soybeans in complete protein (but is more digestible by humans), is high in B-vitamins, and is 35% dietary fiber. Hemp seed is not psychoactive and cannot be used as a drug. See TestPledge.com 4) The bark of the hemp stalk contains bast fibers which are among the Earth's longest natural soft fibers and are also rich in cellulose; the cellulose and hemi-cellulose in its inner woody core are called hurds. Hemp stalk is not psychoactive. Hemp fiber is longer, stronger, more absorbent and more insulative than cotton fiber. 5) According to the Department of Energy, hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all hemp products. The hydrocarbons in hemp can be processed into a wide range of biomass energy sources, from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas. Development of biofuels could significantly reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power. 6) Hemp grows well without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides. Almost half of the agricultural chemicals used on US crops are applied to cotton. 7) Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainable basis, and can be used for every quality of paper. Hemp paper manufacturing can reduce wastewater contamination. Hemp's low lignin content reduces the need for acids used in pulping, and it's creamy color lends itself to environmentally friendly bleaching instead of harsh chlorine compounds. Less bleaching results in less dioxin and fewer chemical byproducts. 8) Hemp fiber paper resists decomposition, and does not yellow with age when an acid-free process is used. Hemp paper more than 1,500 years old has been found. It can also be recycled more times. 9) Hemp fiberboard produced by Washington State University was found to be twice as strong as wood-based fiberboard. 10) Eco-friendly hemp can replace most toxic petrochemical products. Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable plastic products: plant-based cellophane, recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products, and resins made from the oil, to name just a very few examples. HEMP HISTORY Hemp is among the oldest industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginnings of pottery. The Columbia History of the World states that the oldest relic of human industry is a bit of hemp fabric dating back to approximately 8,000 BC. Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp. Americans were legally bound to grow hemp during the Colonial Era and Early Republic. In 1937 Congress passed the Marihuana Tax Act which effectively began the era of hemp prohibition. The tax and licensing regulations of the act made hemp cultivation unfeasable for American farmers. The chief promoter of the Tax Act, Harry Anslinger, began promoting anti-marijuana legislation around the world. To learn more about hemp prohibition visit http://www.JackHerer.com or check out "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer Then came World War II. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor shut off foreign supplies of "manilla hemp" fiber from the Phillipines. The USDA produced a film called Hemp For Victory to encourage US farmers to grow hemp for the war effort. The US government formed War Hemp Industries and subsidized hemp cultivation. During the War and US farmers grew about a million acres of hemp across the midwest as part of that program. After the war ended, the government quietly shut down all the hemp processing plants and the industry faded away again. During the period from 1937 to the late 60's the US government understood and acknowledged that Industrial Hemp and marijuana were distinct varieties of the cannabis plant. Hemp is no longer recognized as distinct from marijuana since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970. This is despite the fact that a specific exemption for hemp was included in the CSA under the definition of marijuana. |
09-17-2008, 04:28 PM | #2 |
Avalon Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 182
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Re: The Wonders of HEMP! The weed that could save the world!
MODERN USES OF HEMP
Industrial Hemp for Paper: One acre of hemp in annual rotation will produce as much pulp for paper as 4.1 acres of trees during the same twenty year period. Hemp can be grown and harvested every year, unlike trees that take fifty to one hundred years to grow back. Hemp can be grown in more areas of the world than trees. Making paper from trees creates over five times more pollution than making paper from hemp. Since 1937, 70% of our national forests have been destroyed. Industrial Hemp for Clothing: Hemp produces three times as much fiber per acre as cotton. While cotton is grown on only 3% of the world's farmland, it uses a devastating 26% of the world's pesticides per year. Hemp requires no pesticides or herbicides to grow. Industrial Hemp for Energy. Since pre-industrial times, carbon dioxide levels have risen by almost 30% due to deforestation and fossil fuel combustion. The United States currently burns fossil fuels for 93% of its energy needs and consumes 25% of the world's supply. The hydrocarbons in hemp can be processed into a wide range of biomass energy sources, including fuel pellets, liquid fuels and gas. Development of biofuels could significantly reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power. Eco-friendly hemp can rePlace almost all toxic petro-chemical products. Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable plastic products. HEMP THE NEW SOY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaHoIhjUsxM Hemp - The Environmentally Sustainable Alternative http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxd64t6H3_4 RUN FROM THE CURE - The Rick Simpson Story (Part 1 of 7) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhT9282-Tw Jan Irvin - Cannabis / Hemp / Marijuana Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6QfAyJvQ-8 Biodiesel from Hemp / General Biodiesel Information http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdymZ__oQ_s The Market for Hemp Products http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kZTL...eature=related Hemp processing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k0GG...eature=related Hot Hemp Foods on Today Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJePi...eature=related |
09-17-2008, 06:11 PM | #3 |
Avalon Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Vanderhoof, BC
Posts: 73
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Re: The Wonders of HEMP! The weed that could save the world!
