Pubdate: Thu, 02 Nov 2006
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Russell Barth

HEMP COULD BE USED TO CLEAN OUR AIR

To the Editor,

One thing the Tories would never mention in any environmental 
legislation is industrial hemp.

Hemp produces more ethanol per acre than any other crop, and does so 
without the expensive and damaging chemicals used to grow corn or soy 
for fuel. Hemp, unlike these other crops, can grow on even marginal land.

Hemp can also produce polymers which could replace oil-derived 
plastics for car bodies and thousands of other products. This would 
further reduce our dependence on crude oil and reduce the pollution 
that we put into the air, soil, and water.

Hemp produces fibres, which would reduce our reliance on foreign 
cotton and synthetic fibres. The cloth lasts longer, doesn't need the 
bleaches and chemicals of other textiles, and is biodegradable.

Hemp also produces more protein per acre than any other crop, making 
it a cheap, healthy alternative to many human-food and animal-feed 
crops. This would help thousands of struggling farmers.

Finally, hemp gobbles CO2 like crazy, which would further help us eat 
up some of our own emissions, and emissions from the U.S.

But then, using hemp to meet our energy needs and reduce pollution 
might "send the wrong message to youth" about marijuana, so it looks 
like we are stuck with crude oil and dirty air.

Russell Barth

Ottawa
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine