Argument for Making Hemp Growth Legal
There is vast history of hemp as an agricultural crop in the United States. The crop was grown extensively until its ban in 1937. Prior to the ban on hemp the plant was one of the biggest cash crops of the Southern United States. For instance in Kentucky hemp was the biggest cash crop up until 1915. In these southern states hemp was used as a rotation crop between tobacco crops as well as other crops. Thomas Jefferson even wrote in his own writings that, “Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country.” Jefferson's theories can offer thought on the hemp ban being lifted during World War II because the crop was needed for industrial products. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) produced a film called “Hemp for Victory” to promote farmers to grow hemp in order to supply a need for rope and clothing in 1942 for the war. The promotion of hemp led to 400,000 acres “grown” into production all over the United States proving that the crop is profitable to farmers. But, as soon as WWII ended hemp went back to the ban of 1937. The Marijuana Tax Act lead to any plant with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) outlawed to production.
THC is the reason that hemp is no longer available to American farmers. The chemical THC in marijuana makes people “high” when it is smoked. The levels of THC in hemp are so minuet (one percent) that the plant can not be used as a hallucinogen. In order for a plant, such as marijuana, to work as a hallucinogen it must contain at the least four percent THC. When you hear the word hemp what is your first thought? If it is marijuana then you are mistaken. Hemp, the plant that is grown for agricultural and indu...
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Hemp was viewed as a threat to several competing industries which caused them to create a smear campaign against hemp. By associating hemp with marijuana and by creating the propaganda film “Reefer Madness” this caused hysteria amongst the population (History of Hemp, n.d.). Hemp prohibition started in the 1930s. Hemp was grouped under the umbrella of marijuana and effectively made illegal under the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. Furthermore, In 1970 Industrial hemp was classified as marijuana under the Controlled Substance Act in spite of decades of government-funded research that identified industrial hemp to have a unique structure and function (Hemp’s History, n.d.). In spite of Hemp being illegal in America, Hemp is legally grown in about 30 countries around the world, with China and France as the leading producers of hemp. Canada our neighbor to the north legalized Hemp cultivation in 1998. Farmers, there must have a licensed and also grow approved low-THC seeds. Hemp grown in Canada has to be tested to ensure they contain less than 0.3 percent THC. This essay will
Cannabis, originating from Central Asia, is in the plant family Cannabacae and has three types: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis (Baron 2015). Cannabis with higher levels of delta⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹ -THC) and lower levels of cannabidiol (CBD) is referred to as marijuana, while another type of cannabis, “hemp,” has lower levels of delta⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹ -THC), higher levels of cannabidiol (CBD), and no psychoactive affect (2015). Hemp has a prominent history of being in medicine from the Greeks to the Indians (2015). Even before this product came to the west, physicians and scientists alike have been studying and experimenting with cannabis to determine whether it can be used medicinally to treat or help reduce symptoms of any mental or physical illnesses.
There are many different words for what was originally considered, “hemp” to the ancient world. Some are, cannabis, marijuana, weed, and pot. Over time, the different words have reflected the views and uses of hemp through different societies and time periods. Hemp dates back to the early Mesopotamian days in what is considered Turkey today. It is the first known plant to be domestically cultivated. According to research, “The oldest relic of human history is hemp fabric dated to 8,000 BCE.” In 1492, Christopher Columbus brought hemp as a rope to America. His ships were full of hemp fabric used for uniforms, parachutes, ropes, sails, baggage, shoes and many more military uses. To free the American colonies from England press, Benjamin Franklin started a paper mill, which used cannabis to create paper and print books. This allowed America to have free colonial press from Britian without having to ask for them. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both drafted on hemp paper. Betsey Ross made the first flag of the United States of America out of hemp, which was the strongest known fiber at the time. “Farmers from 1942 through 1945 who agreed to grow hemp were waived from serving in the military, along with their sons; that is how vitally important hemp was to America during World War II.” Henry Ford also used hemp-based plastic to create vehicles, which was proven to be stronger and lighter than steel and could withstand much more impact without denting. He also used hemp-based ethanol fuel, which was more efficient. Hemp had been used widely throughout the United States before it became illegal and served many purposes.
In 1940, the import of hemp during World War II was a big factor in creating supplies such as parachutes or cordage. In the 1960’s, President Kennedy found from research that marijuana does not induce violence or lead to heavier drug use. George Washington, the first president of our beloved country, grew cannabis on his plantations. Thomas Jefferson also grew hemp as a reliable
Marijuana in America became a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was openly sold in pharmacies in the late nineteenth century (“Busted-America’s War on Marijuana Timeline”). The National Institute of Drug Abuse defines marijuana as, “The dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds” (“DrugFacts: Marijuana”). It was not until the Food and Drug act of 19...
Industrial hemp is commonly cultivated for its fiber and seed, which are used to create a wide variety of products, including food, rope, cloth, paper, fuel, building materials, and hygiene products, such as soaps and lotions. Unlike marijuana, which is cultivated for medicinal, and recreational use, hemp is not psychoactive. Hemp differs from marijuana ingrowth structure and farming practice. While marijuana is cultivated primarily for its flowers, hemp is cultivated for its fibers and seeds, which are used for a wide variety of non-drug applications. Because of the way it grows, it produces much lower cannabinoid content than cannabis grown for euphoric or medicinal purposes. What we refer to as “hemp” or “industrial hemp” is a type of
It was the Spanish who brought marijuana to America in 1545. Soon enough, it became a major commercial crop like tobacco in 1611. By 1890, marijuana was used in some medicines, and it began to catch on in the 1920’s, the same era of prohibition of alcohol. Hemp began to be one of the largest agricultural crops in the word. This was due to its incredibly robust and durable qualities. It was used for fabric, lighting oil, paper, fiber, dynamite, cellophane, and many more. Most textiles were actually made out of hemp at this time (The Union: The Business Behind Getting High).
