This article is about the cultivation and uses of industrial hemp, not its psychoactive cousin Cannabis (drug). Cannabis, also known as marijuana or marihuana, or ganja (from Hindi / Sanskrit: गांजा gānjā hemp) is a For the biology of the plant, see Cannabis. Cannabis ( Cán-na-bis) is a Genus of Flowering plants that includes three putative species Cannabis sativa subsp For other uses of the word hemp, see Hemp (disambiguation).

Industrial hemp production in France

U.S. 'Marihuana' production permit. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In the USA, hemp cultivation is legally prohibited, but during World War II farmers were encouraged to grow hemp for cordage, to replace Manila hemp previously obtained from Japanese-controlled areas. Since the 20th century most countries have enacted laws affecting the legality of cannabis regarding the cultivation use possession or transfer of cannabis for recreational World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Manila hemp, also known as manilla, is a type of Fiber obtained from the leaves of the Abacá ( Musa textilis) a relative of the Banana For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The US government produced a film explaining the uses of hemp called Hemp for Victory.

Hemp (from Old English hænep, see cannabis (etymology)) is the common name for plants of the entire family of Cannabis, although the term is often used to refer only to Cannabis strains cultivated for industrial (non-drug) use. The plant name Cannabis is from Greek grc κάνναβις ( grc kánnabis) via Latin la cannabis, originally a Scythian Hemp is cultivated virtually everywhere in the world except for the United States, and its cultivation in western countries is growing steadily. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For example, Canadian Hempseed exports surged 300% last year. ^[1] China and other eastern countries never prohibited its cultivation and use it extensively. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Industrial hemp has thousands of uses, including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, health food, and fuel, but it has not been the great commercial success that the enthusiast hoped for. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Fuel is any material that is burned or altered in order to obtain energy It is one of the fastest growing biomasses on the planet, and one of the earliest domesticated plants known. It also runs parallel with the "Green Future" objectives that are becoming increasingly popular. Hemp requires little to no pesticides, replenishes soil with nutrients and nitrogen, controls erosion of the topsoil, and produces a lot of oxygen, considering how fast it grows. A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. A nutrient is food or chemicals that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind Furthermore, Hemp could be used to replace many potentially harmful products, such as tree paper (the processing of which uses bleaches and other toxic chemicals, and contributes to deforestation), cosmetics (which often contain synthetic oils that can clog pores and provide little nutritional content for the skin), and plastics (which are petroleum based and cannot decompose).

Licenses for hemp cultivation are issued in the European Union and Canada. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page In the United Kingdom, these licenses are issued by the Home Office under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for security and order The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (c38 is an Act of Parliament, by which the United Kingdom aims to control the possession and supply of numerous drugs When grown for non-drug purposes hemp is often called industrial hemp, and a common product is fiber for use in a wide variety of products. Fiber crops are field crops grown for their Fibers which are used to make Paper, Cloth, or Rope. Feral hemp or ditch weed is usually a naturalized fiber or oilseed strain of Cannabis that have escaped from cultivation and are self-seeding.

Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa var. sativa is the variety grown for industrial use in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere, while C. sativa subsp. indica generally has poor fiber quality and is primarily used for production of recreational and medicinal drugs. The major difference is the amount of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) secreted in a resinous mixture by epidermal hairs called glandular trichomes. Strains of Cannabis approved for industrial hemp production produce only minute amounts of this psychoactive drug. Some botanists use a different taxonomic classification to circumscribe the various taxa within the genus Cannabis. Botany, plant science(s, phytology, or plant biology is a branch of Biology and is the scientific study of plant Life A taxon (plural taxa) or taxonomic unit, is a name designating an organism or a group of Organisms In Biological nomenclature according to

Uses

An industrial hemp crop growing in Canterbury, New Zealand

Hemp is used for a wide variety of purposes, including the manufacture of cordage of varying tensile strength, clothing, and nutritional products. The New Zealand region of Canterbury (Waitaha is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains A rope is a length of Fibers twisted or Braided together to improve strength for pulling and Connecting. In Physics String Tension is the magnitude of the pulling force exerted by a string cable chain or similar object on another object The bast fibers can be used in 100% hemp products, but are commonly blended with fabrics such as linen, cotton or silk, for apparel and furnishings, most commonly at a 55/45 Hemp/Cotton blend. Linen is a Textile made from the Fibers of the Flax plant Linum usitatissimum. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons The inner two fibers of hemp are more woody, and are more often used in non-woven items and other industrial applications, such as mulch, animal bedding and litter. In Agriculture and Gardening, '''mulch''' is a protective cover placed over the Soil, primarily to modify the effects of the local Climate. The oil from the fruits ("seeds") dries on exposure to air (similar to linseed oil) and is sometimes used in the manufacture of oil-based paints, in creams as a moisturising agent, for cooking, and in plastics. Hemp seeds are often added to wild bird seed mix.

