Can Hemp Save The Environment

Proponents of hemp cultivation for uses unrelated to its psychoactive effects often site the following environmental benefits of hemp over traditional materials:

• Hemp can be used as a substitute for cotton in clothing and linens. It is naturally resistant to most pests, eliminating the need for toxic pesticides. Cotton production uses 50 percent of all the world’s pesticides.

• Hemp can be cultivated for wood and paper products every 100 days, whereas trees take years to grow back.

• Hemp, like trees, is an abundant source of cellulose, a basic component of plastic. However, 1 acre of hemp produces nearly as much cellulose as 4 acres of trees.

• Hemp contains the highest concentration of essential amino and fatty acids found in any food, and its protein content is second only to soy.

• There are over 25,000 economically feasible yet environmentally friendly uses for hemp, including diesel fuel, food and beauty products, insulation, textiles, paper, and paints.