AMENITY HOME Beautiful, Modern Hemp Throw Pillows, Wall Art, Table Linens and Baby Nursery Art and Pillows
APRONSTORE Hemp Aprons : Perfect for Vegetarian Restaurants or Vegetarian Cooks BABY NATURALE Cloth Diapering Products in Hemp, Unbleached, and Organic Cotton BEAN PRODUCTS Shower Curtain, Hammock & Pillow, Laundry Bag, Twine, Bags, Clothing, Beanbag Chair & Ottoman
CONSERVASTORE Mens and Womens Stylish Hemp Clothing With Great Prices CUSP NATURAL PRODUCTS Hemp Clothing, Bath and Body, Houseware Products, Wholesale Hemp Products DASH HEMP SANTA CRUZ Upscale Hemp Clothing, Including 100% Hemp Jeans, Hand Loomed Shirts, Tops, and More DEAR LIL' DEVAS Yoga Mat Bags, Unisex Yoga Pants, Denim Hemp Pants, Made in Canada
EARTH FRIENDLY GOODS Largest Selection of Hemp Products – Free Shipping Available
EARTH FRIENDS Award Winning Hemp Dolls for Boys and Girls, Handmade in USA, Tree Kit Included
HEMP FABRIC FURNITURE Custom Eco-Friendly Hemp Fabric Furniture. Green Sofas, Loveseats, and Chairs Available in 6 Hemp Colors.
FAERIE'S DANCE Hemp Clothing is All Grown Up. Stylish, Sophisticated Fashions Along with Organic Cotton, Soy and Bamboo.
GLOBAL HEMP Offers Hemp Clothing, Hemp Jewelry, Hemp Food, Hemp Twine, Body Care Products and More
GO-GREENGIFTS.COM Wide Selection of Handbags Including Hemp Bags
GOOD OIL GOOD Hemp Seed Oil – Delicious, Shelf Stable Culinary Oil for Cooking, Dipping; Dressings, Mayonnaises; High EFAs; Vegan
GREENEDGE KIDS Designer Eco-Fashion Boutique for Kids, Sizes 2-12 - Great Selection of Hemp Styles
GREENFEET.COM High Quality - Hemp Beanbag Chairs, Bags, Backpacks, Kitchen Linens, Towels GREEN MOUNTAIN DIAPERS Hemp/Cotton Cloth Diapers
HEMPUSA 50% Hemp Protein Powder, Hemp Seeds, Hemp Oil - the Anti-Inflammatory Food That Can Change Your Life
JUTE AND JACKFRUIT Eco-Friendly Hemp and Organic Cotton Fabrics, Clay-Dyed, Yoga, Loungewear, Natural, and Vegan with Style
MATSMATSMATS.COM Extra Large Designer Yoga Mat Bag Made of Hemp
MESSAGE PRODUCTS Our Check Products are Environmentally Unique, Utilizing Recycled Fibers and Hemp
MOMMAS BABY Hemp Bedding, Blankets, Futons, Pillows, Curtains, Diapers, Personal Care
NATURAL CLOTHING COMPANY Earth Friendly, Organic and Natural Clothing (Hemp, Organic Cotton, Bamboo Etc.) for Women, Men, Children
NUBIUS ORGANICS Hip Green Boutique Offering Unique Hemp Clothing, Bags and Accessories for Men and Women
SOUL-FLOWER.COM Stylish Hemp Clothing, Bags, and Hats for Women and Men
STRAIGHT FROM THE GARDEN Organic Hemp Seeds and Snack Bars Plus Other Healthy Treats
SYMPATICO CLOTHING Women's Apparel in Shapes Designed for Movement and Everyday Elegance. USA-Made in Woven Hemp/Tencel (Lyocell).
THE GOOD EARTH RETAIL Hemp Clothing for Men
THE VEGETARIAN SITE Hemp Wallets, Bags, Purses, Shoes, Belts, and More
UNITY FAIR TRADE MARKETPLACE Hemp Bags, Purses, Camera Cases
VAYU Organic Yoga Clothing Including Yoga Pants and T-Shirts Made from Sustainable Hemp and Organic Cotton
YES IT'S ORGANIC Super Durable, Slip-In Comfortable, "Feels Good" Hemp Clothing - Women's and Men's - Shirts, Jeans, Hoodies, Shawls
Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul Introduce Hemp Farming Legislation - HR 1866
WASHINGTON, DC — A federal bill was introduced Apr 3, 2009 that, if passed into law, would remove restrictions on the cultivation of non-psychoactive industrial hemp. The chief sponsors of HR 1866, "The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009," Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX), were joined by nine other U.S. House members split equally between Republicans and Democrats.
