I once knew a lady that was dead set against it. She would preach at
anyone she knew was doing it.

Called it 'devil weed' and 'satans smoke'.

Then she got cancer and her doctor perscribed it.

The first thing she said to me after she started using it was 'Can't
believe I never tried it before. This stuff is great.'

Her cancer is gone (she had been 'terminal' but what do doctors know).
She no longer needs the smoke for her chemo treatments but she still
lights up.

Consider this~~~which would you rather be on the road driving
with~~~people who have been smoking marijuana or people have been
drinking alcohol?

People smoking marijuana do not see themself as invinsible, do not
exceed the speed limits & have not been known to cause traffic
fatalities. They are actually more aware of their surroundings instead
of being blindly drunk to them.

Peace, love & wisdom

Yup. Hemp was made by God. For us to use for many purposes. It has been
used since around 3000 BC. It is native to Asia. The Indians used it. It
has been used in America. Levi Strause made his first pair of Jeans with
it.

No, I am not a stoner who sits around all day getting stoned,
wishing that marijuana became legal so I don’t have to worry about
getting busted. However, I do believe that hemp, which is marijuana’s
cousin, should be legal. Most people believe that they are the same
plant; however they is a huge difference. Hemp does not have enough of
the active ingredient THC, which produces the high in marijuana. That’s
right, hemp can’t be used to get high; yet, it can be used to make
paper. I support the legalization of hemp because it can help put an end
to the many environmental problems that exist today.

If hemp were industrialized it could yield 3-8 tons of fiber per acre,
which is four times what an average forest can yield. Three to four
times more paper can be produced from hemp than from trees. One of the
main reasons why hemp is illegal today is because of William Randolph
Hearst, a newspaper publisher in the 1930’s, who was the largest buyer
of newsprint in the country and the largest owner of timber who wanted
to protect his interest. At this time a machine that simplified the
process of making paper from hemp had just been invented. Hearst used
his power as a publisher to create public panic about how hemp and
marijuana (they didn’t know the differences then) are evil.

The U.S. is using trees much faster than we can grow them back, and at
this rate the U.S. is going to be stripped naked of all its forest in
fifty to 100 years. Trees take approximately twenty years to mature, and
hemp takes only six to eight months. Therefore, hemp is the obvious
solution to this problem. Because of the deforestation, it has caused
problems in maintaining the ecological balance of atmospheric gases and
soil erosion. Also by depending so much on trees for paper we are
creating other problems for the environment, like using toxic chemicals
and pollution of water, air, and soil.

Everything we do involves using paper.
Industrial hemp is cultivated today in Canada, China, Russia, Hungary,
Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, England, Poland, and many other
Eastern European countries. These countries have businesses that make
hemp paper for every occasion that designers can utilize. They make hemp
paper products to use for stationary (letterheads, envelopes, business
cards), journals, and sketchbooks. They also make hemp paper that works
perfectly with laser and ink jet printers; printing on this paper works
just as good as the paper we use made from trees.

Hemp has been used through the history of mankind, even in the U.S. In
fact people in America used to depend on hemp for clothing, rope, and
paper. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp and as far
back as 1619 through 1819 there used to be laws in the U.S. ordering all
farmers to grow hemp because of nation wide shortages. Another
interesting historical fact is that rough drafts of the Declaration of
Independence were written on hemp paper.

Hemp not only provides us with top quality paper, but it can
single-handedly put a stop to the Greenhouse Effect, not to mention the
prevention of all kinds of pollution. Now that we know that hemp and
marijuana are not the same and the U.S has hopefully become a more
knowledgeable country, I ask the question, why is hemp still illegal?
Grow Hemp, not marijuana.(for smoking)
Kat

China is currently the prime producer of hemp textile. China has had an
uninterrupted hemp trade for approximately 6000 years. Other countries
are now producing hemp textiles to a lesser extent. The once major hemp
textile industry has now almost completely disappeared from the Western
world. Currently the bulk of our demand for textiles is met by cotton
and synthetics, both of which have serious environmental problems
associated with them.

