I love using hemp, and have been a fan for years. I have bought hemp clothes, and napkins for the house, and couches made with hemp…and on a regular basis, I buy hemp milk and protein powder for the hubby. At one point, my husband also had a great hemp wallet! I had a hemp backpack that lasted me twelve years and traveled the world with me. I wore that thing everywhere! It still works, but I finally decided to retire the idea of a backpack. Now I carry a purse and bags like a grown up, I suppose. But it was only recently and after much friendly persuasion from friends – all of which I never listened to! But finally, I felt like being more lady-like. And of course, my EcoTools bags are made with hemp!
Anywho, hemp is my friend, and it would be way more eco to be growing it here in the U.S. That’s why I’m supporting the second annual Hemp History Week, happening this May 2-8.
All About Hemp History Week!
During Hemp History Week, there will be events happening all over the country, designed to renew support for hemp farming in the U.S. and to educate elected officials about the economic benefits of growing non-drug, industrial hemp on American soil.
Hemp is not just used to make clothes; it’s also a great source of complete protein with ten amino acids, omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, and iron. Hemp can also be used to make cosmetics, building materials, and auto parts (for real)! The downside is that right now, it’s illegal to grow hemp in the U.S., so hemp product manufacturers have to import their raw materials, and farmers in the U.S. are missing out on an entire industry!
The theme for 2011 Hemp History Week is ‘Hemp for Health and Sustainability.’ If you’d like to volunteer or organize an event, go to HempHistoryWeek.com for more info. You can also go here to find out if your state is considering legislation that would allow farmers to grow industrial hemp. Then go here to express your support for hemp to your legislators!
A Kinder Choice
You could argue that shipping hemp almost takes the eco out of choosing it, but I still think shipped hemp is better than regular cotton and all its pesticides. As it is now, I support the hemp industry so the powers that be can see how profitable it is.
And for those of you who think hemp is the same thing as marijuana, it’s not, so let’s clear that up right now! First of all, industrial hemp doesn’t come from the same kind of Cannabis plant as marijuana.
According to the North American Industrial Hemp Council, “One type of Cannabis is high in the psychoactive cannabinoid, THC, and low in the antipsychoactive cannabinoid, CBD. This type is popularly known as marijuana. Another type is high in CBD and low in THC. Variants of this type are called industrial hemp.”
The Arizona Hemp Council provides these numbers:
“While marijuana has a potency range of 3% to 20% by dry weight of THC, industrial hemp is generally defined as having less than 1.0% THC, and the normal range is under 0.5%.”
Dr. Andrew Weil corroborates this, saying, “Even if you ate nothing but foods containing hemp, you wouldn’t test positive for drugs. Hemp foods do contain trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the substance in marijuana that is responsible for the ‘high’ you can get by using the drug. But the minuscule amounts of THC in hemp seeds or the bread, cereals, granola bars, beer and other products made from them will not alter drug tests.”
So, hemp won’t get you high. Sorry, stoners! Just kidding, but really, it’s a complete myth. You can smoke as much hemp as you want, but the only thing you’ll end up with is a bad cough!
(For more information about this, you can visit the VoteHemp.com FAQ page. )
What do you think? Do you use hemp products? I want to hear how all you Kind Lifers feel about hemp!