Stuff on Hemp
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food – Sept. 1999 “ The future of the Canadian Hemp Industry depends upon the development of an economical processing infrastructure” Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance “ As a new crop, Hemp markets are under constant development. It is reasonable to assume any new crop can take 15 – 50 years for market to develop. “ Where are we in the development of processing infrastructure? Seed oil and food production: - Western Canadian producers have concentrated on Hemp grain growing. - Seed production provides the maximum monetary return per acre and processors are established regionally to purchase farm harvests. - Equipment is readily available for establishment of on farm and small scale seed pressing operations. - All factors point to seed production as being the entry level start to a regional Industrial Hemp industry. Fibre: - An example of the emerging fibre processing component to the Industrial hemp industry is Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Co-op Ltd. This group is planning to establish a fibre processing facility in Dauphin, Manitoba at a cost of $15 million. Their vision for the industry indicated a plant could be established every 100 to 200 miles. - The processing plant will require approx. 20,000 to 25,000 acres ( 14,000 tons ) of industrial Hemp to be grown to supply the processing requirements of the facility. - Currently Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Co-op Ltd. has secured $ 6 million in government funding but needs to raise the remainder for their $ 15 million project through Bank loans and the public. Their plan calls for the development of a prospectus to make a public investment offering. Fuels: - Hemp hurds are considered a desirable feedstock for fuel production due to their high cellulose content however this product will have to compete with other field residues ( ie corn husks, etc. ) as a potential feedstock for both Ethanol and Methanol production. Ethanol: - Ethanol is blended with gasoline to reduce air emissions. Vehicles are presently available to operate on 85% Ethanol blends ( E85 fuel ). Currently there are 4 million flexible fuel vehicles on the road in the US. - 2004 Ethanol production levels in Canada amounted to 200 million litres. - A target has been set for Canada of 35 % of Canadian gasoline containing 10 % Ethanol by 2010 which requires 1.4 billion litres per year. - Government assisted projects funded in Round 1 of the Ethanol Expansion Program amounted to 7 projects for $ 78 million that will increase production by 750 million litres per year. - Target for the US as outlined in their Draft Security Action Plan dated February 2005 is to reduce US dependency on oil by 40 % in the transportation sector by 2030. - USDA- “ Every BTU of petroleum fuel used to produce Ethanol generates 13.2 BTUs, thereby greatly enhancing US energy security. “ BioDiesel: - Vegetable oil ( Canola, Rape Seed, Hemp Seed, etc ) plus 15 % Methanol plus Catalyst = Bio Diesel, a substitute for diesel fuel which burns 70 % cleaner than petro diesel. While Hemp Seed oil has higher value uses, Hemp hurds can be used for the production of Methanol. Issues of Scale: - Cost estimates for fibre processing facilities: - Fibre processing facility - $ 15 million - Cord fibre processing ( Textiles) $ 15 – 25 million - Pulp and paper making $ 100 + million - Charcoal / Methanol production $ 35 – 50 million Other Considerations: - The Hemp textile industry is currently dominated by China and India who have the benefit of relaxed environmental codes and low labour rates in what appears to be a labour intensive industry. Can we realistically compete globally or would an emerging Hemp based textile industry require trade protection similar to those being requested by the existing textile sector? - Any fibre based industry model would have to take logistics and freight costs into consideration when locating. In British Columbia would enough acres be put into cultivation in any particular area close enough to the plant site to make a processing facility feasible? - Is such an industry attractive enough to attract the levels of investment required? - Will the players in the emerging Ethanol / BioFuel industry consider Hemp as an alternative to corn for their feedstock requirements given that such a change may cost them a capital outlay due to handling and processing differences? What do we need to move forward? - Organized commitment from agricultural producers ( possibly co-ops ) - Share ideas and results to minimize losses during industry development phase - Identify long term markets that provide a viable return - Conduct comprehensive feasibility reviews to guard against failure - Acquire access to patient capital pools necessary to construct infrastructure - Secure government support in all levels of industry development - Commitments from stakeholders in emerging industries where Hemp fibre can be substituted for other crops that they will consider Hemp |
09-17-2008, 06:26 PM | #4 |
Avalon Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 947
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Re: The Wonders of HEMP! The weed that could save the world!
