Natural Environment Blog

More than 200 local farmers have expressed interest in growing Industrial hemp, which has now been legalized in the NSW state of Australia. Photo: Hendrike

While the United States still struggles with the idea of growing industrial hemp, Australia is pushing ahead with the environmentally friendly “super fiber”.

The New South Wales (NSW) state government has now passed a law that allows farmers to grow industrial hemp. The government had agreed to introduce the new legislation back in April this year.

The state government has already been inundated with farmers wanting to grow industrial hemp. 

“Already we’ve had over 200 farmers express interest in growing hemp across the state,” said Ian Macdonald, Primary Industries Minister.

Enormous Potential

Industrial hemp has long been known for its enormous versatility, and Mr Macdonald envisages a promising future for the crop. 

“It could become quite a significant crop in a very short period of time, particularly as various companies utilise the products of it for that broad range of products that can be created using industrial hemp as a base.” said Mr Macdonald.

But Barry Dugan, a hemp advocate, is concerned about the scarcity of hemp processing facilities.

“There’s not much point growing the stuff if there’s nowhere to have it treated,’’ he said.

“According to my research, a huge amount of energy and water is required to get all the good things out of hemp.” he continued.

Hemp vs Marijuana

One thing that had concerned the government was the potential for farmers to use their hemp plantations as a way of hiding (illegal) marijuana plants, which look very similar to hemp plants.  

But Mr Macdonald says that measures have now been put in place to prevent hemp crops from camouflaging marijuana crops.

5 Year Licences

The licences are renewable for 5 years under the new legislation.

“The licensing scheme is authorised by our Act of Parliament,” said Mr Macdonald.

“It’ll require farmers who wish to grow industrial hemp to register to get a licence.” he explained.

“That’ll mean that their properties will be then audited and inspected regularly to ensure compliance with the Act.”

The Hemp Industry Act 2008

The act that Mr Macdonald is referring to is the Hemp industry Act 2008, which allows a person to cultivate or supply low-THC hemp for any one or more of the following purposes:

• for commercial production
• for use in any manufacturing process
• for scientific research, instruction, analysis or study
• for any other purpose prescribed by the regulations

Further, the act explicitly states that “The possession of low-THC hemp is not an offence under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 if it is cultivated or supplied under the authority of this Act”.

Two North Dakota farmers fighting for hemp legalization will continue their fight in the federal appeals court on Wednesday. 

The farmers, who renewed their annual hemp licences almost a year ago, are still not legally allowed to grow hemp because of the federal law.

The lawsuit, which has been funded by Vote Hemp, has cost approximately $100,000 since it began in June last year. 

State Law Says “Yes”, Federal Law Says “No”

Although the state of North Dakota, recognizing the difference between hemp and marijuana, has allowed the farmers to grow industrial hemp, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has a different view.

“The level of THC in the plant doesn’t matter. If there’s any THC in the plant, it’s illegal,” DEA spokesman Garrison Courtney says, referring to the farmers’ argument that industrial hemp contains extremely low levels of THC, and therefore shouldn’t be classified as a drug.

“To get those pieces of stalk that are legal, you have to grow a marijuana plant.”

Case Initially Dismissed

The case was initially dismissed by U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland in Bismarck, N.D in November last year.    

The farmers’ lawyer, Tim Purdon says that they appealed that ruling, hoping for a new ruling that hemp “is not subject to regulation by the DEA and that our farmers aren’t going to be charged with a crime.”

He also says that the district judge should not have dismissed the case without hearing evidence about the differences between hemp and marijuana, adds Washington lawyer Joe Sandler, who will argue the farmers’ case before the appeals court.

To learn more about this case, and to view all court documents, view the North Dakota Case section of the Vote Hemp website.

A bill has finally passed through the senate in Vermont that would allow hemp to be grown in the state.

The bill has been hanging around in one form or another for many years now. And the current version has taken three years to get it to it’s current state.

Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee commented:

My concern with the bill is that it basically requires the federal government to agree with it, and the federal government is not going to agree with it, I don’t want our farmers having drug busters coming in from the feds and making an example. That’s been my concern about this all along. I understand the support for it, but we are still part of the United States. We’re sworn to uphold the Constitution.

After receiving over 150 letters and calls urging him to support the bill, Sen. Sears said he decided to move the bill through his committee after making an amendment to satisfy the above concern. This amendment requires the federal government to change the definition of marijuana. By doing so, there would be a clear distinction between hemp and marijuana.

Source: BenningtonBanner.com

The New South Wales (NSW) government of Australia has agreed to introduce new legislation to make industrial hemp cultivation legal.

After decades of opposition to hemp, the NSW government is finally recognizing the benefits that hemp can bring. As well as reaping the great environmental benefits of hemp, the government expects that this will pave the way for a new and viable industry.

Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, says:

Industrial hemp fibre produced here in NSW could pave the way for the establishment of a new viable industry that creates and sells textiles, cloth and building products made from locally grown industrial hemp

Although hemp cultivation has been illegal in NSW until now, trials have been carried out in the west of the state. These have yielded 10 to 12 tonnes of dry stem per hectare, which is similar to yields reported from crops in other Australian states, as well as in Europe.

The National Farmers Federation are welcoming the legislation, although they aren’t aware of many farmers who are hanging out to grow hemp. I suspect over time, many farmers will diversify into this area. Especially if they find it commercially viable.

I sure hope the hemp industry in NSW gets all the support deserves. After all, how many other plants can yield the amazing environmental benefits that hemp does? And how many other plants can provide for such a diverse range of product applications as hemp?

Since 2003, the UK has held a Hemp Expo, which aims to raise public awareness of the value of hemp as a national crop.

Each year, the Hemp Expo is held in held in various locations around the UK. This year it’s returning to London - the place of the first Hemp Expo back in 2003.

Here’s what the official website has to say about the Hemp Expo:

Featuring the latest and greatest in new inventions, clothing, bags, food, books, alternative therapies, healing, music, famous names and famous faces, seminars, new seed strains, vaporisers and much, much more.

Exhibitors, inventors, wholesalers and retailers will be coming from all over the world to show the best in hemp and alternative technologies.

This year’s Hemp Expo will be held on 14th, 15th and 16th of November 2008, at the Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London E1

A new bill supporting industrial hemp production in Minnesota has been introduced to House committees.

The bill, authorized by Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, has already been given the thumbs up by the House Public Safety and Civil Justice. They voted 7-6 in favor of keeping the bill moving.

Unfortunately, Bob Bushman of the Minneasota Peace/Police Officers Association, isn’t so keen on the idea. He thinks that, legalizing industrial hemp will open the doors to all sorts of drugs being legalized. He’s also concerned that the laboratories that test drugs that have been seized by police, will become over-burdened.

Personally, I doubt that it will open the doors to the legalization of drugs. I mean, what the bill intends to do is make a clear distinction in the law between industrial hemp and drugs. And that’s all that is needed. The reason the law needs to have a clear distinction is because there is a clear distinction between industrial hemp and drugs.

Furthermore, unless drugs share the enormous benefits to the environment that industrial hemp does, it’s unlikely that we’ll see those being legalized any time soon.

As far as the burden on the drug labs goes, I don’t think the burden will be that great. Anyone with a trained eye can tell the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana.

You may have seen my post about the North Dakota farmers who were issued hemp licenses. Having received their state licenses, they still aren’t allowed to grow hemp. They now need federal licence - due to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) not recognizing the term ‘industrial hemp’.

Well, they’re still fighting their battle. It seems that it’s not that straight forward getting an industrial hemp license in the US!

Here’s a news article I found with one of the farmers displaying some hemp products. The farmer, Wayne Hauge, says:

Just a couple of hours north of us in Canada, industrial hemp is grown for multiple products.

They’re growing it, and they’re doing well with it. They make soaps, lotions, ropes and twine. When you combine its fibers with flax, cotton and silk, it makes a very soft product. Hemp could make a nice prom dress. They’ve got hemp granola bars and hemp milk in three flavors.

And he says that the unopened hemp milk could set on a shelf almost a year unrefridgerated.

Doesn’t it seem crazy that, given the amazing benefits of industrial hemp, and the variety of uses of hemp, that it’s so difficult to do the right thing and grow it?

Two farmers in North Dakota received licenses from the N.D. state to grow industrial hemp. But if they do grow it, they will be breaking the law. It’s now a year later - renewal time. But still not allowed to grow industrial hemp.

Apparently it’s all mixed up between state and federal government. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson said:

“Although other states are beginning to follow North Dakota’s lead in legalizing the production of industrial hemp, it very well may be up to the courts to bring about the necessary recognition of industrial hemp as a legitimate crop,”

and…

“Congress seems to have little stomach for the matter, and it is highly unlikely that DEA will change its stand and choose to exercise its discretion to differentiate between industrial hemp and marijuana.”

Source: GrandForksHerald

Just another demonstration of how the US hemp law is preventing people from doing the right thing by the environment.

Hemp is the common name for the cannabis family of plants, although the word is typically used in reference to industrial hemp.

What is Industrial Hemp?

The term industrial hemp refers to cannabis strains cultivated for non-drug usage. Industrial hemp is usually referred to, simply as hemp. Most of the time, when someone talks about hemp, they are referring to industrial hemp.

Hemp is an extremely versatile, natural fiber. It is sometimes referred to as a “super fiber” due to it’s amazing range of benefits and attributes. Hemp is the strongest natural fiber in the world, and it has been cultivated for a wide variety of purposes for thousands of years. In fact, the earliest known woven fabric was made of hemp over 10,000 years ago.

In recent years, hemp has been gaining a reputation as an environmentally friendly alternative to many other fibers. For example, hemp clothing and accessories are becoming popular alternatives to their cotton or polyester counterparts.

