Industrial Hemp Analysis

Because the topic of industrial hemp is so controversial, it is important to bring forth the reasons as to why the plant shouldn't be feared. The reason this plant is opposed by so many is because it is assumed that hemp and marijuana are the same. While the two are very closely related, Brady brings attention to the fact that “hemp has a percentage of 0.3% of trahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in the cannabis plant, while marijuana has anywhere between 3% and 20%” (para 4). To label the two as the same is far from accurate. “The term 'industrial hemp' is a phrase that specifically denotes the use of benign strands of the cannabis plant strictly for agricultural and industrial purpose” (para 4).There are some twenty-five thousand

For instance, the process of making paper from trees is not only destroying the earth's forests, but it is also a toxic process for our atmosphere. Dioxin, a dangerous chemical created from chlorine, is produced during the tree pulp bleaching process of the creation of paper. Kerr explains that “an analysis by the USDA Forest Service shows that paper can be made from hemp at a profitable rate to farmers, and in a much less polluted way” (para 6). Hemp pulp can be bleached by simply using hydrogen peroxide, a much safer alternative to chlorine used with tree pulp. As a result of the use of hemp to reduce pollution in the atmosphere, the destruction of forests would also reduce

“In marked contrast to using petroleum, growing our fuel from annual plants means that the carbon that is released into the atmosphere is captured by next year's growth” (Kerr, para 5). It actually offsets carbon emissions because it absorbs more carbon dioxide than any other plant. Growing hemp as a large cash crop would positively affect the quality of farm land. Unlike other crops, the hemp plant is insusceptible to insects and other pests. Because of this, unwanted weeds do not grow where hemp is grown. This weed free area can then be occupied by a different crop and the land can be used in rotation. “Hemp grown in rotation with wheat in England resulted in a 20% increase in wheat yield without any commensurate increase in chemical or energy inputs. In Ontario, hemp gown in rotation with soybeans reduced cyst nematode infestation by 50%-75%, reducing the need for chemical pesticides” (Kerr, para 7). A large issue with agriculture is the lack of crops that produce significant profit. Studies show that the growth of hemp could bring in much more profit than other crops. The roots of the plant leave behind better quality soil, which in return reduces the need for unnatural fertilizers, thereby drastically reducing chemical runoff. “50% of all pesticides used in the country are associated