Reviewing Hemp: Sustainability Has Never Looked So Good

Last weekend I began a healthy obsession with Hemp. I finally gave in to buying a stylish, well-crafted (moderately expensive) jacket made primarily of Hemp, then proceeded to research its cultivation and history to learn more about its renowned sustainability and viability as a crop.

Brief History: In the 1930’s the United States outlawed the cultivation of Hemp for all purposes to satisfy a new obsession with the Narcotics Act at the time. Previously, Hemp had been a primary resource for textiles throughout the country, and may in fact have been more popular than cotton. Canada followed suit in 1935 and outlawed its cultivation. Before then, Canada was the main supplier of Hemp to Britain - a major consumer at all levels - as well as a major supplier to the U.S.

That Canadian ban was lifted in 1998. Consequently, there are strict standards to keep the active content THC - tetrahydrocannabinol - below 0.3 percent (to get high one needs up to 5 percent THC). Today there is renewed interest in the cultivation of Hemp in Canada, and the province of Manitoba stands as Canada’s largest supplier of industrial Hemp.

Uses: Hemp is cultivated for (among many other things) oils, grains and fibres, paper, construction and building material, and livestock feed.

Land Benefits and Sustainability: The benefits of Hemp go far beyond how stylish their strong, sustainable, and versatile textiles are. There are huge benefits to the land it is cultivated on…

• Hemp can produce four times as much fibre per acre than trees can, so is a viable replacement to tree farms. The best way to apply this is to grow hemp on already cut (or unsustainable) tree farms.
• Hemp requires much less water, no herb or pesticides because of its natural defense agents, and can out-compete its competitors (other weeds). Cotton on the other hand, is famous for the amount of chemicals and huge amount of water it requires. Overall, Hemp production over Cotton can provide savings of up to 75 percent.
• It is an ideal rotation crop. It has a quick turnover (as little as 3 months), and replenishes the soil admirably for the cycle that may follow.

The benefits and reasons for growing and using hemp are practically endless. My favorites are of course the benefits to the land, its low impact cultivation process, and the fact that it is so very efficient.

As for clothing and style, the culture of Hemp and what it is associated with makes it an attractive consumer product. Although it can be slightly pricey, when your next Hemp purchase lasts so long that you’ll pass it on as a gift to your grandchild - you’ll thank me (and it).

**To finish it off, here are a few extra bits from Yahoo Answers:

“Did you know that in order for Spain, Britain and Holland to establish competitive sea trade routes, (in light of the riches flowing in the 15th century from the Orient to Venice via the silk road), that they relied upon hemp to make them strong canvas sails? It was one of the only materials considered durable enough to weather the rough seas. The word canvas actually comes from the Latin word cannabis.”

“The Constitution was printed on hemp paper as well as the first 3 drafts of the Declaration of Independence.”

Now get out there and purchase - you are the best builders of a market!