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Hemp
The beneficial qualities and uses of hemp have been widely documented: it's a hardy and fast-growing plant, inexpensive to grow and beneficial for the land. Hemp fibers and seeds have thousands of uses, from textiles to building materials, bath and body products to nutritional supplements.
Unfortunately, because hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa L., and a relative of marijuana, it is currently illegal to grow hemp in the US.
Fiber characteristics
Hemp has a long and important role in the history of textiles. Because of its strength and durability, the fiber was primarily used for heavy-duty fabrics such as sails (the word "canvas" is derived from "cannabis").
Today, hemp fabrics are as diverse as the people who wear them. Hemp fans love the fabric for many reasons:
- hemp fabrics soften with washing and wearing, becoming even more comfortable over time
- hemp fiber is naturally mildew-resistant, antimicrobial, UV protecting and even fireproof!
- hemp fibers have exceptional durability and strength, so they won't tear or abrade even with frequent use
- modern hemp and hemp blend fabrics include linen, silk, jersey, denim, fleece, french terry, and of course, canvas
- hemp launders beautifully, with no special care required (go ahead, put it in the washer & dryer!)
- hemp is less prone to wrinkling than linen
Naturally sustainable
Hemp plants grow extremely fast, and do well in almost any climate. The same components that make hemp fabrics anti-bacterial and mildew-resistant also make the crop naturally resistant to pests. Hemp requires no or very little use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or even fertilizer. It's also resistant to weeds because it grows so fast and tall, blocking out sunlight to smaller plants.
Unlike more delicate fibers such as flax, hemp can be grown in the same field year after year with no negative impact on the land (flax crops must be rotated in order to prevent soil nutrient depletion). Its long root system aerates the soil and helps control topsoil erosion.
Industrial hemp is grown in over 30 countries, and the United States is the largest consumer market for its products.
The politics of hemp in the US
People have grown hemp for thousands of years; it's been a prominent crop in the US since the first settlements in Jamestown, and was grown by many of the Founding Fathers, as with any other agricultural staple. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper, and the first US flag was made of hemp as well. These weren't controversial choices at the time: it was simply logical.
Hemp and marijuana are both varieties of Cannabis sativa L., but are distant relatives. Industrial hemp contains very little THC, but the plant closely resembles marijuana, making it hard to distinguish the two crops. Hemp was first regulated in the US with the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, which required a permit to grow hemp.
During World War 2, the US government asked "patriotic farmers" to plant hemp to support the war. Special permits were issued to support the war effort (this didn't last long after the war, however). This instructional movie was made to re-introduce farmers to the process of growing hemp.
Hemp was last legally grown in Wisconsin in 1958, and officially prohibited in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
In an interesting twist of irony, several US states have recently passed medical marijuana legislation, making it now somewhat legal to grow marijuana (the dispensaries have to get it from somewhere, right?) -- yet hemp is still illegal!