Marijuana is a plant, known as cannabis sativa and cannabis indica, which contains a psychoactive chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The effects of THC include disruption of psychomotor behavior, short-term memory impairment, intoxication, stimulation of appetite, antinociceptive, and antiemetic activities. Marijuana, the Mexican name given to cannabis is a mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the plant. Cannabis is a term that refers to marijuana and other preparations made from the same plant. Hemp is a form of cannabis, cannabis sativa L, which contains less than one percent THC; it is used to make clothing, paper, and building materials. Tobacco is smoked just like marijuana is smoked, rolled in paper or in a pipe. The only difference is that tobacco is legal and marijuana is illegal. The government spends billions each year on the war on drugs, yet it is still around. For people under the age of 21 it is much easier to get marijuana than it is to get alcohol. Although many primarily associate marijuana with its harmful side effects, in actuality there are many benefits from its use as well.
The history of marijuana in the United States dates to early colonial times. ``In 1619, America's first marijuana law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Va., `ordering' all farmers to `make tryal of' (grow) Indian hemp seed.” (Tribune) A by-product of the cannabis plant is hemp. Today, hemp can be used to make fabrics, construction, paper, medicines, oils, body care products, and molded plastics. In colonial times hemp was used to make various textile products and in the 1800s hemp was found to have medicinal benefits. Herer says in his book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, “various marijuana and hashish extracts were the first, second or third most-prescribed medicines in the United States from 1842 until the 1890s. (Herer) For centuries people have recognized the medicinal properties of cannabis; “depending on the c...
The legalization of hemp is a highly controversial topic due to the fact that it is very closely related to the drug marijuana. Hemp is not a drug, nor could it ever be used as one. When hemp is grown it is genetically altered to be strictly for the use of benefiting the economy by being cheaper and easier to maintain. Its sole use would be to replace many of the current substances that we use now, but at a much cheaper cost. It could replace plastic, which isn’t biodegradable. It could even be used to manufacture the body of a car like Henry Ford once did and even used fuel made from the hemp plant. The benefits of hemp highly outweigh anything negative about it, which is very minimal. According to Hemp Industries Association, one acre of hemp was equivalent to 4.1 acres of trees. It was also predicted that by the 1940’s all paper would be produced from hemp and no more trees would need to be cut down.
Marijuana has been illegal for less than 1% of the time that it’s been in use (Guither, 2014). Going back to 1619, the Virginia Assembly passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland (Block, 2014). It was actually a crime in some states to refuse to grow hemp in the 1700's. In the late 19th century, marijuana was a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was sold openly in public pharmacies (PBS, 2014). However, in the early 1900’s things changed, a prejudice and fear began to develop around marijuana because it was being used and associated with Mexican immigrants. In the 1930’s, the massive unemployment rates increased public resentment and disgust of Mexican immigrants, which escalated public and governmental concern (PBS, 2014). In 1930 a new federal law enforcement agency, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) was created. Harry J. Anslinger was appointed the first commissioner of the FBN in 1930 (...
American colonists planted the first hemp crops near Jamestown, Virginia in 1611 (Mehling, 2003). The hemp was used for a variety of textiles, including sails, ropes, maps and even clothing because of its durability and resilience to mildew. With the New Land having an ideal climate for the growing of the Cannabis plant, King James I of England mandated the cultivation and relied heavil...
The most widely recognized use for hemp is in the generation of material based items. After some time, the utilization of modern hemp has developed into a significantly more prominent assortment of items, including “health foods, organic body care, clothing, construction materials, biofuels, plastic composites and more.” Hemp creates a higher yield for every section of land than cotton and has a developing cycle of just 100 days rather than 160. Hemp seeds give more protein than soy, and as indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Agriculture, you can create four times as much paper from a section of land of cannabis than a section of land of trees. One of the greatest positive effects that the sanctioning of cannabis would deliver, is the reintegration of hemp into our general public, and all the more vitally in current times, our economy. Hemp is a plant that is developed for modern utilization, and truth be told, “smoking large amounts of hemp flowers can produce a significant headache, but not a
Marijuana is a plant that has always been deliberated by the United States for centuries. On one side marijuana is a harmless plant that brings peace and love to those who use it and on the other side, marijuana is an evil addictive drug that will ruin the lives of users. Before marijuana was outlawed, “George Washington and Thomas Jefferson recommended that the early colonists grow "the abundant weed" and cultivate it into such products as lamp oil, flour and fabric for uniforms and clothing” (Wilke). Hemp is a very useful plant and the founding fathers of the United States told people to grow it because of its versatility. "For decades, our government has been exaggerating the harms of marijuana in order to keep it illegal, The Institutes of Medicine determined that the addictive properties of marijuana are quite mild compared to those of alcohol," (Weise). Alcohol is a substance that can be physically addictive and was outlawed in 1919 until the end of prohibition in 1920. Nixon also started the War On Drugs in June 1971, and...
Marijuana is an extremely popular drug, not only in America, but in every other country in the world as well. However, there are many people who do not know exactly what it is or where it comes from. Marijuana is a blend of flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems from the Indian hemp planted called Cannabis. This plant contains a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the “high” feeling that users experience when smoking it (“Marijuana: Effects, Medical Uses & Legalization”). The THC in marijuana is analogous to the nicotine in tobacco, but it is not as harmful. They both have many similarities, but they also have significant differences.