Not only are there environmental benefits to be gained through hemp
cultivation, hemp fabrics themselves have advantages to us. Organic
clothing and fabrics have no residual chemicals to impact our health.
Fabrics with at least 50 percent hemp content block the sun's UV rays
more effectively than do other fabrics. In comparison to cotton, hemp
fibres are longer, stronger, morelustrous and absorbent, and more mildew
resistant.

Hemp textiles are extremely versatile – they are used in the production
of clothing, shoes, apparel, canvas, rugs and upholstery.

Hemp is more econonmic then cotton:
Anything that can be made from cotton can be made from hemp. Hemp's long
fibres give it the strength to create a finished product that is much
stronger and more durable than one produced from cotton. Just as hemp
can be cultivated instead of trees, it can also be grown in place of
cotton, with environmental benefits.

Cotton is one of the most environmentally destructive agricultural
crops. In pesticide use in the US alone, is staggering – 125 million
kilograms annually. Worldwide, cotton production used 50 percent of the
world's pesticides/herbicides. Pesticides are possibly the greatest
toxic threat to contaminating our soil, air, water and natural
communities because they are often permanent and they bio-accumulate, ie
their toxicity increases as they are consumed up the food chain. Many
pesticides are known carcinogens, and can also cause immuno-deficiency
disorders. Added to this, pesticides have a petroleum base and their
excessive use perpetuates our dependency on oil.

Cotton also requires large quantities of fertilizers, growth regulators,
general biocides such as methyl bromide, and water. Hemp on the other
hand, is one of the most environmentally positive crops that actually
leaves the soil enriched. Hemp requires little or no pesticides or
herbicides and the extensive and deep root system draws nutrients from
deeper soil layers, and when the roots breakdown after harvest they
aerate the soil and provide humus. Hemp grows very tall and thick,
shading and mulching the ground contributing to a healthy microbial life
in the soil.

Cotton grows only in moderate climates and requires more water than
hemp. Hemp grows in a wide range of climates and is frost tolerant. Hemp
requires only moderate amounts of water whereas cotton requires large
amounts of water.

Hemp fibre bundles are up to fifteen feet long while cotton fibres are
less than an inch. Hemp has eight times the tensile strength and four
times the durability of cotton. Hemp is more absorbent than cotton and
therefore takes dyes better.

On an annual basis, 1 acre of hemp will produce as much fibre as 2-3
acres of cotton. Two and a half acres (one hectare) of hemp produces
approximately 8000-11000 kilograms of dry biomass. Hemp fibre comes
right off the plant ready to comb and use. Hemp fibre lasts longer, is
softer than cotton, and will not mildew (hemp has been used for sails
for thousands of years for this reason).
Hemp bast or long fibre and hurds or inner short fibre can be processed
and used with existing technology in construction. The hemp stalk can be
incorporated into building materials straight from the field. Hemp fibre
added to concrete increases tensile and compressive strengths, reduces
shrinkage and cracking.

The demand for renewable raw materials is increasing. Currently many
companies produce non-woven products like mats for insulation and
car/vehicle composites based mainly on flax but increasingly now on hemp
fibres. Hemp fibres have excellent potential – they can reinforce
plastics, substitute mineral fibres, be recycled, can be grown
ecologically, and have no waste disposal problems. A range of products
can be derived from non-woven mats for a range of uses: insulation,
filters, geotextile, growth media, reinforced plastics and composites.

Natural fibre composites (NFCs)are formulated from a blend of natural
fibres such as kenaf, hemp, flax, jute and sisal, and thermoplastic
polymers. NFCs are approximately 25 percent stronger than wood fibre
reinforced thermoplastics and have none of the negative handling or
environmental issues associated with glass fibre.

Kat

Hemp hurds are not only very absorbent, but are also uncommonly rich in
silica. When mixed with lime, hemp hurds change from a vegetable product
to a mineral. In this mineral state it is often referred to as hemp
stone, and it weighs between 1/5 and 1/7 that of cement based concrete.
Several hundred houses have been built in Europe using this material.
Research is ongoing in the UK and Germany, where hemp hurds have been
used for the construction of floors since the mid 1900s. Sometimes the
hemp hurds are mixed with lime, water and either gypsum or river sand.
When it is poured it hardens, and becomes mould and insect resistant. It
can be used in drywall construction between formwork, as an interior and
exterior insulation or be poured as a floor. The formwork can be removed
within a couple of hours.

