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| Hemp plant |
HEMP
Hemp, scientifically dubbed as Cannabis Sativa, is a fibrous plant that has countless use. Not to be confused with Marijuana, which is only 10% of all Cannabis Sativa species, hemp does not induce any psychoactive effects. This is because the psychoactive substance, Tetrahydrocannabinol Delta-9 (THC), that makes you high, is absent or in low percentage in hemp. In total opposite, hemp is high in another cannabinoid substance Cannabidiol (CBD), that is known to suppress the effect of THC. You can call hemp the Anti-Ganja, ironically, the similarities are the main reasons why hemp is still widely illegal to plant.
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| Marijuana |
So what is so special about hemp anyways?
Food
Hemp is edible and highly nutritious. Hemp seed oil contains 80% essential fatty acids (EFA) such as Omega-3 and 6. Not only that, hemp protein contains all 21 known amino acids, including 9 an adult body cannot produce, making it a 'complete protein' source and readily absorbable nutrients for human's digestive system. 15ml, or a table spoon, of hemp seed oil per day provides the daily requirements of EFA. Hemp leaves can also be eaten like salad.
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| Sprouted hemp seed bread |
Clothing
The Chinese started using hemp clothing 10 000 year ago. Hemp fibrous and long fibers can be turned into fabric, stronger than cotton and was the material used for the original production of Levis Strauss jeans. The reason is because of hemp's very long fibers, sometimes up to 4 meters long. Cotton fibers on the other hand, is just approximately 1-2 mm short. Hemp fabric is softer, warmer and more water resistant than cotton, plus it uses less chemicals to be processed into fabrics. Hemp has a high insulation factor, which means a hemp shirt will keep you warm in cold days and cool in hot days.
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| A hemp shoe by Adidas |
Paper
2000 years ago, Cai Lun, regarded as the inventor of paper, standardized the paper making process. What is not known then, 200 years before, the first hemp paper was found originating from the Han Dynasty. Hemp papers lasts longer than conventional wood pulp, the Declaration of Independence of America, signed on the 4th July 1776 is written on hemp paper, and it still is in crisp and perfect condition. Trees for papers matured in 50-100 years, hemp takes about 3 months to hit maturity. The hectares of forest we are still able to safe, switching to hemp papers, would be staggering.
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| Hemp hurds will be processed into papers |
Hemp can be processed into an environmentally friendly plastic that is flame retardant, plant based, sustainable and most importantly, a plastic that is bio-degradable. Plastic has been one of human's greatest success and failure. We made it so tough, that conventional petrol based plastic will take from 500 - 1000 years to barely decompose. At the same time releasing harmful gasses. Hemp based plastics on the other hand, are able to fully degrade back into the soil without leaving any harmful traces. In 1941, Henry Ford, created the Soybean Car. A prototype, that consist of a full hemp plastic body and frames. It was proven superior than metal body. The Soybean car runs on ethanol fuel, from corn. Currently Audi, BMW, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, GM, Iveco, Lotus, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Saturn, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Volvo are using hemp derived plastic materials in their car.
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| Lotus Eco Elise's body is made out of hemp composite |
Henry Ford's 1941 Hemp Car
A durable construction material like Hempcrete and hemp insulations can be made from hemp . Hempcretes theoretically absorbs 165 kg of carbon dioxide and lock it in a 1m cubic space of the material overtime. So not only it builds your house, it is a natural carbon dioxide filter, keeping the air in the house purified.
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| Hempcrete in practical use |
Growing hemp naturally purify the soil and the water, thanks to its capability to absorb phosphorus and other harmful substances trapped overtime inside the soil, caused by poultry waste fertilizers. Farmers benefit from the detoxification of farming soils. Because of its incredible water and soil purifying quality, hemp is widely planted in Chernobyl nuclear disaster site to help the land re-new. The Japanese should take advantage of this plant's unique quality, in association with the Fukushima nuclear incident.
Weed Control
Ironically, hemp is also planted as a biological weed control agent. Hemp's tall and light covering foliage acts as a natural weed growth deterrent. Hemp can also be planted in high density, leaving no chance for weed growth. This gives advantage to the farmers who does not need to use any herbicide to control weed growth and benefits the land use for crop rotation. Not only that, if a Hemp plant was planted near a Marijuana grow operation, within 3 growing cycles, the Marijuana is rendered THC-less. Because Hemp genetic naturally have low or non THC level. The cross pollination process from the Hemp pollen to the Marijuana female buds will result in a crossbreed. These crossbreed, if again get exposed to Hemp pollen, will lower the THC level in the Marijuana even lower. The cycle continues, until the Marijuana crop becomes a dud.
Medicine
If we consider hemp's THC rich siblings, Marijuana, it can also be use to medicate. Cannabinoids are concentrated in the flower or bud of the plant. Especially the Indica sub species which is rich in CannaBiDiol (CBD). In the 1980s, scientist discovered cannabinoid receptors that only bind or cling on cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. In many studies and documented medical trials, Marijuana intake shows great and positive respond. Cannabinoids are associated as a cancer cell growth retardant. Marijuana common use as medicine includes treating glaucoma, reduces nausea in cancer patients, chronic pain reliever, and treating asthma.
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| Marijuana has been legally prescribed in some countries |
Last but not least, and utmost importantly, hemp is a fully sustainable and an eco-friendly oil/gas/energy solution. An answer to the tyranny of fossil fuel which is both destroying the environment and human civilizations. Even the fact that hemp is illegal now have got to do with oil and gas. It is said the energy moguls of the world, have something to do with hemp being as illegal as Marijuana. An average American work 33 out of 40 work hours just to pay for energy. Thats how expensive energy is now and unfortunately the world is addicted to energy, no price is to high to pay. When you are monopolizing this unsustainable, limited and expensive energy industry, wouldn't you be scared if i tell you there is a sustainable, eco-friendly, fully renewable, and cheaper alternative? It only takes just 6% of the continental America to be planted with hemp, and it can sustainably meet the current domestic demand for oil and gas for the whole country. Thats how little it takes to liberate America from fossil based energy. Hemp has 4 times the biomass and 8 times the methanol potential, in comparison to the current number 1 biomass fuel, corn. Which means it is even better than the best available biomass source.
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| Hemp biofuel |
A hemp farm would produce 25 tons of usable material, per hectare of land, every year. In comparison to corn and wheat, which can only produce around 8.5 tons per hectare, per year. Oil palm can only be harvest after 4 years, hemp matures and can be harvested 3 times a year. This high crop turn over also contributes to its sustainable supply factor. Hemp is naturally a very hardy plant and it is also draught resistant. One acre of usable hemp fibers is equal to useable fibers from 4 acres of wood or 2 acres of cotton. Saving the best for last, the cycle of growing and burning hemp biomass fuel keeps the global carbon dioxide at a perfect equilibrium. Because planting hemp will absorb back the carbon dioxide it released during burning process. Which means, burning hemp biomass fuel does not contribute to global warming and the clean burn means it will not cause acid rains.
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| Hemp farm |
That is a mighty long list of what this plant can do, unfortunately, this barely scratches the surface of hemp materials,usage and utilities. There are uncountable use for hemp. Dig deep, and you will find out, the only thing that you can count is what this wonder plant cannot do.
Lets hemp the world!
"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
Hemp is a strong, quickly developing plant that develops normally as nature's best wellspring of fiber, fuel for motors, development materials, and nourishment. Hemp can likewise be developed with mediation from man - keeping the female plants far from the male plants, to make pot, a predominant wellspring of prescription. I find a decent site for the Hemp Toronto, If you need you can visit this site.
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