Material

In Europe and China, hemp fibers are increasingly used to strengthen cement, and in other composite materials for many construction and manufacturing applications. Hempcrete is used as a construction material containing hemp hurds, especially in France. Hempcrete is a mixture of hemp hurds and lime (possibly including sand plaster or cement used as a material for construction and insulation Mercedes-Benz uses a "biocomposite" composed principally of hemp fiber for the manufacture of interior panels in some of its automobiles. Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of luxury Automobiles Buses coaches and Trucks It is currently a division of the A biocomposite a material formed by a Matrix ( Resin) and a reinforcement of natural fibers (usually derived from plants or Cellulose)

Food

Shelled hemp seeds

Hemp seeds contains beneficial omega fatty acids, amino acids, and minerals. The seeds can be eaten raw, ground into a meal, sprouted, made into "milk" (akin to soy milk), prepared as tea, and used in baking. Soy milk (also called soya milk, soybean milk, or soy juice) and sometimes referred to as soy drink/beverage is a beverage made from The fresh leaves can also be eaten in salads. Products range from cereals to frozen waffles, hemp tofu to nut butters. A waffle is a light batter cake cooked in a Waffle iron patterned to give a distinctive and characteristic shape A few companies produce value added hemp seed items that include the seed oils, whole hemp grain (which is sterilized as per international law), hulled hemp seed (the whole seed without the mineral rich outer shell), hemp flour, hemp cake (a by-product of pressing the seed for oil) and hemp protein powder. Hemp is also used in some organic cereals, for non-dairy "milk" somewhat similar to soy and nut milks, and for non-dairy hemp "ice cream. Soy milk (also called soya milk, soybean milk, or soy juice) and sometimes referred to as soy drink/beverage is a beverage made from "^[2][3] Given that seeds account for 50% of the weight of a female plant grown for seed, these products can be made cheaper than with soy, almonds, or flax.

Within the UK, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) treats hemp as purely a non-food crop. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for environmental protection Seed appears on the UK market as a legal food product although cultivation licenses are not available for this purpose. In North America, hemp seed food products are sold in small volumes, typically in health food stores or by mail order. ^[4]

Nutrition

30–35% of the weight of hempseed is oil containing 80% essential fatty acids (EFAs), linoleic acid (LA, 50-70%), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 15–25%) and Gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA, 1–6%). Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble Prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 (or Ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or See also Tocopherol, Tocotrienol Vitamin E is the collective name for a set of 8 related Tocopherols and Tocotrienols which are fat-soluble Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Essential fatty acids, or EFAs are Fatty acids that cannot be constructed within an organism from other components (generally all references are to humans by any known chemical Linoleic acid (LA is an unsaturated Omega-6 fatty acid. It is a colorless liquid α -Linolenic acid ( ALA) is an organic compound found in many common vegetable oils. γ -Linolenic acid ( gamma-linolenic acid or GLA, sometimes called gamolenic acid) is an Essential fatty acid found primarily in ^[5][6] The proportions of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid in hempseed oil meet human requirements for EFAs. Unlike flax oil and others, hempseed oil can be used continuously without developing a deficiency or other imbalance of EFAs. Flax (also known as common flax or linseed) (binomial name Linum usitatissimum) is a member of the genus Linum Unfortunately the unsaturated fat makes the oil rancid quickly, unless it is stored in dark coloured bottles or mixed with chemical preservatives. A preservative is a natural or synthetic chemical that is added to products such as foods pharmaceuticals paints biological samples wood etc This makes hemp oil difficult to transport or store. The high unsaturated fat content also makes the oil unsuitable for frying. This severely limits hemp oil's potential on the food market, although some marketing potential exists as a nutritional supplement. ^[7] Cold-pressed hempseed oil is nutritionally superior to olive or flax oil, and so, makes a great alternative in salads, smoothies, and other non-frying uses. Cooking of any oil reduces its nutritional value, and may convert beneficial fatty acids to less benign substances.

Hemp seed also contains 20% complete and highly-digestible protein,^[8] 1/3 as edestin protein and 2/3 as albumins. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl Albumin (Latin albus white refers generally to any Protein with water Solubility, which is moderately soluble in concentrated salt solutions and experiences Its high quality amino acid composition is closer to "complete" sources of proteins (meat, milk, eggs) than all other oil seeds except quinoa and soy. In modern English usage meat most often refers to Animal tissue used as food mostly Skeletal muscle and associated Fat, but it may also refer Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. An egg is a round or oval body laid by the female of many animals consisting of an Ovum surrounded by layers of Membranes and an outer casing which acts to nourish ^[9]

Medicine

Main article: Medicinal cannabis

Fiber

The fiber is one of the most valuable parts of the hemp plant. Medical cannabis refers to the use of the Cannabis plant as a physician-recommended Herbal therapy as well as synthetic THC and Cannabinoids It is commonly called bast, which refers to the fibers that grow on the outside of the woody interior of the plant's stalk, and under the most outer part (the bark). Bast fibers give the plants more strength, which is especially true with the hemp plant. Hemp fibers can be 3 feet (0. 91 m) to 15 feet (4. 6 m) long, running the length of the plant. Depending on the processing used to remove the fiber from the stem, the hemp naturally may be creamy white, brown, gray, black or green.