"It is unfortunate that the federal government has stood in the way of American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet, from competing in the global industrial hemp market," said Representative Ron Paul during his introduction of the bill yesterday before the U.S. House. "Indeed, the founders of our nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained federal government. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to stand up for American farmers and co-sponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act," concluded Paul.
"With so much discussion lately in the media about drug policy, it is surprising that the tragedy of American hemp farming hasn't come up as a 'no-brainer' for reform," says Vote Hemp President, Eric Steenstra. "Hemp is a versatile, environmentally-friendly crop that has not been grown here for over fifty years because of a politicized interpretation of the nation's drug laws by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). President Obama should direct the DEA to stop confusing industrial hemp with its genetically distinct cousin, marijuana. While the new bill in Congress is a welcome step, the hemp industry is hopeful that President Obama's administration will prioritize hemp's benefits to farmers. Jobs would be created overnight, as there are numerous U.S. companies that now have no choice but to import hemp raw materials worth many millions of dollars per year," adds Steenstra.
U.S. companies that manufacture or sell products made with hemp include Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, a California company who manufactures the number-one-selling natural soap, and FlexForm Technologies, an Indiana company whose natural fiber materials are used in over two million cars on the road today. Hemp food manufacturers, such as French Meadow Bakery, Hempzels, Living Harvest, Nature's Path and Nutiva, now make their products from Canadian hemp. Although hemp now grows wild across the U.S., a vestige of centuries of hemp farming here, the hemp for these products must be imported. Hemp clothing is made around the world by well-known brands such as Patagonia, Bono's Edun and Giorgio Armani.
There is strong support among key national organizations for a change in the federal government's position on hemp. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) "supports revisions to the federal rules and regulations authorizing commercial production of industrial hemp." The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has also passed a pro-hemp resolution.
Numerous individual states have expressed interest in and support for industrial hemp as well. Sixteen states have passed pro-hemp legislation, and eight states (Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia) have removed barriers to its production or research. North Dakota has been issuing state licenses to farmers for two years now. The new bill will remove federal barriers and allow laws in these states regulating the growing and processing of hemp to take effect.
"Under the current national drug control policy, industrial hemp can be imported, but it can't be grown by American farmers," says Steenstra. "The DEA has taken the Controlled Substances Act's antiquated definition of marijuana out of context and used it as an excuse to ban industrial hemp farming. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009 will return us to more rational times when the government regulated marijuana, but allowed farmers to continue raising industrial hemp just as they always had."
The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009
Texas Republican Ron Paul, along with ten co-sponsors, is once again seeking to allow for the commercial farming of industrial hemp.
House Bill 1866, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009, would exclude low potency varieties of marijuana from federal prohibition. If approved, this measure will grant state legislatures the authority to license and regulate the commercial production of hemp as an industrial and agricultural commodity.
Several states -- including North Dakota, Montana, and Vermont -- have enacted regulations to allow for the cultivation of hemp under state law. However, none of these laws can be implemented without federal approval. Passage of HR 1866 would remove existing federal barriers and allow states that wish to regulate commercial hemp production the authority to do so.
Upon introducing the bill in Congress, Rep. Paul said: "It is unfortunate that the federal government has stood in the way of American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet, from competing in the global industrial hemp market. Indeed, the founders of our nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained federal government. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to stand up for American farmers and cosponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act."
According to a 2005 Congressional Resource Service report, the United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop. As a result, U.S. companies that specialize in hempen goods -- such as Patagonia have no choice but to import hemp material. These added production costs are then passed on to the consumer who must pay artificially high retail prices for hemp products.
Hemp, the “standing silent nation” as the Lakotas call it, has tens of thousands of uses, from superior textiles and cosmetics to biodegradable plastics. It is environmentally friendly, requiring no pesticides, little water and fertilizer and no herbicides. It controls erosion, produces huge amounts of biomass and oxygen, and replaces trees in making not just paper products, but building materials.
What is hemp?
Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a "bast" fiber plant similar to flax or ramie that is harvested for its fibers and seed. The plant is tall, and thin and grows from 5 to 15 feet in height. It is primarily grown in Europe, Asia, South America and Canada.
What is hemp used for?
All kinds of things! Coarse hemp fibers and yarns are woven into cordage, rope, carpets, burlap, sacking, and heavy-duty tarpaulins. It can also be woven into durable high quality textiles for clothing, curtains, upholstery, shoes, backpacks, and towels. Other uses of the fibers include particle board and paper. The seeds are used for health foods, edible oils, biodiesel oil, paint, soaps, cosmetics, cremes, and a host of other products.