Despite hemp’s usefulness, it is often misunderstood. Because hemp is closely related to marijuana, some people assume it can be misused (i.e. for drug use). The fact is that industrial hemp doesn’t contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to make it a psychoactive drug (such as marijuana).

Environmental Benefits of Hemp

To say that hemp is environmentally friendly is an understatement. Hemp contains so many environmental benefits, it’s amazing it’s not more popular. Hopefully this will change as the climate change / global warming debate heats up further.

For starters, hemp can be grown in most climates, without pesticides, and uses very little water. Also, hemp products are 100% biodegradable.

Here are some more of hemp’s environmental benefits.

Hemp Laws

Currently, hemp is allowed to be grown virtually anywhere in the world - except the U.S.. In the U.S. hemp cultivation is now illegal. This is unfortunate given the enormous environmental benefits to be gained from industrial hemp.

Hemp wasn’t always illegal in America though. Here are some interesting facts about hemp laws and usage in the U.S.:

• The first American flag was made from hemp.
• The U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were drafted on hemp, and then copied onto parchment.
• U.S. presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp.
• Benjamin Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper.
• During the second world war, the U.S. government actually subsidized hemp.
• During the Colonial Era and Early Republic, American farmers were legally bound to grow hemp.
• In 1937, hemp cultivation was outlawed in the U.S..
• Although it’s illegal to grow hemp in the U.S., it’s not illegal to import or use products made from hemp.

Given the obvious environmental benefits of hemp, and the non-issue regarding it’s association with marijuana, the U.S. hemp laws are apparently in urgent need of review.

As Thomas Jefferson once said “Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country”

…or as George Washington said, “Make the most of the Indian Hemp Seed and sow it everywhere“!

Uses for Hemp

Being such a versatile fiber, there are literally thousands of uses for hemp. Many people claim that there are over 25,000 known uses for hemp!

Without naming all 25,000 uses(!), hemp can be used in a wide range of areas including consumer textiles (eg, clothing, bags), industrial textiles (eg, ropes, nets), food (eg, oils, supplements), body care products (eg, soap, shampoo), and building materials (eg, fiberboard, hempcrete).

For more detail, check out my post on the uses of hemp.

Industrial hemp is gaining a lot of respect around the world for its amazing versatility and environmental benefits. Many companies are turning to hemp in order to make their products more sustainable and eco-friendly in general.

Unfortunately, widespread acceptance of hemp still has a long way to go. Many people are oblivious to the great benefits of hemp. Some (incorrectly) assume that it’s a drug (because of its close association with marijuana). The U.S. government has even made it illegal to grow hemp. This does not make it easy for those of us who are trying to do the right thing!

Hemp cultivation can provide many benefits for the environment. Also, hemp products can provide further environmental benefits when comparing them to products made from other fibers.

Here are some key reasons why hemp should become much more widely used than it currently is.

Growing Hemp

Here are some of the major environmental benefits of growing hemp:

• Fast and robust growth: Hemp grows extremely fast and can be grown in any climate, in any agronomic system
• No herbicides/pesticides required: Hemp can be grown with no (or little) herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, or other biocides.
• Suppresses weeds: Hemp is a natural weed suppressor due to the fast growth of the canopy. Actually, hemp is a weed. Because it grows so fast and densely, it blocks out sunlight to other weeds that are trying to grow.
• Improves soil structure: Due to it’s long roots, hemp replenishes soil with nutrients and nitrogen and helps control erosion of topsoil. Also, once harvested, any residue can act as an eco-friendly manure.
• Hemp produces lots of oxygen: Hemp produces the same amount of oxygen while it’s growing that it would use in carbon dioxide if burned as a fuel. Also, due to it’s leaf/root ratio (this can often be 10% roots vs 30% leaves), hemp can produce between 20% - 40% more oxygen than will be polluted.
• Cleans up pollution: Hemp can actually clean up toxins from the ground. This process is called phytoremediation. A good example of this is when hemp was used to help clean up the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site to remove radioactive elements from the ground.

Hemp Products

Naturally, products made from hemp are 100% biodegradable, recyclable, and reusable. Also, the speed at which hemp grows can provide benefits regarding the resource requirements of the end product.

Here are some examples of how hemp products could benefit our environment and our health:

• Switching to hemp paper could reduce deforestation significantly. For every 4 acres of trees that are required annually to make paper, only an acre of hemp would be required. Furthermore, because hemp paper can be recycled so many times (up to 7 or 8 times), much less is needed. In comparison, paper from wood pulp can only be recycled around 3 times. This means even more trees are required.
• Clothing and textiles made from hemp have no residual chemicals that could affect our health (as many other fabrics do).
• Hemp based fabrics block the sun’s UV rays more effectively than other fabrics. This is true, even if it’s only a 50% blend with another fabric.
• Hemp oil is the richest known source of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (the “good” fats)

It’s widely known that hemp can be used in so many ways as an eco-friendly alternative to current methods. Given that so many of today’s products are produced from toxic materials, by switching to hemp based products, the benefits for the environment (and ourselves) would be enormous.