The History Of Hemp

Both George Washington and Thomas Jeffersoncreate building materials superior to wood in
grew hemp on their plantations. Ben Franklinstrength, quality and cost. Heating and
owned a mill that made hemp paper. Jeffersoncompressing plant fibers can create practical,
drafted the Declaration of Independence on hempinexpensive, fire-resistant construction materials
paper.with excellent thermal and sound-insulating qualities.
Hemp is a highly evolved plant species and is notThese strong plant fiber construction materials
genetically engineered. Hemp is heat, mildew, pest,could replace dry wall and wood paneling. One
light, and rot resistant. Hemp's long, smooth,acre of hemp produces as much cellulose fiber
hollow fibers make hemp very strong, durable andpulp as 4.1 acres of trees, making hemp a perfect
mold and mildew resistant.material to replace trees for pressed board,
Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timberparticle board, and concrete construction molds.
on a sustainable basis, and can be used for everyConstruction products such as medium density
quality of paper. As a result Hemp produces fourfiberboard, oriented strand board, and even
times as much paper per acre as trees. Hempbeams, studs and posts can be made out of
paper manufacturing can reduce wastewaterhemp. Because of hemp's long fibers (bundles of 7
contamination. Hemp's low lignin content reducesfeet long can be common), the products will be
the need for acids used in pulping, and it's creamystronger and/or lighter than those made from
color lends itself to environmentally friendlywood (a Douglas fir tree's fiber is at best 3/4 inch
bleaching instead of harsh chlorine compounds.long). Hemp can yield 3-8 dry tons of fiber per
Less bleaching results in less dioxin and feweracre. This is four times what an average forest
chemical byproducts.can yield. Hemp can displace wood fiber and save
Hemp paper manufacturing can reduceforests for watershed, wildlife habitat, recreation
wastewater contamination. Hemp is Earth'sand oxygen production, carbon sequestration
number-one biomass resource; it is capable of(reduces global warming), and other values. Hemp
producing 10 tons per acre in four months. Hempfiber paper resists decomposition, and does not
can be made into quality papers. The long fibers inyellow with age when an acid-free process is
hemp allow such paper to be recycled severalused. Hemp paper more than 1,500 years old has
more times than wood-based papers.been found. It can also be recycled more times.
Trees cut down to make paper take 50 to 500Hemp is the strongest vegetable fiber on the
years to grow, while hemp can be cultivated in asplanet. The byproduct of pressing the oil from
little as 100 days and can yield 4 times morehemp seed is high quality protein seed cake. It can
paper over a 20 year period. Its natural whitenessbe sprouted or ground and baked into cakes,
can obviate the need to use chlorine bleach, whichbreads, and casseroles. Hemp seed protein is one
means no extremely toxic dioxin being dumpedof mankind's finest, most complete and
into streams. Rather, when required, hemp can beavailable-to-the-body vegetable proteins.
whitened with hydrogen peroxide. Therefore,Planting 6% of the continental U.S. with biomass
hemp paper is acid-free, which can last 1,500crops would satisfy all America's energy needs.
years. Wood-based papers have a shelf life ofAdditionally hemp grows well without herbicides,
25-100 years. If the hemp pulp paper processfungicides, or pesticides. Trees mature in 50-100
reported by the USDA in 1916, were legal today ityears; hemp matures in as little as 100 days.
would soon replace 70% of all wood paperHemp can yield 3-8 dry tons of fiber per acre.
products.This is four times what an average forest can
The heating and compressing of hemp fibers canyield.