Should industrial hemp be legalized?

Question

From my research I have found that industrial hemp has nominal amounts of THC grows voraciously without pesticides, can be used for among other things, rope, clothing, construction material, and food. This all could relieve our impact on the environment tremendously, especially cutting down forests for paper of all kinds.

The only argument within semi-reason I have heard to keep hemp illegal is because it is hard to tell the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana.

Informed opinions of the matter are welcomed.

Answer 1

YES

GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT LEGALIZED

Answer 2

Hemp oil makes the best bio-diesel there is. In fact it is the fuel oil the engine was originally designed to use. It would also conserve oil based materials used for making plastic rope now for better uses.

Answer 3

The plant was grown in America Kentucky for years to make ships ropes

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The plant is of course the plant used for a drug on the street

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And some of that plant still grows in the wild in Kentucky because of the farms that grew it till it was outlawed

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So if you do start to grow the stuff where will you grow it were it will not be taken by the people that live near by

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NO WHERE

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Free drugs once again in America just for the picking

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Answer 4

The range of product lines hemp can contribute to is staggering.  From clothing, to coffee, to beauty aids!  When I lived in Seattle I was always stunned to see the range and variety of retailer booths at HempFest.

While still a "cottage industry", I think hemp is getting more mainline traction and recognition as a viable alternative to cotton and even some wood based fiber products (paper, some linen items, press board, etc.).

I think that the fight against more and extended usage of Hemp based products is more of a mindset than an economic issue -- though some of the answers here already make a valid point on the shift to using hemp causing an impact on economic sectors.  We need to move our thinking from hemp being a "street drug" to looking at this plant as a sustainable resource.

Answer 5

The government used to pay my grandparents to grow it during the war (WWII I think).  They also used to put it into bird seed. In some places of the world (like Kazakhstan) it grows naturally - even in cities. Bamboo is also good to use for clothing, and probably as construction materials.

I must be really out of touch. I thought all kinds of things were made from hemp (especially clothing and cosmetics) in this country. Probably it's time to stop this hypocrisy. Keep the DUI laws strict for alcohol, pot and other drugs, but legalize medical marijuana and the industrial farming and use of hemp.

Answer 6

You better watch your back

what you say is pure treason

the same people who were the producers of Hemp for fiber,are now its enemies

The day synthetic fiber came on the market ,hemp became Public enemy no 1,after 1925

the oil companies ,

are partly the money that is behind presidents,.

All presidents have doggedly ignored repeated appeals or campaigns to bring back industrial hemp or to legalize marijuana,in spite of scientists Analise's and reports proving the merits of this plant.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

As long as there are synthetic fibers forget about legalized hemp,these corporations rule the world and will never tolerate a superior ,cheaper organic product as competition

Answer 7

I am well aware of the versatility and luscious growth of hemp.  After all, they don't call it weed for nothing.  The problem with switching from cotton to hemp is not the THC content of the hemp.  It's the complication associated with the switch.  It falls along the same line of switching from a gas car to an electric car.  The switch makes so much sense, and it would have very positive environmental benefits.  However, we live in a society where the economy is based upon tradition, government subsidies, and maximizing overall net profit.  If a clothing company switches from cotton to hemp, they would start to produce cheaper clothing that would last longer.  Therefore, they would inevitably lose money.  The use of hemp isn't illegal because of the THC content; that's just an argument big business uses to keep you quiet.  The real reason is that big businesses make selfish decisions and donate lots of money to political campaigns to keep the law on their side.  An example of this would be the credit card company laws.  It is truly appalling what businesses are allowed to do.

Answer 8

I personally dont care if it is legalized or not, and dont see any good reason to do it.

You mention cutting down forests for paper.  That pretty much doesnt happen anymore, anyway.  Demand for paper is down, firstly.  And secondly, the trees that they cut down for paper are fast growing pine trees that were planted a few years ago, with the sole intention of cutting them down for paper.  Its not old growth trees or anything.  The kind of deforestation that you talk about are the nice hardwoods and such that are used for making tables, front doors, bed head boards, etc.  

There is no shortage of cotton or other clothing making materials.  Etc.  So I cant see any real advantage to legalizing industrial hemp, other than to say its legal.

Answer 9

Yes, because it can be used to make paper.  This would take a load off of our forests that is being destroyed for paper.

Answer 10

It would make the cops happy.  If you live near a hemp farm it is impossible to grow good weed unless you do it indoors with a HEPA filter to keep the stray pollen out.  If you didn't have the filter your crop would go to seed before it had time to get potent.