By Liam Worcheck The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 banned many substances that the government (DEA) deemed to be uncontrollable, including all series of cannabis: more specifically, hemp. While the uses of cannabis beyond recreation are debated to this day, the industrial uses of hemp - a series of cannabis that is very distinct from the drug marijuana - has been ruled guilty by association. Since the DEA can’t disprove its uses, they simply disregard them. Uses of hemp in the industrial world can include paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel and animal feed. Hemp can serve as a very effective building material, as hemp and lime can be combined to create a concrete-like material for insulation. The hemp fiber is a practical replacement for wood-based products in many cases, to the point that it is even a viable architectural replacement. Hemp is more durable, more recyclable, and requires less chemicals than tree-based paper. Hemp-based fiberboard is both more sturdy and lighter than wood. America produces about 50 billion oil-based plastic water bottles a year. If hemp was used to manufacture the plastic, the two million tons of water bottles sitting in U.S. landfills would be degraded into the Earth by now. The oil based plastics take 1000 years to degrade, while hemp based plastics are 100% biodegradable. The deforestation of Earth has always been a great concern. Trees take years to grow until they can be harvested for making paper and wood. However, it takes only approximately 120 days for Hemp to be harvested. Hemp can be planted in more types of land and takes much less space than trees do. One acre of hemp is equivalent to two to four acres of trees when it comes to paper production. The practicality of industrialized hemp can be baffling, considering the fact that it is illegal. The most hemp would do, if smoked, would give you a migraine. It’s THC levels are (at most) 0.3%. However minor, or nonexistent, the depressant levels of this specific series of cannabis happen to be, it is still enough for the DEA to rule it an uncontrollable substance. Some theorize that the legalization of cannabis, or more specifically, Hemp, would jeopardize the income of oil companies and other multi-billion dollar corporations. For more information, visit these sites.
http://www.hempplastic.com/ http://www.hempbasics.com/shop/hemp-information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/hemp-101-what-is-hemp-whats-it-used-for-and-why-is-it-illegal/ https://thewaterproject.org/bottled-water/bottled_water_wasteful http://theleafonline.com/c/science/2013/11/hemp-plastics-save-the-economy-and-the-planet/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Elena Caputo
Hi! My name is Elena, and I'm a senior at Wilson and one of the Editors of the Editorial section. If you have any questions or ideas or if you want to write, email me at [email protected]! Olivia MonosHello! My name is Olivia and I'm a junior this year, and one of the editors of the Editorial section! I'm really excited to write for the Paw Print again this year!
Archives
December 2019
Categories |