Hemp Essay

1565 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects of deforestation on earth

Hemp and its multitude of amazing uses
Hannah Ison

In the last few years, people have started to rediscover hemp and all of its amazing uses. Up until the end of the nineteenth century, hemp was admired for its medicinal and practical properties. This admiration was abandoned by modern pharmacology due to the symbolic role of marijuana in counter-culture; this created a widespread aversion to hemp and the entire cannabis plant. Abuse of cannabis as a drug led to the prohibition of hemp cultivation and since then there has been an attempt to make people believe that hemp is nothing more than the crazy cousin of marijuana. When someone is shown a piece of clothing that’s made from hemp but looks just like linen, a change in understanding begins. This is the point at which people will start to realise that hemp is not a “deadly” drug, but simply a plant with a long and prominent history of service to mankind. What some people fail to understand is that hemp has been produced for thousands of years as a natural and extremely durable source of fibre for paper, rope, cloth, sails, canvas, building materials and even food and medicine.

Hemp has a very long and interesting history. It is believed that the weaving of hemp fibre began over 10,000 years ago and it is the first plant known to have been domestically cultivated. A piece of hemp fabric found in Mesopotamia (an area in what is now known as Turkey) is the oldest remnant of human history and was dated back to 8,000 B.C. Hemp fabric from this era has also been found in Taiwan. The Egyptians used hemp rope in 3500 B.C. during the construction of the pyramids; they used it because of its great strength, which was ideal for working with large blocks of stone as it wouldn’t fray ...

... middle of paper ...

...a number of cults that surrounded worshipping it. If we can get past its connections with marijuana and focus on it as its own useful material, we could use it to make a huge ecological impact. Deforestation is a serious environmental crisis with terrible effects on our ecosystem; despite this, we continue to make 93% of all paper from trees when we could use more environmentally friendly alternatives like hemp. Hemp is an extremely durable source of fibre that can be used for so many things including paper, rope, cloth, sails, canvas, building materials and even to create and fuel a car. Our current reliance on fossil fuels, forestry and petroleum-based products has created a substantial impact on our environment. Hemp is an economical material that is safe, recyclable and extremely resilient which is why it should be considered as an alternative wherever possible.

Show More
Related

  • Hemp Case Study

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The History of Hemp or Cannabis, Marijuana, Weed, Pot

    1725 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Marijuana Should Be Legalized in Canada

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...es more paper than a regular tree, so people who consume the hemp products is another way to help the forest grow, and allow the animals to footing instead of extinct. Moreover, legalizing marijuana is able to create a lot of jobs for many people for production because hemp can be used to make oil, clothing, soaps, lip balms butter, and rope. Therefore, legalizing marijuana will be made the society safer and more valuable.

    Read More

  • The Economic, Medical and Industrial Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana

    1726 Words  | 4 Pages

    Marijuana is the dried flower clusters and leaves of the hemp plant when taken to induce euphoria. Marijuana has been in existence for centuries even Magellan spoke of it during his trip to India. In his log he spoke of a plant that you smoked that made a man drunk without drinking. Marijuana would be beneficial if legalized because it would bring in extra money, it has medical uses, hemp is one of the best materials in the world and on average it is healthier for you then beer or liquor.

    Read More

  • Why Should Hemp Be Persuasive Essay

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    As I said earlier hemp is the longest, strongest, and most durable fiber known. This means it surpasses other fibers like cotton, the most common in today’s world. According to Chris Conrad (man behind Hemp: lifeline to the future) On an annual basis, 1 acre of hemp will produce as much fiber as 2 to 3 acres of cotton. Cotton grows only in moderate climates and requires more water than hemp. Where as hemp is frost tolerant, it requires only moderate amounts of water, and it grows in all 50 states (Hemp Basics, para 2). Not only is hemp better than cotton in terms of agriculture, but hemp fiber is softer than cotton, lasts twice as long as cotton, and will not mildew. Literally hemp surpasses cotton in almost every

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Hemp

    742 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hemp is a type of cannabis plant. When grown for its fiber it can be very useful. Hemp can basically grow anywhere there is sun and rain. Hemp has a wide variety of soil types it can grow on. It also needs good moisture to suck up all the nutrients from the soil. But it cannot have a lot of water or heavy rain because it could damage the plant. Hemp ...

    Read More

  • Marijuana Legalization Essay

    1594 Words  | 4 Pages

    Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana is opposed by a vast majority of American’s and people around the world. Leaders in Marijuana prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement adamantly oppose the substance, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the use of illegal drugs, are making headlines. They are influencing decision making thru legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate here in the United States and in other countries. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the oldest drug user lobby in the U.S. It has strong ties to the Libertarian party, the Drug Policy Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union. These groups use a variety of strategies, which range from outright legalization to de facto legalization under the guise of medicalization, control legalization through taxation. However, drugs like marijuana are addicting and should not be legalized. Marijuana should not be legalized because it can cause overwhelming damage to the society as a whole. As Bennett says, “Drug use- especially heavy drug use- destroys human character. It destroys dignity and autonomy, it burns away the sense of responsibility, it subverts productivity, it makes a mockery of virtue” (Husak 663). People throughout the nation have witnessed law changes regarding the possession of marijuana to its physical and social effects on society. Marijuana should not be legalized for the following reasons namely for the legal, physical, and social aspects of its use.