Heres some more links and info on the many benifits of this miracle plant!
Cannabis and cancer. Large Study Finds No Link between Marijuana and Lung Cancer http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?art...5F83414B7F0000 Study finds no marijuana link to lung cancer http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/ma...k_lung_cancer/ Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...052501729.html Cannabis and tobacco smoke are not equally carcinogenic. "A connection between marijuana smoking and lung or colorectal cancer was not observed" http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/2/1/21 Cannabis smoke less carcinogenic than tobacco smoke http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/32229.php Cannabis study finds less cancer risk than tobacco http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/oc...alcohol.health Marijuana Unlikely to Cause Head, Neck, or Lung Cancer http://www.webmd.com/news/20000508/m...o-cause-cancer Smoking Marijuana Does Not Cause Cancer According to a Case-control Study http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20050710150925597 Cannabis and brain damage. Heavy Marijuana Use Doesn't Damage Brain http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/n...t-damage-brain Marijuana Boosts Brain Cell Growth http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com...lth_news.shtml Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8155 High Times for Brain Growth: Marijuana-like drug multiplies neurons http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20051015/fob7.asp "studies using DTI have not found any abnormalities whatsoever in any part of the brains of adolescent heavy cannabis users. In fact, if anything, adolescent cannabis users tended to have larger brains, with more cells (white matter) than the controls. That doesn't mean that using cannabis in adolescence makes you smart, but it surely rules out significant global brain damage." http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/...1/17/lIDABD3EJ "Smoking marijuana does not have a long-term effect on intelligence. Only the heavy current users had experienced a decline in their IQ scores over the 10-year period - about four points, But people who had once smoked heavily and then given up were right back up to normal. Light users, former users and abstainers all saw their IQ scores climb between two and six points." http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2140 Study: Alcohol, Tobacco Worse Than Pot http://cbs3.com/topstories/alcohol.t....2.282305.html Human studies There is very little evidence from human studies of structural brain damage. In their controversial paper, Campbell et al (1971) were the first to present evidence suggesting that structural/morphological brain damage was associated with cannabis use. They used air encephalography to measure cerebral ventricular size, and claimed to have demonstrated evidence of cerebral atrophy in ten young males who had used cannabis for three to 11 years, and who complained of neurological symptoms, including headaches, memory dysfunction and other cognitive impairment. Compared to controls, the cannabis users showed significantly enlarged lateral and third ventricular areas. Although this study was widely publicised in the media because of its serious implications, it was heavily criticised on methodological grounds. Most subjects had also used significant quantities of LSD and amphetamines, and the measurement technique was claimed to be inaccurate, particularly since there were great difficulties in assessing ventricular size and volume to any degree of accuracy (e.g. Bull, 1971; Susser, 1972; Brewer, 1972). Moreover, the findings could not be replicated. Stefanis (1976) reported that echoencephalographic measurements of the third ventricle in 14 chronic hashish users and 21 non-users did not support Campbell et al's pneumoencephalographic findings of ventricular dilation. The introduction of more accurate and non-invasive techniques, in the form of computerised tomographic (CT) scans, (also known as computer-assisted tomographic (CAT) scans), permitted better studies of possible cerebral atrophy in chronic cannabis users (Co et al, 1977; Kuehnle et al, 1977). Co et al (1977), for example, compared 12 cannabis users recruited from the general community, with 34 non-drug using controls, all within the ages of 20-30. The cannabis users had used cannabis for at least five years at the level of at least five joints per day, and most had also consumed significant quantities of a variety of other drugs, particularly LSD. Kuehnle et al's (1977) subjects were 19 heavy users aged 21-27 years, also recruited from the general community who had used on average between 25 and 62 joints per month in the preceding year, although their duration of use was not reported. CT scans were obtained presumably at the end of a 31-day study, which included 21 days of ad libitum smoking of marijuana (generally five joints per day), and were compared against a separate normative sample. No evidence for cerebral atrophy in terms of ventricular size and subarachnoid space was found in either study. Although these studies could also be criticised for their research design (e.g. inappropriate control groups, and the fact that cannabis users had used other drugs), these flaws would only have biased the studies in the direction of detecting significant differences between groups, yet none were found. The results were interpreted as a refutation of Campbell's findings, and supporting the absence of cortical atrophy demonstrated by Rumbaugh et al's (1980) CAT scans of monkeys. A further study (Hannerz and Hindmarsh, 1983) investigated 12 subjects who had smoked on average 1g of cannabis daily for between six and 20 years, by thorough clinical neurological examination and CT scans. As in the studies above, no cannabis related abnormalities were found on any assessment measure. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wc...nnab2-ch75.htm Cannabis and Schizophrenia. RSNA: Brain Scans Suggest Marijuana-Schizophrenia Link http://www.medpagetoday.com/Radiolog...eeting/tb/2239 There are serious issues with these link studies, first of all that schizophrenia does not seem to have gone up in the era of heavy marijuana use - instead it has gone down or remained flat. This was in an era in which pot use exploded. The studies imply that pot only may cause scz in adolescence and not afterwards. The study above does suggest impaired growth of a particular, very tiny structure of the brain by using pot in adolescence. However, the clinical correlates of such damage are a form of aphasia which adolescent pot users do not have. So there are no clinical correlates to the damage to this structure. This structure does develop abnormally ON ONE SIDE in pot using adolescents. In scz, this structure ON BOTH SIDES. Furthermore, this is only a miniscule portion of the damage to the brain that happens when someone gets schizophrenia! Scz is a disease that is characterized by massive damage all across the brain to virtually every structure you can think of. Therefore, this very minor brain damage is certainly not sufficient to cause scz. Read more about it here: Does Marijuana Cause Schizophrenia? http://robertlindsay.blogspot.com/20...zophrenia.html Medical benefits of cannabis. Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half, Study Shows http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0417193338.htm Heart study finds benefit from pot http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/sectio...cle_471358.php Marijuana Chemical Fights Hardened Arteries http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/n...dened-arteries Marijuana can prevent blindness in Glaucoma patients. http://www.preventblindness.org/reso...ijuanaFS01.PDF Use of Marijuana to Treat Glaucoma http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_d...C&sub_cat=2012 Cannabinoids promote embryonic and adult hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects http://www.jci.org/115/11/3104?FIRST...855602212_4399 Decreased Depression In Cannabis Users, Study Says http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6586 Marijuana users report less depression. http://www.doctordeluca.com/Library/...nMjUsers05.pdf Medical marijuana for ADD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj72e5q61Fs Study backs medicinal benefits of cannabis http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2000/...bis000301.html U.S. Government Knew In 1974: THC Inhibits Cancer Tumors http://projectcensored.org/publications/2001/22.html and to recent research in Spain finding that THC stopped brain tumors in rats and protected surrounding nerve tissue, demonstrating neuroprotectant aspect of Cannabinoids. PDF of Dr. Guzman's research: http://americanmarijuana.org/Guzman-Cancer.pdf There is also evidence that cannabis is protective against the neurotoxic effects of stroke and head injury. Further evidence shows that cannabis is effective in slowing the progression of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, MS, Parkinson's, and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/co...ract/36/5/1071 http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/95/14/8268 http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/full/21/17/6475 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...&dopt=Citation http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...cd713e4c6bf29b http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/...ll/126/10/2191 http://www.letfreedomgrow.com/cmu/am..._sclerosis.htm Cannabis also protects mice against brain cell death caused by alcohol. http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/cgi/co...urcetype=HWCIT |
09-17-2008, 08:28 PM | #5 |
Avalon Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 560
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Re: The Wonders of HEMP! The weed that could save the world!
Hurd/Shive, what exactly is that in terms of the plant? I can't find a good definition of it. Cause that would be awesome to know how it's used as a fiberglass substitute. If that's the case (I'm assuming it's using maybe the whole stalk), then you can boil down tree sap, pour it over the hemp, and let it cool, and wa la, completely organic and natural substitute for plastic reinforced fiberglass.
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09-17-2008, 08:35 PM | #6 |
Avalon Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Vanderhoof, BC
Posts: 73
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Re: The Wonders of HEMP! The weed that could save the world!
It kind of like bamboo in how it grows.
For fibreglass substitute consider flax. Flax grows on wet ground and its used to make duck canvas. |
09-24-2008, 03:45 PM | #7 |
Avalon Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 28
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Re: The Wonders of HEMP! The weed that could save the world!
I recently wanted to buy hemp seeds but found out that it's illegal to sell viable hemp seeds, only sterile. Anyone have any sources?
thanks |
09-26-2008, 01:06 AM | #8 | |
Avalon Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Coastal British Columbia
Posts: 183
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Re: The Wonders of HEMP! The weed that could save the world!
Quote:
Just make sure the cannabis seeds you buy actually seed out in your season. There are now strains on the market which finish in late-August in BC, so they should be fine across Canada. Sure, they were bred for the 'high' but if you let them go to seed they sure bulk out. The remains once the seed has been taken out can be used to make a fine hashish for those interested in such things. Or more pertinently, 'Simpson Oil'! Wow that fella sure did a wondrous thing. |
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