Can Hemp Save the World?

The original Levi’s were made of hemp. The United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence were written on hemp. Betsy Ross made the flag out of it, for god’s sake.

What’s more American than hemp? Apparently pesticide-laden cotton and ridiculous Just Say No policies that lump one of the world’s oldest cultivated fabrics into the same class as marijuana, making hemp cultivation a felony in America.

But hemp, which requires no herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers to produce, continues to fascinate sustainable manufacturers. And no, it won’t get you high.

Hemp could save the world—if we could just get around that jail sentence. To foodies like Nature’s Path, hemp seeds represent a nearly perfect source of nutrients that’s high in protein and essential fatty acids, but free of gluten and allergens.

For paper, plastic and materials producers, hemp is a renewable resource that’s completely environmentally sustainable. Even Chrysler and General Motors are making cars with hemp components.

When it comes to beauty gurus like Wonder Seed, hemp oil is a perfect hydrator for skin and hair.

Alternative fashion designers project that hemp could replace cotton, which accounts for 25% of all pesticide use in the United States; even mainstream manus like Converse and Adidas jumped on the bandwagon with hemp shoes.

Hemp History Week, a national celebration that commemorates its fourth year this month, pushes for an update on Federal policy so that farmers can provide the raw materials these industries need.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, the organization notes that, “Hemp has no drug value. Hemp seed contains little to no measurable amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in drug varieties of Cannabis. Using hemp products will not cause a false positive drug test.”

Maybe hemp could save the world—if we could just get around that jail sentence.