Ecological: As a renewable resource from living plants hemp does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. The growing plants absorb as much CO2 as will later be released when oil or other plant matter is burnt. Unlike fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) or nuclear fuels hemp could supply us with raw materials for thousands of years, without ever changing our climate and without producing waste that remains radioactive for millions of years.

Hemp is a natural plant material that can be grown with little or no herbicides and pesticides, and little fertiliser. Therefore in terms of the agricultural system it is more ecologically sensitive. In paper and textile production, it can be processed without toxic chemicals, whereas alternatives such a cotton or textiles and wood pulp for paper, require large amounts of toxic chemicals.

Because hemp is not a fussy grower and can grow in a wide range of soils and climatic conditions it is ideal for a bioregional approach. It is a bulky crop and does not require high capital technology to process, making it ideal to process locally, increasing local employment and economy, and saving transport costs and pollution.

Economic: Hemp is the number one biomass producer - 10 tons in approximately 90 – 120 days. One acre of hemp will produce as much fibre as 2-3 acres of cotton. One acre of hemp will produce as much paper as 2–4 acres of trees. Hemp clothing, though currently costing more than cotton clothing, will last six times as long, thus making it cheaper in the long run. Used hemp clothing can be recycled in paper production.

History of Hemp

Some other interesting pieces of information about the historical use of hemp include the following.

• Hemp is thought to originate in the Himalayas, from where it was spread by animals and people. The Aryans who invaded India are known to have taken hemp seed with them to sow for fibre throughout the Middle East and Europe.
• From at least the 5th Century BC until the late 19th Century ship sails and riggings were made from hemp. Hemp is still used on some ships because of its resistance to mildew and weathering and because it remains pliable in extreme conditions where plastic based ropes become brittle and crack.• Hemp is among the oldest industries, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginning of pottery.
• The oldest relic of human industry is a bit of hemp fabric dating back to approximately 8,000 BC. It was found in Mesopotamia and was mentioned in Assyrian scripts.
• By 3,000 years BC, hemp was considered the most important textile, and even in China, where silk production was flourishing, hemp was relied on because it was cheaper than silk and was a strong fibre for clothing.
• Christopher Columbus carried hemp seed on his fleet for use in case of shipwreck to grow crops for raw materials and for use as a food source.
• US past presidents Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were both active hemp farmers.
• The war between North America and Great Britain in 1812 was mainly about access to Russian hemp.
• Napoleon's principle reason for invading Russia in the same year 1812 was due to Russian hemp supplies.
• Until the early 1800's the word 'linen' was used to refer to any fine fabric made from hemp or flax.
• After the invasion of Philippines stopped the supply of Manila hemp to US, the US government distributed 400,00 pounds of Cannabis hemp seeds to US farmers who subsequently produced 42,000 tons of fibre for the US WWII effort.
• Benjamin Franklin started one of the first paper mills with cannabis hemp thus freeing US from dependence on paper or books from England.
• Hemp seed oil is said to burn the brightest of all lamp oils and has been used for millennia.
• Scythians used hemp seed oil to cleanse and purify themselves.
• Legal restrictions put paid to Henry Ford's automobile made in part from hemp fibre and run on hemp oil. He was forced to abandon his work due to hemp prohibition, and alcohol prohibition.
• In 1935 in the US 58,000 tons of hemp seed was used to make non-toxic paint and varnish, but hemp prohibition meant these safe products were replaced with toxic petro-chemical paints and varnishes.
• French bank notes are still produced from hemp paper, grown and processed in a small area of France.

Hemp Fibre

Natural fibres from the hemp stalk is extremely durable and can be used in the production of textiles, clothing, canvas, rope, cordage, archival grade paper, paper, and construction materials.
There are two principal types of fibres in hemp – bast or long fibres and hurds or inner short fibre.