hemp hemp hooray!

Hemp is a very valuable fiber because of it's several uses. Not only can it be used in apparel but it can be eaten, sat on, written on, painted on and even slathered on your body. When most people think about hemp, they associate it with hippies or all things natural. This stereotype has actually has created some problems here in the United States. However, in a way it can be looked at as a good thing because consumers are becoming more and more concerned with "buying green" and hemp is a very natural fiber that causes little harm to the environment.

Hemp comes in several forms and the US doesn't distinguish between marijuana and the non-psychotic cannabis. This means that hemp is not allowed to be grown in the US. Hemp can be imported to the US but cannot be grown here. According to Hemp: Historic Fiber Remains Controversial, a small group of hemp enthusiasts called "hempsters" have come together to introduce bills to legalize hemp growing in the US. As of now, the US is the only member of the G7 alliance that is not allowed to grow hemp. The DEA says that the two plants are indistinguishable but Steve DeAngelo, CEO of Ecolution, says that the growing method is different. He explains that in a field the recreational plants are spaced out apart from each other, while hemp plants are grown in close proximity to each other. In the movie Hempsters: Plant the Seed, the also discuss the controversy with the US growing hemp plants. Hemp activist Woody Harrelson plays a main part in the film who shows off his clothing made from hemp. These hempster activists in the film are trying to get the production of hemp to be legal in the US. They are trying to get people to learn the facts about hemp. The interest in hemp is steadily increasing for many reasons, especially its environmental benefits as well as better marketing. Hemp is and expensive fiber so we would save on the cost of importing it if we could produce it here in the US. I do not think that is a good choice on the US's part to not produce hemp. I also do not agree with their reasoning, like DeAngelo stated these are two different varieties and the growing methods of the two are different. I think it would be a great success for the US if we could grow hemp here.

Hemp: Historic Fiber Remains Controversial, emphasizes on how hemp is a growing market because of it's eco-friendly factors. Hemp is often compared to linen and cotton. Hemp and linen have similar growing methods. Hemp, unlike cotton, uses no pesticides to produce and requires little water. Yitzac Goldstein, VP of HTI, says farmers will benefit from the low water use because it will dave them money. Hemp also takes a much shorter time to grow than both cotton and linen. The problem with hemp compared to cotton it that is it much more costly to produce because we don't have the proper technology and there is limited access. Eric Steenstra of Ecolution introduced the term "cottonizing of hemp" which means producing hemp on equipment made for cotton. The results will create better and much stronger hemp. This to me sounds like an idea that could change the ways of hemp for the better. When you combine the fact the hemp is much more environmentally friendly than cotton and much stronger, I would have to say that hemp could become the new cotton. Especially, if hemp can be spun fine enough, it will be a huge competition to cotton and linen. It's because of these factors that more and more people are leaning toward hemp. Big name designers in that fashion industry and slowing adopting the use of hemp into their clothing. This is another thing that will be a huge benefit and cause a huge boost of the hemp fiber. In the article Are You Being Bamboozled? they discuss how you never know if you are for sure being properly informed about the products you are buying. By buying bamboo you may think you are being environmentally conscious. However, that is not always the case because it contain rayon. It is important to be aware of what you are buying. All of the facts have been laid out about hemp and we know that it is good for our environment.

When it comes to cotton, bamboo and hemp, each has their benefits and each has their negatives. However, if a consumer is concerned with going green, I think hemp is the way to go. At the rate that hemp is improving, I think it's on it's way to becoming the new cotton. The US needs to jump on board before they are left behind.