A sack made from hemp fiber

The use of hemp for fiber production has declined sharply over the last two centuries, but before the industrial revolution, hemp was a popular fiber because it is strong and grows quickly; it produces 250% more fiber than cotton and 600% more fiber than flax when grown on the same land. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the Hemp has been used to make paper. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Jefferson on hemp paper. ^[10] It was used to make canvas, and the word canvas itself derives from cannabis. Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making Sails Tents Marquees Backpacks and other functions ^[11][12] Hemp was very popular as it had many uses. However, as other coarse-fiber plants were more widely grown and lobbying by various industries increased, hemp fiber was replaced in most roles. Manila replaced its use for rope. Manila hemp, also known as manilla, is a type of Fiber obtained from the leaves of the Abacá ( Musa textilis) a relative of the Banana Burlap, made from jute, took over the sacking market. Jute is a long soft shiny Vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse strong threads The paper industry began using wood pulp. Wood pulp is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating the fibers which make up Wood. The carpet industry switched over to wool, sisal, and jute, then nylon. Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species Sisal or sisal hemp is an Agave Agave sisalana that yields a stiff Fiber used in making Rope. Jute is a long soft shiny Vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse strong threads Overview Nylon is a Thermoplastic silky material first used commercially in a nylon- Bristled Toothbrush (1938 followed more famously by Netting and webbing applications were taken over by cotton and synthetics. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp The world hemp paper pulp production was believed to be around 120,000 tons per year in 1991 which was about 0. 05 % of the world's annual pulp production volume. ^[13]

In 1916, US Department of Agriculture chief scientists Lyster H. Dewe, and Jason L. Merrill created paper made from hemp pulp, which they concluded was "favorable in comparison with those used with pulp wood. "^[14] Jack Herer, in the book "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" summarized the findings of Bulletin No. Jack Herer (born 1939 is the Author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes (ISBN 0-9524560-0-1 (several editions since c 404. ^[15]

In 1916, USDA Bulletin No. 404, reported that one acre of cannabis hemp, in annual rotation over a 20-year period, would produce as much pulp for paper as 4. 1 acres of trees being cut down over the same 20-year period. This process would use only 1/4 to 1/7 as much polluting sulfur-based acid chemicals to break down the glue-like lignin that binds the fibers of the pulp, or even none at all using soda ash. The problem of dioxin contamination of rivers is avoided in the hemp paper making process, which does not need to use chlorine bleach (as the wood pulp paper making process requires) but instead safely substitutes hydrogen peroxide in the bleaching process. . . . If the new (1916) hemp pulp paper process were legal today, it would soon replace about 70% of all wood pulp paper, including computer printout paper, corrugated boxes and paper bags.

Hemp stem showing fibers.

New technology has allowed for more environmentally-friendly paper production from wood pulp The recovery boiler was invented in the early 1930s. Recovery boiler is the part of Kraft process of pulping where chemicals for White liquor are recovered and reformed from Black liquor. The first recovery boilers were commissioned to wood-pulp mills during the mid-1930s^[16]. ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free),^[17] or TCF (Total chlorine Free) bleaching, better fiber filters etc. has created less of a demand for alternative raw materials. Hemp is currently of little significance as raw material for paper; however, it is still scarcely grown in the developed world. The long-term price for pulpwood has been low compared with any alternative except recycled paper. More about wood pulp technology in bleaching of wood pulp. Bleaching of wood pulp is the Chemical processing carried out on various types of Wood pulp to decrease the color of the pulp so that it becomes whiter

The decision of the United States Congress to pass the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act was based in part on testimony derived from articles in newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst, who had significant financial interests in the timber industry, which manufactured his newsprint. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses In the United States, the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, Pub 238 75th Congress 50 Stat For other people named William Randolph Hearst see William Randolph Hearst (disambiguation William Randolph Hearst I (April 29 1863 &ndash Logging is the process in which Trees are cut down for Forest management and Timber. The background material also included that from 1880 to 1933 the hemp grown in the United States had declined from 15,000 to 1,200 acres (4. 9 km²), and that the price of line hemp had dropped from $12. 50 per pound in 1914 to $9. 00 per pound in 1933. ^[18][19] In 1935, however, hemp would also make a significant rebound. ^[19] Hearst began a campaign against hemp, and published stories in his newspapers associating hemp with marijuana. ^[20] and attacking marijuana usage. ^[21] As a result of the act, the production and use of hemp was discontinued.

Characteristics of hemp fibre are its superior strength and durability, resistance to ultraviolet light and mold, comfort and good absorbency (8%). Hemp rope is notorious for breaking due to rot as the capillary effect of the rope-woven fibres tended to hold liquid at the interior, while seeming dry from the outside. The Aviation term ROT stands for rate one turn, also known as a standard rate turn. ^[22] Hemp rope used in the age of sailing-ships was protected by tarring, a labor-intensive process and also the reason for the Jack Tar nickname for sailors. Some types of rope must be protected from rot by tarring, coating the rope with Tar. Jack Tar was a common English term used to refer to seamen of the Merchant or Royal Navy, particularly during the period of the British Hemp rope was phased out when Manila, which does not require tarring, became available. Manila hemp, also known as manilla, is a type of Fiber obtained from the leaves of the Abacá ( Musa textilis) a relative of the Banana

There is a niche market for hemp paper, but the cost of hemp pulp is approximately six times that of wood pulp,^[13] mostly due to the small size and outdated equipment of the few hemp processing plants in the Western world. Hemp pulp is bleached with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution slightly more Viscous than water Hydrogen peroxide can also be used for wood pulp. Kenaf is another fast-growing plant which can be used as a replacement for wood pulp. Kenaf Persian Hibiscus cannabinus, is a plant in the Malvaceae family Kenaf paper has been produced in commercial quantities. ^[23]

A modest hemp industry exists. Recent developments in processing have made it possible to soften up coarse fibres to a wearable level. ^[24]

Harvesting

View from the cab of an industrial hemp harvesting machine in France.

Smallholder plots are usually harvested by hand. The plants are cut at 2 to 3 cm above the soil and left on the ground to dry. Mechanical harvesting is now common, using specially adapted cutter-binders or simpler cutters.

The cut hemp is laid in swathes to dry for up to four days. This was traditionally followed by retting, either water retting (the bundled hemp floats in water) or dew retting (the hemp remains on the ground and is affected by the moisture in dew moisture, and by molds and bacterial action). Retting is a stage in the manufacturing of vegetable fibers, especially the Bast fibers It is a process that employs water and microbial action to separate the bast The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have Modern processes use steam and machinery to separate the fibre, a process known as thermo-mechanical pulping.

Fuel

Biofuels such as biodiesel and alcohol fuel can be made from the oils in hemp seeds and stalks, and the fermentation of the plant as a whole, respectively. Biodiesel refers to a non-petroleum-based Diesel fuel consisting of short chain Alkyl ( Methyl or ethyl) Esters made by Although Fossil fuels have become the dominant Energy resource for the modern world Alcohol has been used as a fuel throughout history The energy from hemp may be high based on acreage or weight, but can be low based on the volume of the light weight harvested hemp. It does, however, produce more energy per acre per year than corn, sugar, flax, or any other crop currently grown for ethanol or biodiesel.

Henry Ford grew industrial hemp on his estate after 1937, possibly to prove the cheapness of methanol production at Iron Mountain. Henry Ford ( July 30, 1863 &ndash April 7, 1947) was the American founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of He made plastic cars with wheat straw, hemp and sisal. (Popular Mechanics, Dec. 1941, "Pinch Hitters for Defense. ") In 1892, Rudolph Diesel invented the diesel engine, which he intended to fuel "by a variety of fuels, especially vegetable and seed oils. Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (ˈʁuːdɔlf ˈkʁɪstjan ˈkaʁl ˈdiːzəl March 18, 1858 – last seen alive September 29, 1913) was a A diesel engine is an Internal combustion engine which operates using the Diesel cycle (named after Dr "^{[25][26][27][28]}

Cultivation

Hemp being harvested

Millennia of selective breeding have resulted in varieties that look quite different. Also, breeding since circa 1930 has focused quite specifically on producing strains which would perform very poorly as sources of drug material. Hemp grown for fibre is planted closely, resulting in tall, slender plants with long fibres. Ideally, according to Defra in 2004 the herb should be harvested before it flowers. This early cropping is done because fibre quality declines if flowering is allowed and, incidentally, this cropping also pre-empts the herb's maturity as a potential source of drug material. However, in these strains of industrial hemp the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content would have been very low regardless.

The name Cannabis is the genus and was the name favoured by the 19th century medical practitioners who helped to introduce the herb's drug potential to modern English-speaking consciousness. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Cannabis for non-drug purposes (especially ropes and textiles) was then already well known as hemp. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn.

The name "marijuana" is Spanish in origin and associated almost exclusively with the herb's drug potential. That marijuana is now well known in English as a name for drug material is due largely to the efforts of US drug prohibitionists during the 1920s and 1930s. The prohibition of drugs through sumptuary Legislation or Religious law is a common means of attempting to control Drug use and the

Varieties

There are broadly three groups of Cannabis varieties being cultivated today:

• Varieties primarily cultivated for their fibre, characterized by long stems and little branching, extreme red, yellow, blue or purple coloration, or thickness of stem and solid core, such as hemp cannabis oglalas, and more generally called industrial hemp
• Varieties grown for seed from which hemp oil is extracted
• Varieties grown for medicinal, spiritual development 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or recreational purposes. A stem is one of two main structural axes of a Vascular plant. This article is about the cultivation and uses of industrial hemp not its psychoactive cousin Cannabis (drug. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored Hemp oil can be extracted from the seed of the Hemp plant which contains between 30-35% oil by weight which is high in Essential fatty acids The plant can also Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the This article is about cannabis used as an Entheogenic drug in a spiritual or Religious context Sathya Sai Baba ( Telugu: సత్య సాయి బాబా was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23 1926 &mdash or later than The Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, Rastafarianism or simply Rasta) is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, New Testament Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. Magick, in the broadest sense is any act designed to cause intentional change Kenneth Earl "Ken" Wilber Jr (b January 31, 1949, Oklahoma City, U Cannabis, also known as marijuana or marihuana, or ganja (from Hindi / Sanskrit: गांजा gānjā hemp) is a

A nominal if not legal distinction is often made between hemp, with concentrations of the psychoactive chemical THC far too low to be useful as a drug, and Cannabis used for medical, recreational, or spiritual purposes.

Diseases

Main article: List of hemp diseases

Hemp plants can be vulnerable to various pathogens including bacteria, fungi, nematodes, viruses and other miscellaneous pathogens. This article is a list of diseases of Hemp ( Cannabis sativa) A pathogen (from Greek πάθος pathos "suffering passion" and γἰγνομαι (γεν- gignomai (gen- "I give birth to" infectious The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ The nematodes or roundworms ( Phylum Nematoda from Greek (nema "thread" + -ode "like" are one of the most common A virus (from the Latin virus meaning Toxin or Poison) is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that is unable

Historical cultivation

While the fibre has been grown for millennia in Asia and the Middle East, commercial production of hemp in the West took off in the eighteenth century. Due to colonial and naval expansion of the era, economies needed large quantities of hemp for rope and oakum. Oakum is a preparation of Tarred Fibre used in Shipbuilding, forcaulking or packing the joints of timbers in wooden vessels and thedeck planking of iron The endless European Wars, and ever expanding naval fleets, all used the material. To this end, the young Republic of America became a large hemp producer. The Gulf and Carolina states had very large hemp industries. In fact the market was second only to cotton fibre. Machinery was invented in the United States for producing hemp fibre. An unpleasant task performed by prison labour was the manufacture of rope and boat caulking. Before the age of nylon rope, hemp rope had a short lifetime and was ever in need of replacement. In the 19th century it was cultivated by binders.