How long has hemp been in use?
The use of hemp can be traced back to 8000 BC in the Middle East and China where the fiber was used for textiles, ropes, and fishnets, the oil for cosmetic purposes and the seeds for food. 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. Hemp has been used to produce high quality paper for centuries.
Where is hemp grown?
Today, hemp is grown around the world but primarily in Europe, Asia, South America and Canada. In the United States, it is illegal to grow hemp except by special permit, which is a rarity. This situation is the result of politics related to protecting the interests of cotton and tree growers and misinformation about industrial hemp's psycho-active effects. Strangely though, Americans were encouraged to grow hemp during the Colonial era and during World War II.
Can hemp be used as a drug like marijuana?
No. Although both plants are from the species cannabis, industrial or fiber hemp contains virtually no THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana. For this reason, one cannot get high from smoking hemp.
How difficult is hemp to grow?
Hemp will grow almost anywhere, requires little fertilizer, resists pests and crowds out weeds, therefore it is a crop that is relatively easy to grow and does well as an organic crop. The plant grows quickly, requiring only 70 to 110 days to maturity.
How environmentally friendly is hemp?
Very! Hemp requires no pesticides or fertilizers and much less water than other crops. Hemp grows quickly (70 to 110 days) producing crops once a year, unlike trees which take many years to grow to a usable size. Hemp uses minimal nutrients from the soil and hemps long roots aerate the soil, leaving it rich for future crops. Hemp fiber can be used to make a stronger wood substitute for paper, fine cloth, canvas and can be whitened using less environmentally harmful chemicals than are used to make paper from trees.
What are some other ecological advantages of hemp?
The oils of the hemp plant have been made into both biodegradable plastics and ethanol fuels. Both of these uses of hemp oil would be more ecologically sound when compared to using their petroleum counterparts because most petroleum-based plastics are not biodegradable and the burning of petroleum-based gasoline, unlike biomass (plant) fuel, is a major cause of air pollution.
How does hemp compare to cotton?
Hemp fabrics are stronger, more absorbent, more insulative, and more durable than cotton and they don’t stretch out of shape. Natural organic hemp fiber "breathes" and is biodegradable. Hemp will produce 1500 pounds of fiber per acre, whereas cotton will produce only 500 pounds per acre!
What are some other historical tidbits about hemp ?
-The original Levi’s were made of hemp cloth
-The first Gutenberg Bible was printed on hemp paper.
-Christopher Columbus' sails and ropes were made from hemp.
-The first drafts of the Declaration of Independence were printed on hemp paper.
-Ben Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper.
-The first American flag was made out of hemp.
-George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp.
-Rudolph Diesel designed an engine to run on hemp oil.
Why is hemp considered a superior whole food compared to so many others?
For starters, hemp seed foods contain all of the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids the body needs to live and remain healthy. Hemp seeds are one of the richest sources of dietary fiber. The hemp plant requires no pesticides or herbicides to grow, it is not genetically engineered, and it is abundant in a wide variety of vital phytonutrients. Hemp is rich in chlorophyll which builds the body’s blood. Hemp seed’s overall protein content of 34.6% is comparable to soybeans and is higher than that found in nuts, other seeds, meats, dairy products, fish and poultry.
Hemp truly is the perfect whole food supplement that was designed to keep man healthy, vibrant and disease free. With regard to fats, hemp’s essential fatty acid (EFA) profile is closer to fish oil than any other vegetable oil. Hemp seed oil is also the source of a rare “super omega-3” called stearidonic acid (SDA) that is the “first metabolite” in the omega-3 family and therefore easy for the body to process. It is also a rare plant source of the “super omega-6” EFA called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Hemp doesn’t contain gluten or other allergenic compounds that are a problem with so many people today either.
HEMP THROUGH HISTORY
Hemp is the oldest cultivated fiber plant in the world.
The first Gutenberg bible was printed on hemp paper.
Christopher Columbus' sails and ropes were made from hemp.
The first drafts of the Declaration of Independence were printedon hemp paper.
Ben Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper.
The first American flag was made out of hemp.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew it. In 1794, Washington said, "Make the most of the hemp seed. Sow it everywhere."
Rembrandt and Van Gogh painted on hemp canvas.
In the 1930s, Henry Ford made a car from hemp and other crops "grown from the soil". These days, BMW is reportedly working on its own set of wheels that replaces fiberglass matte with hemp.
The original Levi’s jeans, made for Sierra Nevada gold rushers, were made of rugged hemp sailcloth. A current vintage line includes 40 percent hemp.
