 HEMP
Friend to People
& the Ecology
Compiled by BACH:
The Business Alliance for Commerce in Hemp
To survive and flourish, we must find ecologically
stable sources of raw materials, and eliminate pollution and
waste. The amazing answer to both problems has been here all
along: Cannabis Hemp.
Hemp For Ecology -- Most of our basic raw
materials used for home and industry today come from mining,
drilling and cutting trees. Using farm crops to make the
same products means that we can stop destroying our
environment and still maintain our high standard of living.
Hemp has thousands of commercial uses: food, clothing,
shelter, paper, fuel, oils, sealants, etc.: Anything now
made of wood or fossil fuel can be made more ecologically
with hemp. Hemp is a hearty, drought resistant, soil
building plant that is excellent in crop rotation. Hemp does
not need heavy fertilization or pesticides: In fact, an
organic pesticide is even made from hemp. It plays an
important role in erosion control, reforestation, weed
eradication, wildlife habitat and cleaning the air. Help
restore hemp and ecological balance to America.
Hemp Instead of Fossil Fuels
& Nuclear Power -- Hemp is one of the fastest
growing plants known, and its pulp has cellulose. "Biomass"
energy can replace nuclear power and fossil fuels, preserve
our oil reserves and reduce the trade deficit with no
nuclear radiation, strip mining, offshore drilling or oil
spills. Hemp, processed with a pyrolitic converter, can meet
our wide range of energy needs: charcoal for coal; methane
gas for natural gas; methanol and gasoline for petroleum;
etc. These are then burned to generate electricity. Using
hemp and other crops along with trash and modern technology,
America can be energy self-sufficient. So long, OPEC and oil
shortages!
 Hemp
Cleans Air -- Burning anything produces CO2 (the
Greenhouse Gas). But every year during the growing season,
plant photosynthesis turns that CO2 back into oxygen - so
using hemp biofuels actually cleans the air. And, unlike
fossil fuels, hemp does not contain sulfur, a major cause of
acid rain.
Hemp Saves Trees -- Hemp farming could reduce
deforestation by 50% or more worldwide. Over 70% of U.S.
forests have been destroyed since 1937 to make pape, lumber,
or for export. Today 93% of the world's paper is made from
trees. In 1988 alone, 226 million tons of trees were pulped
for paper. Yet paper made from hemp lasts much longer, uses
only 10 to 20% of the toxic chemicals needed to process
trees, and causes much less wear and tear on harvesting and
hauling equipment. Each ton of paper made from hemp saves 12
mature trees. US Dept. of Agriculture studies show that
sustainable hemp yields four times more pulp per acre than
timber. Since it requires less bleach, hemp reduces dioxin
pollution. Hemp can be made into fiber or particle boards to
use for all types of mold making, construction and
commercial fabrication.
Food & Vegetable Oil -- Hempseed, 30% oil by
volume, is used for food, fuel or salad oil. Its oil quality
equals whale oil and jojoba. Its protein can be flavored,
texturized and used as a meat substitute. The hempseed is a
source of complete protein that lowers cholesterol levels
and builds the immune system. It is as nutritious as soya,
but hempseed is more digestible, gives higher yields and is
easier to harvest. Wild animals and birds thrive on it, so
sowing hemp in deforested areas can help save the
wildlife.
Hemp, Not Petro-plastic - Hemp pulp and fiber
offer a biodegradable alternative to plastic for many uses.
Hemp paper bags, for example, are more durable than tree
pulp paper and can be reinforced with hemp fiber for all the
folding and tensile strength of plastic bags. Hemp cellulose
can also be polymerized to make any type of plastic product
- without using petroleum.
Hemp for Soil & Water -- The plant's strong
roots anchor and invigorate the soil to control erosion and
mudslides. Hemp plants shed their leaves all through the
growing season, adding rich organic matter to the topsoil
tohelp retain moisture. Hemp is self-fertilizing and grows
on the same ground for decades without the heavy fertilizers
and pesticides that corn, cotton, tobacco and others need;
and that now pollute 50% of our drinking water. Unlike
fossil fuels, a hemp spill requires no cleanup; it even
enriches the soil.
Hemp for the Future -- Some people mistakenly
think hemp is no longer an economically viable crop. As you
now know, hemp remains the most versatile and profitable
crop on Earth. The legal penalties on using hemp now are
just a pretext to confuse people and protect oil and timber
companies from fair competition. This hurts America both
financially and environmentally. Please help correct this
injustice. Call your Congress member at 202-224-3121, and
tell them to restore and regulate American hemp.
 For
more info on the many uses of hemp, send $2 + a large,
stamped envelope to:
PO Box 1716, El Cerrito CA
94530
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