* Hemp Fuel: Hemp produces 10 tons of biomass in four months, 4 times the production of corn, which makes it the only legitimate cost competitive energy crop for charcoal, ethanol, etc.
* Global Warming: Hemp helps reduce global warming and the greenhouse effect if it is grown as an energy crop. Hemp charcoal is sulfur and acid rain-free, unlike fossil coal.
* Hemp as a Rotation Crop: Since Hemp farming stabilizes and enriches the soil, and provides farmers with week free fields, without the cost of herbicides, and without competing for the vast farmland, it has value even if no part of the plant is being harvested and used. Any industrial or monetary benefit beyond this value is a bonus.
* Hemp Roots: Anchor and Aerate soil. Reduce soil loss because of erosion and mudslides by reducing the velocity of runoff. Detoxify soil by pulling metals and toxins (including radioactive elements) from ground.
* Growing Industrial Hemp – Hemp is an Ideal Farm Crop for America, hemp:
1. Requires only 10-13 inches of water.
2. Grows well in non-arctic climates on any moderate soil.
3. Grows 8-12 feet within 3 to 4 months.
4. Soil: pH of 6 or greater
5. Nutrients: Needs 80-100lb./A of Nitrogen, 35-50 of phosphate and 52-70 of patassium.
6. Plant 200-300 plants per square meter to shade out weeds.
7. Germinates within a week with warm temperatures and good moisture.
8. Harvest should begin as soon as last pollen is shed.
* Hemp Paper: Using hemp could reduce deforestation by half. Hemp is 85% cellulose, which means no choloride or dioxins are needed to seperate the cellulose. Trees have only 30%, and require much chemical input to process into paper.
* Textiles: Major companies such as Ralph Lauren, Patagonia, Armani, Men’s Warehouse, Adidas and Calvin Klein are participating in the growing $80 million hemp clothing industry.
* Plastics: BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Volkswagon and virtually all European car makers have begun using hemp based composites for panel and lingings etc.
* Earth Impact: Hemp requires no herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or insecticides to grow well and only requires moderate amounts of water.
* Hemp Uses: Hemp is a renewable resource for protein, oil, biomass, fuel, cellulose, pulp or fiber. Hemp can replace anything made from petroleum, wood, fiberglass, trees, soy or corn.
* Building Materials: Hemp hurd foundations are 7 times stronger, 3 times more elastic, and half as heavy as concrete ones. Hemp fiberboard is twice as strong as wood fiberboard.
* Body Care: Hemp oil’s superior EFA content helps rebuild skin cell membranes, and softens them.
* Hemp Sales in the United States of America: The U.S.A. has imported almost $500 million worth of hemp in 2002, up from $50 million in 1995, and $5 million in 1990. Hemp has a $500 billion estimated worldwide market.
* Body Care Products: The Body Shop sold an estimated $40 million worth of hemp based products last year, and Revlon has a new line of hemp-based cosmetics available at Wal-Mart nationwide.
* Hemp Oil: Hemp needs to be processed within 50 miles of harvest to be cost effective, which would create manufacturing jobs in rural areas.