'"From the 1881 Household Cyclopedia':

The soils most suited to the culture of this plant are those of the deep, black, putrid vegetable kind, that are low, and rather inclined to moisture, and those of the deep mellow, loamy, or sandy descriptions. Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel The quantity of produce is generally much greater on the former than on the latter; but it is said to be greatly inferior in quality. It may, however, be grown with success on lands of a less rich and fertile kind by proper care and attention in their culture and preparation.

In order to render the grounds proper for the reception of the crop, they should be reduced into a fine mellow state of mould, and be perfectly cleared from weeds, by repeated ploughings. WEED (1390 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Spanish format When it succeeds grain crops, the work is mostly accomplished by three ploughings, and as many harrowings: the first being given immediately after the preceding crop is removed, the second early in the spring, and the last, or seed earth, just before the seed is to be put in. In the last ploughing, well rotted manure, in the proportion of fifteen or twenty, or good compost, in the quantity of twenty-five or thirty-three horse-cart loads, should be turned into the land; as without this it is seldom that good crops can be produced. Manure is Organic matter used as Organic fertilizer in Agriculture. The surface of the ground being left perfectly flat, and as free from furrows as possible; as by these means the moisture is more effectually retained, and the growth of the plants more fully promoted.

It is of much importance in the cultivation of hemp crops that the seed be new, and of a good quality, which may in some measure be known by its feeling heavy in the hand, and being of a bright shining color. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored

The proportion of seed that is most commonly employed, is from two to three bushels [per acre], according to the quality of the land; but, as the crops are greatly injured by the plants standing too closely together, two bushels, or two bushels and a half may be a more advantageous quantity. A bushel is a unit of dry volume, usually subdivided into eight local Gallons in the systems of Imperial units and U

As the hemp plant is extremely tender in its early growth, care should be taken not to put the seed into the ground at so early a period, as that it may be liable to be injured by the effects of frost; nor to protract the sowing to so late a season as that the quality of the produce may be effected. The best season, on the drier sorts of land in the southern districts, is as soon as possible after the frosts are over in April; and, on the same descriptions of soil, in the more northern ones, towards the close of the same month or early in the ensuing one.

The most general method of putting crops of this sort into the soil is the broadcast, the seed being dispersed over the surface of the land in as even a manner as possible, and afterwards covered in by means of a very light harrowing. In many cases, however, especially when the crops are to stand for seed, the drill method in rows, at small distances, might be had recourse to with advantage; as, in this way, the early growth of the plants would be more effectually promoted, and the land be kept in a more clean and perfect state of mould, which are circumstances of importance in such crops. In whatever method the seed is put in, care must constantly be taken to keep the birds from it for some time afterwards.

This sort of crop is frequently cultivated on the same piece of ground for a great number of years, without any other kind intervening; but, in such cases, manure must be applied with almost every crop, in pretty large proportions, to prevent the exhaustion that must otherwise take place. It may be sown after most sorts of grain crops, especially where the land possesses sufficient fertility, and is in a proper state of tillage.

Thick stands of fibre hemp compete well with weeds.

As hemp, from its tall growth and thick foliage, soon covers the surface of the land, and prevents the rising of weeds, little attention is necessary after the seed has been put into the ground, especially where the broadcast method of sowing is practised; but, when put in by the drill machine, a hoeing or two may be had recourse to with advantage in the early growth of the crop. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. Hoes are Bladed Tools used to agitate the surface of the Soil around Plants to remove weeds pile soil around the base

In the culture of this plant, it is particularly necessary that the same piece of land grows both male and female, or what is sometimes denominated simple hemp. Male (♂ refers to the sex of an organism or part of an organism which produces small mobile Gametes called spermatozoa. Female (♀ is the Sex of an Organism, or a part of an organism which produces ova (egg cells The latter kind contains the seed.

When the grain is ripe (which is known by its becoming of a whitish-yellow color, and a few of the leaves beginning to drop from the stems); this happens commonly about thirteen or fourteen weeks from the period of its being sown, according as the season may be dry or wet (the first sort being mostly ripe some weeks before the latter), the next operation is that of taking it from the ground; which is effected by pulling it up by the roots, in small parcels at a time, by the hand, taking care to shake off the mould well from them before the handsful are laid down. A week (also called sennight or sevennight) is a unit of Time longer than a Day and shorter than a Month. In some districts, the whole crop is pulled together, without any distinction being made between the different kinds of hemp; while, in others, it is the practice to separate and pull them at different times, according to their ripeness. The latter is obviously the better practice; as by pulling a large proportion of the crop before it is in a proper state of maturity, the quantity of produce must not only be considerably lessened, but its quality greatly injured by being rendered less durable.