One advantage of hemp concrete is that it makes it unnecessary to have
several layers of conventional building materials – it is outer and
inner wall, and insulation all in one – it can replace bricks or
cement-concrete, a vapour barrier, insulation, and plaster board or
panelling. All that is needed as a finish is an exterior coat of
whitewash to which pigments can be added if desired. The interior
surface is an attractive cork-like texture that can be waxed or
varnished (using a hemp based varnish).

One of the most popular hemp concrete products is Isochanvre, a French
product. The manufacturers claim:

excellent acoustic insulation
breathes, prevents condensation
self-draining and waterproof
non-flammable (no toxic combustion products)
resistant to rodents, termites, insects, fungi and bacteria (because of
the silica content)
easy to use, flexible and crack-resistant
ideal for cyclone and earthquake prone areas due to its strength/weight
ratio
lightness
able to use fewer finishing such as no plaster, painting or wallpaper.
With all this in mind, hemp can be viewed as an exceptional building
material, whether we use ecological, architectural, practical or
end-user criteria. Ecologically, using hemp hurds as concrete and
insulation, makes sense. From a 'life-cycle analysis' perspective hemp
construction materials win hands down. From its origins as an annual
crop, hemp supports agriculture, it provides an alternative to
timber/tree use and therefore tree clearing, does away with the need for
mining, and requires no chemical processing in the defibration or
stabilisation stages. Because of the simple, natural materials used,
there is no air or water pollution, no waste is produced since all parts
of the plant are used, and only minimal energy is required for
processing. From the human perspective, it is easy and safe to work with
since it is lime based, and it doesn't require maintenance. The
petrification process continues resulting in a stronger, better material
with age. Like all hemp products, it is biodegradable.================
===============================================================
So, what was the question?? YES it is made by GOD for US HUMANS TO USE
for not only our benefit (not smoking it), but also the earth.

Kat

Pot does throw off the senses. Same as alcohol. I was a stoner for many
many years. I had no business driving and neither do you. There are
families out there on those roads. Who gives anyone the right to put
them in harms way? Same as a drunk. The use of pot does inhibit ones
reflex responses. Don't kid yourself. Good luck with that.
kat

Problem with all of that nice stuff is what would happen to a grower
givin our Federal Governments reluctance to allow it to be grown.

Our government is idiots. All about the money, not the inviroment. Not
to mention they are afraid people will think it is the same thing as Pot
that one smokes. Think about all the changes that would take place. I
for one; would love to see it happen.
Kat

Wow .. it puts a new meaning of smoking your house away.
You know the stereotypes of this kind of tragedy could only
get worst if we put ourselves to see in the mirror for better
or worst if it saves the environment(the earth). Its too bad.
Shame on us for letting earth down, because of a few social
habits go dysfunctional. We're Americans. We take it proudly
for the Man, but yet not earth and the future we leave behind.
Wow... pretty heavy.

P.s. I don't feel guilty anymore before God its the Roman side of the
coin that taxes me.

Smoking pot DOES have harmful affects. I am living proof of it. The sad
thing about it is: many will not know what it is doing to them until
they no longer have insurance or are too poor to get proper medical
attention. What it does to ones body is problematic and so understated.
So smoke on my friends, I will pray that you do not have to find out the
hard way.
Me and many of my friends thought the same way. My very best friend in
the world is also suffering from his decision to smoke up, I mean after
all it is of God and isn't harmful? He is very sick from smoking pot and
is not going to live a whole lot longer. This is a very big healthy
muscular man. Smoked down to a much different man in stature. I love
him. I wish we hadn't been so stupid.
Kat

By the way AB; he is the friend that you remind me of so much. He is my
redheaded buddy.
Kat

Kat anything done to excess is not good.

All things in moderation.

Including being good. Even Moses tied one on at least once in his life.