    Read More

  • History of Marijuana

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Jamestown settlers cultivated hemp produced by the marijuana plant. They used these fibers to make clothing, rope, and canvas because of its quality and durability. Physicians in the 19th century were prescribing cannabis as a pain reliever, an anticonvulsant, and for migraine headaches (Doweiko, 2002). Following his work in India in the 1840's William

    Read More

  • Marijuana Subculture Essay

    1646 Words  | 4 Pages

    Marijuana was used since 8,000 BCE as hemp cord in what is now modern day Taiwan. Seeds were used as hemp oil in China during the BCE times. The first person recorded ever using marijuana was Emporer Shen Neng of China in 2,737 BCE and he used it medicinally. Shortly after, cannabis cultivated for food and for fibers such as hemp cloth and hemp rope. Between 2000 BCE to the year 570 the use of cannabis spread to Russia, modern day Khazakstan, Persia, England, and in European countries such as Greece. The first hemp paper was created in China and in the years 850 to 1532 cannabis was taken to Iceland by the Vikings and also spread to Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Africa and

    Read More

  • The Right To Choose

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    Marijuana has been used for recreational and spiritual uses since around 3000 B.C. It has held ties as a crop for industrial use through hemp fabric, one of the most efficient and cheapest fabrics available today. It has been the focal point of many religions, and it may have even been seen as a religious sacrament to early Jews and Christians (Delorde). In today's society it is still used by religions as a focal point, one of which being the christian based religion of Rasta. It has had as colorful of a history for use as a fiber as it has for recreational use. When Jamestown was founded in 1619 it was mandatory for farmers to grow Indonesian hemp. At some points in Americas early history you could even pay your taxes in hemp because of its value. Marijuana was made illegal, in 1937, after many years of fallacies and propaganda were spread about the apparent "dangers" of this drug smoked by blacks and Mexicans. When the United States Government attempted to create a prohibition of alcohol, they failed. Crime spiked along with the sales of the now "illegal" substance. What were the justifications of prohibition? What were the benefits? The prohibition of marijuana is currently facing the same problems the prohibition of alcohol faced. What is the solution? The legalization of marijuana would greatly lower unnecessary crime, keep tax money from going into unnecessary government organizations and ensure freedoms given in the Bill of Rights.

    Read More

  • Could the Legalization of Marijuana Save Our Economy?

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    Also, the medical sales of marijuana would create an alternative source of natural medicine that has less harmful side-effects than some prescription medicines. Another more practical use for the cannabis plant is “hemp”. Hemp is another variety of cannabis that is used mainly for its fiber, oil, and seeds. The fiber can be used to make anything from clothes to cars, as Henry Ford shows us with his 1941 car made of hemp fibers mixed with other types of plant fibers, and ran off of hemp biofuel (Lance).... ...

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay About Marijuana

    932 Words  | 2 Pages

    From what we know, marijuana has been around for over 10,000 years. Located in Taiwan. However, even though this drug, or should I say crop, has been around for countless years, you won't find it in a history book. The people in Taiwan had figured out that not only could they use the hemp plant as a good food source, but they could also use it to make paper as well as fishing nets. So not only could hemp or marijuana benefit us in the medical era, it could benefit the facing industry and possibly the fisherman all over the country. People are so quick to judge this drug rather than give it a chance.

    Read More

  • Marijuana Utilitarianism Essay

    1530 Words  | 4 Pages

    Marijuana has been linked with both medical and recreational use for nearly 10,000 years. This dates back to the writings of Chinese emperor Shen Nung stating that the plant was useful as a medical treatment for several ailments including gout, malaria and even senility. Later, it was also used in India and the Middle East for recreational purposes as an alternative to alcohol which is forbidden by the Muslim faith. This paper will argue, applying a Utilitarian perspective, for the benefits of legalizing marijuana in the United States. It will conclude that marijuana is no more of a health hazard than legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco nor does it contribute to an increase in crime.

    Read More

  • Social Benefits Of Marijuana Essay

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    Marijuana can positively benefit our society in many ways. Economically, by decreasing the crime rate for drugs and by increasing revenue. Socially by having happier people and less stressful situations and confrontations. Medically, by treating a variety of illnesses and symptoms of illnesses such as cancer and HIV. Marijuana is the most popular product in our society and with the positive benefits that comes with it, it should remain the most

    Read More

  • Legalization Of Marijuana Essay

    1855 Words  | 4 Pages

    People have been fighting for the legalization of marijuana for a long time. Many people use this drug and find absolutely nothing wrong with it. Others find it disgusting and are opposed to the legalization of it. The earliest use of marijuana was documented in 7000 B.C. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and many others used it for medical purposes. Marijuana was first used in the United States during the 1800’s and was banned in 1937 without any reason given by the government except that “it was for our own good” (Block, “Why Marijuana Became Illegal”). Marijuana should be legal everywhere in the world because, although it is highly addictive, marijuana is not as harmful as tobacco and alcohol, having a regulated market for it would reduce the sale and use of it amongst people under the age of eighteen, and the government can save and make money off of it.

    Read More

More about Hemp Essay

Open Document