After being thus pulled, it is tied up in small parcels, or what are sometimes termed baits.

Where crops of this kind are intended for seeding, they should be suffered to stand till the seed becomes in a perfect state of maturity, which is easily known by the appearance of it on inspection. The stems are then pulled and bound up, as in the other case, the bundles being set up in the same manner as grain, until the seed becomes so dry and firm as to shed freely. It is then either immediately threshed out upon large cloths for the purpose in the field, or taken home to have the operation afterwards performed.

The hemp, as soon as pulled, is tied up in small bundles, frequently at both ends.

It is then conveyed to pits, or ponds of stagnant water, about six or eight feet in depth, such as have a clayey soil being in general preferred, and deposited in beds, according to their size, and depth, the small bundles being laid both in a straight direction and crosswise of each other, so as to bind perfectly together; the whole, being loaded with timber, or other materials, so as to keep the beds of hemp just below the surface of the water. Water stagnation occurs when Water stops flowing Stagnant water can be a major Environmental hazard. Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained Minerals which show plasticity through a variable range of Water content, and Lumber or timber is Wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural Material for Construction, or

It is not usual to water more than four or five times in the same pit, until it has been filled with water. Where the ponds are not sufficiently large to contain the whole of the produce at once, it is the practice to pull the hemp only as it can be admitted into them, it being thought disadvantageous to leave the hemp upon the ground after being pulled. It is left in these pits four, five, or six days, or even more, according to the warmth of the season and the judgment of the operator, on his examining whether the hempy material readily separates from the reed or stem; and then taken up and conveyed to a pasture field which is clean and even, the bundles being loosened and spread out thinly, stem by stem, turning it every second or third day, especially in damp weather, to prevent its being injured by worms or other insects. It should remain in this situation for two, three, four, or more weeks, according to circumstances, and be then collected together when in a perfectly dry state, tied up into large bundles, and placed in some secure building until an opportunity is afforded for breaking it, in order to separate the hemp. By this means the process of grassing is not only shortened, but the more expensive ones of breaking, scutching, and bleaching the yarn, rendered less violent and troublesome.

After the hemp has been removed from the field it is in a state to be broken and swingled, operations that are mostly performed by common laborers, by means of machinery for the purpose, the produce being tied up in stones. The refuse collected in the latter process is denominated sheaves, and is in some districts employed for the purposes of fuel. After having undergone these different operations, it is ready for the purposes of the manufacturer.

History

Hemp use dates back to the Stone Age, with hemp fibre imprints found in pottery shards in China and Taiwan^[29] over 10,000 years old. The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which Humans widely used stone for toolmaking China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. These ancient Asians also used the same fibres to make clothes, shoes, ropes, and an early form of paper. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging ^[29]

Hemp cloth was more common than linen until the mid 14th century. Linen is a Textile made from the Fibers of the Flax plant Linum usitatissimum. The use of hemp as a cloth was centered largely in the countryside, with higher quality textiles being available in the towns. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Virtually every small town had access to a hemp field.

In late medieval Germany and Italy, hemp was employed in cooked dishes, as filing in pies and tortes, or boiled in a soup. The Late Middle Ages is a term used by historians to describe European history in the period of the 14th and 15th centuries (AD 1300–1499 The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in This is the History of Italy during the Middle Ages. Late Antiquity Gothic Wars and the Lombard conquest Italy was invaded by the Visigoths A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a Pastry dough shell that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or Savoury ingredients Not to be confused with Tort, a civil wrong at law A torte is a cake made with many eggs and usually ground nuts or even bread crumbs Soup is a Food that is made by combining ingredients such as Meat and Vegetables in stock or hot/boiling Water, until the flavor ^[30]

The traditional European hemp was by tradition and due to its low narcotic effect not used as a drug in Europe. It was cultivated for its fibers and for example used by Christopher Columbus for ropes on his ships. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer

In the Napoleonic era, many military uniforms were made of hemp. Timeline of the Napoleonic eraThe Napoleonic Era is a period in the History of France and Europe While hemp linens were coarser than those made of flax, the added strength and durability of hemp, as well as the lower cost, meant that hemp uniforms were preferred. Flax (also known as common flax or linseed) (binomial name Linum usitatissimum) is a member of the genus Linum

Hemp was used extensively by the United States during WWII. Uniforms, canvas, and rope were among the main textiles created from the hemp plant at this time. Much of the hemp used was planted in the Midwest and Kentucky. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Historically, hemp production made up a significant portion of Kentucky's economy and many slave plantations located there focused on producing hemp. A plantation economy is an Economy which is based on Agricultural mass production usually of a few staple products grown on large farms called Plantations ^[31]

By the early twentieth century, the advent of the steam engine and the diesel engine ended the reign of the sailing ship. A steam engine is a Heat engine that performs Mechanical work using Steam as its Working fluid. A diesel engine is an Internal combustion engine which operates using the Diesel cycle (named after Dr Sailing ship is now used to refer to any large Wind -powered Vessel. The advent of iron and steel for cable and ships' hulls further eliminated natural fibers in marine use, although hemp had long since fallen out of favour in the sailing industry in preference to Manila hemp. The invention of artificial fibers in the late thirties by DuPont further put strain on the market. E I du Pont de Nemours and Company (,) is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a Gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée

