"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country." -Thomas Jefferson
Congressman ********,
I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor and/or support H.R. 1866, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009. As you are no doubt aware, the bill seeks to amend the Controlled Substances Act such that industrial hemp (i.e. any such crop containing equal to or less than 0.3%THC) is excluded from the definition which currently includes marijuana. It would also, in accordance with the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, return authority to the States as the final arbiters in decisions as to whether a given crop meets the 0.3% limitation. Now, while it must be emphasized that no governing body, neither federal nor state, has the right to impose such draconian legislation as the original Controlled Substances Act on its people, and this bill does not completely repeal this legislation in its entirety, it must also be admitted that this bill would be a significant step forward for our society. (Or backward, considering hemp's crucial role in early American history. Indeed, our own Declaration of Independence owes its existence to industrial hemp.) But let us examine the potential modern applications of industrial hemp:
Hemp as Paper
The quality of hemp paper is undoubtedly better than what the current market can offer, having the potential to endure for centuries without experiencing degradation. While trees currently harvested for wood-pulp take years to come to maturity, hemp is able to speed to maturation in approximately 120 days, with the added bonus of preventing soil erosion as a consequence of decreased logging. Furthermore, it can be recycled many more times than wood-pulp based paper, and requires fewer toxic chemicals during manufacture than wood-pulp based paper. If we are genuinely concerned about environmental well-being, it seems abundantly clear that hemp provides at least one solution for achieving it.
Hemp as Biofuel
Observe, we have yet another "green" application for industrial hemp. Industrial hemp's biomass yield surpasses that of any other plant species, including corn. Just as conveniently, it is also an extremely hardy plant which thrives in just about all of the United States (northern Alaska excluded). With hemp's potential to be converted into ethanol or non-toxic diesel fuel combined with Americans' determination to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, how can we honestly afford not to at least give hemp a chance? Obviously we cannot.
Hemp as Food
Hemp has the potential to provide many of the products that can also be made from soy right now, including tofu, veggie burgers, butter, cheese, salad oils, ice cream, and milk, but its flour can also be used to create breads and pastas. Incidentally, it is also more nutritious than soy, in that it contains higher-quality protein. In addition, the hemp seed is comprised of 35% hemp oil, containing the correct proportions of essential fatty acids required by humans. In fact, those essential fatty acids make up about 80% of the seed's oil, with the current market champion, Flax seed oil, coming in at second with 72%.
In addition to the uses of industrial hemp addressed above, it also has the potential to provide us with medicine, detergents, paints, ink, and building materials. Mr. ********, how long will we continue to wage war against helpful natural resources? Wouldn't our resources be more wisely invested by improving education, health care, infrastructure, and reducing our debt than criminalizing people who grow plants? Mr. ********, again I urge you to support progress and freedom by supporting H.R. 1866.
Sincerely,
************
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