"I feel the industrial hemp crop could very easily be the soybean crop of the new millennium."
- Jeffrey W. Gain, USDA"Industrial hemp is not marijuana, but rather a non-intoxicating plant that has been cultivated and used in a multitude of ways around the world for millennia." - Assemblymember Virginia Strom-Martin, California State Assembly
In 1850 the U.S. census recorded 8,327 hemp plantations of 2000 acres or more and an uncalculated number of small hemp farms.
"Why use up the forests which were centuries in the making and the mines which required ages to lay down, if we can get the equivalent of forest and mineral products in the annual growth of the hemp fields?" - Henry Ford
Industrial Hemp
1. One acre of hemp can produce as much usable fiber as 4 acres of trees or two acres of cotton.
2. Hemp paper is longer lasting than wood pulp, stronger, acid-free, and chlorine free. (Chlorine is estimated to cause up to 10% of all Cancers.) Hemp paper can be recycled 7 times, wood pulp 4 times. Hemp fabric requires fewer chemicals than cotton and is stronger and longer lasting.
3. 5-10,000 Cancer related deaths are caused yearly from pesticide use. Cotton uses as much as 40% of all agricultural pesticides. Hemp uses no pesticides and crowds out weeds without herbicides.
4. Cotton has a drinking problem...extensive water subsidies. Hemp requires less water than cotton and grows in cooler climates.
5. Hemp should be worth $500 per acre if used for low end products such as particle board. If higher use products can be developed such as specialty paper and fabrics, the value could be even greater.
6. Hemp is an excellent rotation crop: it crowds out weeds and its deeptap roots break up hard pan soils.
7. Hemp particle board may be up to 2 times stronger than wood particleboard and holds nails better.
8. Low-THC fiber hemp varieties developed by the French and others have been available for over 20 years. It is impossible to get high from fiber hemp. Over 600,000 acres of hemp is grown worldwide with no drug misuse problem.
9. In 1941 Henry Ford built a plastic car made of fiber from hemp and wheat straw. Anything made from a hydrocarbon can be made from a carbohydrate. The 21st century should be the era of the carbohydrate (sustainable agricultural products.) Hemp plastic is biodegradable, synthetic plastic is not.
10. Hemp is the world's most versatile fiber. Almost any product that can be made from wood, cotton, or petroleum (including plastics) can be made from hemp. There are more than 25,000 known uses for hemp!
Lexington, Kentucky -- Three cheers for former Gov. Louie B. Nunn and like-minded folks for their support of the production and use of industrial hemp. The illogical and unrealistic reasons for not growing hemp should be set aside now, as this crop will be a wonderful economic boon for Kentucky. Hemp and its products are environmentally sound, cannot be abused and can be put to multiple uses, saving the destruction of tress and other non-renewable resources.State and federal legislators and law enforcement officials need to put aside their misconceptions and expedite the use of this versatile crop. If we do so, Kentucky stands to be at the forefront of a new economic boon, with Kentucky farmers literally and figuratively reaping the benefits.
Greg Davis, The Lexington Herald-LeaderACHIEVING A SUSTAINABLE PLANET!
* Hemp is among the earth's primary renewable resources: trees cut down to make paper take 50 to 500 years to grow back while hemp can be cultivated in as little as 100 days, and can yield 4 times more paper over a 20 year period.
* Hemp does not require pesticides: while half the pollutants in the U.S. today are sprayed on cotton plants, hemp is naturally mildew resistant, requires no pesticides, and maintains a healthy environment for the surrounding streams, air, flora and fauna.
* Hemp slows ozone depletion: the industrial use of fossil fuels, like petroleum, contributes to global warming by rapidly increasing the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere; however, hemp fuels, derived from the plant itself, maintain the earth's natural O2/CO2 balance.
* Hemp Paper Can Save the Forests! One acre of cannabis hemp, in annual rotation over a twenty year period would produce asmuch pulp for paper as 4.1 acres of trees being cut down over the same twenty year period. And while hemp reaches full growth and can be harvested every year, the trees which are cut down take hundreds of years to return. The process of making paper from hemp uses only 1/5 to 1/7 as much polluting, sulfer-based chemicals and does not require the use of any chlorine bleach.
* Hemp as an Ecological, Renewable Fuel Source. Hemp can also produce 10 times more methanol than corn,. the second best living fuelsource. Hemp as fuel is renewable whereas oil is not.
* Hemp as fuel is environmentally beneficial: It enriches and prevents erosions, it burns clean and sulfur-free while oil's sulfur content causes acid rain.
|
|---|
| * * * IN-HOUSE RESOURCES * * * |
|---|
