There are numerous
undeniably beneficial reasons to legalize hemp.
U.S. imports of hemp and hemp products increased more than 300% over the last
decade. We are spending millions (or more) on the plant when we could be making millions
instead. The problem, however, is that industrialized hemp remains banned by
the federal government while hemp products do not. This means we must buy our
hemp from other countries – countries who are seriously profiting from our
growing demand. I gave you some reasons for hemp legalization last week. But,
if that wasn’t enough, here are some more:
Hemp was Once Grown in
Every Household
Did you know hemp was grown by the founding fathers
of this nation? It was. In 1619, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law requiring every
household to grow the crop. It’s value was undeniable and it was even used as
legal tender in early colonies. As recently as World War II, the federal
government subsidized the plant. This means they actually paid U.S.
farmers to grow it. For fuel, textiles, rope, animal bedding and feed—hemp’s
use in the United States is far from a new occurrence. While hemp remains
illegal, the U.S. government is subsidizing much
safer (sarcasm) GMO crops.
Not all age-old practices
are acceptable, but this one is.
Hemp is Green
In addition to being
historically cultivated (and prized), hemp production is measured “greener”
than many other crops. It’s sustainable and can be grown in the same plot of
land year after year, not depleting the soil like some other crops. It can
actually be used as a rotation crop, helping to regenerate the soil normally
used to grow things like soybeans. Further, the plant doesn’t need as much
fertilizer as corn, nor does it need to swim in pesticides. When planted with
other crops, the roots can prevent runoff and erosion while the leaves can
protect paired plants from the elements.
Hemp actually removes soil
contaminants. Phytoremediation removes a variety of toxins from the soil including pesticides,
metals, oil, and even nuclear contaminants. Its system of roots acts as a
filter, stabilizing contaminants within the soil. Hemp was even planted at the
site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to help remove nuclear toxins.
More Jobs
Finally, with the national unemployment rate hovering somewhere near 8% (an estimate quite low in reality),
legalizing industrial hemp could bring jobs back to the country. Currently, we
are employing workers in other countries to supply hemp products to meet our
demands—to the tune of $400 million in retail sales alone in 2010. Not only could
legalizing hemp give farmers another source of viable income, it could create
an hemp production, manufacturing, and distribution industry.
We aren’t talking about
marijuana here, the plant that gets you high (though that should be legal too).
This is hemp – the cannabis plant that doesn’t offer psychoactive
effects. And while there are sufficient reasons for legalizing pot, the
legalization of this particular plant offers reasons of its own, namely as a
potential windfall for a beleaguered economy and a return to what the
originators of this country rightfully saw as a crucial natural resource. And of course, our rights and
freedom.
