The Case For Hemp
By Harris Sherline
July 20, 2009
Page 2 of 2
"Hemp can be made into a variety of fabrics, including linen quality."
"Hemp grows well in a variety of climates and soil types. It is naturally resistant to most pests, precluding the need for pesticides. It grows tightly spaced, out-competing any weeds, so herbicides are not necessary. It also leaves a weed-free field for a following crop."
"Hemp can yield 3-8 tons of fiber per acre. This is four times what an average forest can yield."
The bottom line is that by treating hemp as a drug, the United States has effectively shut down one of the most profitable and useful crops in history and has once again essentially abandoned the market to other nations that have a more realistic attitude.
We are preventing our farmers from growing a crop that has almost unlimited uses. It's cheap and easy to plant and cultivate, and could potentially rejuvenate the small farming industry in America. While spending billions of dollars in what has been an almost fruitless effort to keep small farmers on the farm, we have also been unwilling to simply let them to do it for themselves by allowing them to cultivate perhaps the best cash crop they could grow.
By stubbornly refusing to change or adapt our thinking, we are once again preventing one of our own industries from producing an important product and leaving a major market to our competition. As the King of Siam said in Oscar Hammerstein's musical, The King and I, "It's a puzzlement."
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Read more of Harris Sherline's commentaries on his blog at "opinionfest.com"
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA. >> Back -- Page 1 2
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