Major hemp producing countries

Typical Japanese Shinto shrine with paper streamers & rope made out of unprocessed hemp fibre. A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine" a Shinto Kami, and is usually characterized by the presence of a (also called

From the 1950s to the 1980s the Soviet Union was the world's largest producer (3,000 km² in 1970). The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The main production areas were in Ukraine,^[32] the Kursk and Orel regions of Russia, and near the Polish border. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. History KurskOld2jpg|thumb|200px|Pre-1917 view of Kursk]] Archaeology indicates that the site of Kursk was settled in the fifth or fourth century B Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Since its inception in 1931, the Hemp Breeding Department at the Institute of Bast Crops (Russian: Научно-исследовательский институт лубяных культур) in Hlukhiv (Glukhov), Ukraine, has been one of the world's largest centers for developing new hemp varieties, focusing on improving fiber quality, per-hectare yields, and low THC content. Bast fibre ( fiber) or skin fibre is Plant fibre collected from the Phloem (the "inner bark" or the skin or bast surrounding Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages Hlukhiv, (Глухів Глухов Glukhov) is a historic town in Sumy region of Ukraine, just south from the Russian border (see ^[33][34]

Other important producing countries were China, North Korea, Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Poland, France and Italy. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest

In Japan, hemp was historically used as paper and a fiber crop; it was restricted as a narcotic drug in 1948. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The ban on marijuana imposed by the US authorities was alien to Japanese culture, as the drug had never been widely used in Japan before. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the There is archaeological evidence that cannabis was used for clothing and the seeds were eaten in Japan right back to the Jōmon period (10,000 to 300 BCE). The is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14000 BC to 400 BC. Many Kimono designs portray hemp, or "Asa" (Japanese: 麻), as a beautiful plant. The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities

France (8,000ha cultivated) is Europe's biggest producer. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Canada (2,500 hectares in 2004^[35]) , the United Kingdom, and Germany all resumed commercial production in the 1990s. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. British production is mostly used as bedding for horses; other uses are under development. A bed is a piece of Furniture (or a location primarily used as a place to Sleep, and often used for Relaxation. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. The largest outlet for German fibre is composite automotive panels. Companies in Canada, UK, US and Germany among many others process hemp seed into a growing range of food products and cosmetics; many traditional growing countries still continue to produce textile grade fibre. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn.

Hemp is illegal to freely grow in the US and several other countries because the plant is related to marijuana. In such countries, hemp is imported from China and the Philippines. The US is the only industrialized country where hemp is illegal to grow.

Future of hemp

Hemp shives

Hemp advocates foresee a bright future for hemp. As mentioned earlier, as a health food, hemp has become increasingly popular in America and abroad. The term Health food has been used in the United States since the 1920s to refer to specific foods claimed to be especially beneficial to Health. Canada has been increasing its crop and exports, although Canada only grows hemp for seed and oil, not fiber. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The real future for hemp remains under the surface, and prices remain too high for any significant consumer use.

Hemp laws are being passed around the United States in states such as Kentucky, Vermont and North Dakota. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. North Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the United States of America. Pro-hemp laws have been passed in a dozen states, five in North Dakota (ND) alone. North Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the United States of America. Under the new ND law, farmers no longer need permission from the DEA to grow industrial hemp, which now is distinguished from "marijuana". A farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials ^[36] ND was very close to its first growing season, but the DEA delayed the applications too late to begin the season.

The bright future exists in the environmental merit of hemp. Hemp is sold alongside organic cotton for clothes and is becoming popular as environmental awareness becomes more prevalent. Organic cotton is Cotton that is grown without Pesticides from plants which are not genetically modified. Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather Hemp has been written about in newspapers and magazines across the country, though few people know about hemp and its various benefits and uses. A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. Magazines, periodicals or serials are Publications generally published on a regular schedule containing a variety of articles, generally

Hemp Plastic is a new technology based on 20-100% hemp fiber-based plastics that can be molded or injection molded. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products Injection molding (British moulding Demand for fiber-reinforced composites and other natural plastics could become more popular as oil prices rise and environmental awareness increases. Composite materials (or composites for short are engineered Materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit

The increased demand for health food has stimulated the trade of shelled hemp seed, hemp protein powder and hemp oil as well as finished and ready-to-eat food products (waffles, granola bars, ice cream, and milk for example) using these derivatives as ingredients. The term Health food has been used in the United States since the 1920s to refer to specific foods claimed to be especially beneficial to Health. Hemp oil can be extracted from the seed of the Hemp plant which contains between 30-35% oil by weight which is high in Essential fatty acids The plant can also A waffle is a light batter cake cooked in a Waffle iron patterned to give a distinctive and characteristic shape Granola is a breakfast food and Snack food consisting of Rolled oats, nuts, Honey and sometimes rice which is baked until crispy Ice cream or ice-cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from Dairy products such as Milk and Cream, combined Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. The use of hemp oil in the manufacture of body care products has also increased. Hemp oil can be extracted from the seed of the Hemp plant which contains between 30-35% oil by weight which is high in Essential fatty acids The plant can also

THC in hemp

Hemp contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive ingredient found in hashish and marijuana. Hashish (from Arabic: ar حشيش, lit "grass" also hash) is a preparation of cannabis composed of the compressed While THC is present in all Cannabis plant varieties to some extent, industrial hemp does not contain an amount to produce any intoxicating effect, even in significant quantities. In varieties grown for use as a drug, where males are removed in order to prevent fertilization, THC levels can reach as high as 24% in the unfertilized females which are given ample room to flower. For soil improvement see Fertilization (soil. In hemp varieties grown for seed or fibre use, the plants are grown very closely together and a very dense biomass product is obtained, rich in oil from the seeds and fibre from the stalks and low in THC content. Biomass refers to living and recently dead Biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production EU and Canadian regulations limit THC content to 0. 3% in industrial hemp.

