05 October 2011

Hemp Facts

Hemp is one of the most versatile plants to be grown by man. Some products made from the fibre include: all grades of paper, textiles, geo-textiles, structural reinforcement building materials, fibreglass replacement products, lightweight sandwich boards, composite boards, absorbency products such as kitty litter, potting mix, nappies and feminine-care products, and fuel.


Hemp seed whole, hulled or crushed for oil are used in food products such as muesli bars, cakes, breads, biscuits, butter paste, non-dairy milk, tofu, cheese and ice cream. The seed oil is a superior cosmetic oil and both the essential and cold pressed oils are used in many cosmetics (such as shampoo, soaps and moisturisers). The cold pressed seed oil has nutritional qualities similar to evening primrose oil, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil and soybean supplements.


Viable fibre alternatives are needed as world population and fibre consumption increases. While the use of wood, cotton and synthetic products is being discouraged due to environmental concerns, the gap between fibre supply and demand will inevitably increase.


Facts About Hemp

  • Until 1883, more than three quarters of the world's paper was made from Hemp fibre;
  • In Elizabethan times, farmers were fined for not growing Hemp;
  • A Hemp crop produces nearly four times as much raw fibre as an equivalent-sized tree plantation;
  • Trees take approximately 20 years to mature. Hemp takes 4 months;
  • Hemp fibre needs no pesticides;
  • Hemp needs no herbicides because it grows too quickly for any weed to compete;
  • Hemp paper does not need chlorine bleach, which pollutes rivers near wood-pulp paper mills;
  • Hemp paper is stronger, finer and longer-lasting than wood-based papers;
  • Hemp paper is used for bank notes and archival papers;
  • The earliest-known woven fabric was apparently of Hemp, which began to be worked approximately 8,000-7,000 BC;
  • For more than a thousand years before the time of Christ until 1883 AD, Cannabis/Hemp was our planet's largest agricultural crop and most important industry for thousands of products and enterprises, producing the overall majority of the earth's fibre, fabric, lighting oil, paper, incense and medicines, as well as being a primary source of protein for humans and animals alike;
  • The war between America and Great Britain in 1812 was mainly about access to Russian Hemp;
  • Napoleon's principle reason for tragically invading Russia in 1812 was also due to Russian Hemp supplies!
  • The word 'linen', until the early 1800s meant any fine fabrics made from Hemp or flax;
  • Cannabis oil was mentioned by name in the Bible. Apparently, etymologists at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, confirmed that 'kineboisin' (also spelled 'kannabosm") referred to cannabis used in a holy ointment. N.B. King James mistranslated the word as 'calamus' in his version;
  • Hempseed oil is said to burn the brightest of all lamp oils, and has been used since the days of Abraham. Scythians used to purify and cleanse themselves with Hemp oil, which made their skin "shining and clean";
  • Our forests, what is left of them, are being cut down 3 times as fast as they can grow.;
  • Japan is targeting that 10% of paper must be from non-wood fibres by 2005;
  • Further, hemp fibre has been found to be a lighter, stronger alternative to fibreglass;
  • Hemp offers a valuable and sustainable fuel of the future, "growing oil wells". Hemp has an output equivalent to around 1000 gallons of methanol per acre year (10 tons Biomass/acre, each yielding 100 gal. methanol/ton). Methanol used today is mainly made from natural gas, a fossil fuel. Methanol is currently being studied as a primary fuel for automobiles.
  • Henry Ford dreamed that someday automobiles would be grown from the soil. The Ford motor company, after years of research produced an automobile with a plastic body. Its tough body used a mixture of 70% cellulose fibres from Hemp. The plastic withstood blows 10 times as great as steel could without denting! Its weight was also 2/3 that of a regular car, producing better economy. Henry Ford was forced to use petroleum due to Hemp prohibition. His plans to fuel his fleet of automotive vehicles with plant-power also failed due to Alcohol prohibition;
  • Hemp grain does not contain the anti-nutrient trypsin inhibitors as found in soy milk.;
  • Hanf in German, Canamo in Spanish, Chanvre in French, Konoplya in Russian, Kender in Hungarian, Tal Ma in Chinese, Hemp is fully international!

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