On October 9, 2001, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ruled that even traces of THC in products intended for food use would be illegal as of February 6, 2002. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA) is a United States Department of Justice Law enforcement agency tasked with combating drug smuggling and Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. This Interpretive Rule would have ruled out the production or use of hempseed or hempseed oil in food use in the USA, but after the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) filed suit the rule was stayed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on March 7, 2002. The Hemp Industries Association (HIA is a Non-profit Trade group representing Hemp companies researchers and supporters in the USA and Canada The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a federal court with Appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus On March 21, 2003, the DEA issued a nearly identical Final Rule which was also stayed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on April 16, 2003. Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom On February 6, 2004, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous decision in favor of the HIA in which Judge Betty Fletcher wrote, "[T]hey (DEA) cannot regulate naturally-occurring THC not contained within or derived from marijuana-i. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio e. non-psychoactive hemp is not included in Schedule I. The DEA has no authority to regulate drugs that are not scheduled, and it has not followed procedures required to schedule a substance. The DEA's definition of "THC" contravenes the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and cannot be upheld". The Controlled Substances Act ( CSA) was enacted into law by the Congress of the United States as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control On September 28, 2004, the HIA claimed victory after DEA declined to appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States the ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals protecting the sale of hemp-containing foods. Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. Industrial hemp remains legal for import and sale in the U. S. , but U. S. farmers still are not permitted to grow it.

Strong opposition to trace amounts of THC, a chemical shown by scientific research to be less addictive and less harmful than nicotine or alcohol,^[37] leads some of its critics, like Jack Herer in The Emperor Wears No Clothes, to charge ulterior motives such as protection of the synthetic-fibre, wood pulp, petrochemical, and pharmochemical industries. Nicotine is an Alkaloid found in the Nightshade family of plants ( Solanaceae) which constitutes approximately 0 In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon The Emperor Wears No Clothes is a book written by Jack Herer. The US government's position has not been completely constant, as shown by the wide-spread cultivation of industrial hemp in Kentucky and Wisconsin during World War II. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including ^[38] Critics of the HIA, however, argue that the necessities of the war and the unavailability of adequate synthetic substitutes outweighed the social, health, and public safety risks of producing hemp.

The presence of THC in hemp varieties and the fear that fields with hemp can hide cultivation of cannabis with more THC has hampered the development of hemp in many countries, most notably, the United States. Regulations in certain countries in EU demand approved variety of the seed and registration of the field in advance every year. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

Marijuana is often female only, and kept completely isolated from any males, to keep the THC production up and seed production low. There are specially developed strains that require a very specific growing operation, and there is much care put into increasing THC production. Hiding marijuana in a hemp field would create a variety of problems. One is, the dense hemp would most likely "choke out" the marijuana, taking valuable and necessary nutrients and sunlight that the marijuana needs to produce THC. Even more, the male hemp plants would fertilize the marijuana plants, which would have several side effects. First, the marijuana would produce seeds, quickly lowering its value. Energy growing seeds quickly diminishes THC content. More importantly, the fertilization essentially crossbreeds the Hemp and marijuana (only in the THC potent Females). While the Hemp will not produce any more THC, the marijuana, once "tainted" by the Hemp, will produce significantly less THC, depending on how long and how close the contact is with the Hemp.

If marijuana was successfully hidden and grown in a hemp field, the resulting plant matter would be of very little street value. It would be full of seeds and stems (because of fertilization), be malnourished (because Hemp, like a strong weed, sucks up nutrients and grows taller, taking the available sun), and above all, have a very low THC content, making it undesirable to even the indiscriminate marijuana users. There is a consensus between experts and marijuana growers alike; the risk to reward ratio is so far out of proportion for it to even be considered.

Gallery of images

Hemp plants

Hemp plants

Hemp plants

Hemp plants

References

External links

General

• Hemp.com Information portal and store
• Hemp.co.uk Information since 1996
• Zelfoaustralia.com Zelfo is 100% 'hemp plastic'
• Essential oil of Cannabis sativa L. strains, by Vito Mediavilla and Simon Steinemann
• Plant Cultures: hemp botany, history, uses
• Read Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Hemp as an Agricultural Commodity
• The Emperor Wears No Clothes
• Hemp For Victory American Department of Agriculture video
• Hemp Museum at US Hemp Co
• Ropewalk: A Cordage Engineer's Journey Through History Nonprofit documentary includes history of hemp agriculture

Hemp industry

• Hemp Bio-fuels in New Zealand
• Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance
• Hemp Industries Association
• The Hemp Report (subscription)
• Hemp For Victory
• IndustrialHemp.net
• Industrial Hemp Directory
• International Hemp Association
• Hemp-Konop in R.Macedonia
• National Non Food Crop Centre
• Open Directory Project - Business/Agriculture and Forestry/Industrial Hemp
• Ontario Hemp Alliance
• Saskatchewan Hemp Association
• Vote Hemp
• Montana Hemp Council