Pubdate: Sun, 29 Nov 2009
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2009 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact: http://www.citizen-times.com/contact/letters.shtml
Website: http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Kristine Madera

ON MARIJUANA AND HEMP, A HANDY PLANT TO HAVE AROUND

John Boyle's informative article, "Building with hemp: Asheville on the 
forefront of a new green technique," (AC-T, Nov. 22), stated, "Hemp is 
derived from the same plant that marijuana comes from." This is misleading. 
Both plants are cannabis sativa, but the marijuana cannabinoid is THC 
(delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), which produces the psychoactive high. The 
industrial hemp cannabinoid is CBD (cannabidiol), which cannot get you high 
and actually blocks the effect of THC.

Because they can cross-pollinate, industrial hemp's CBD decreases the 
potency of THC in any nearby marijuana plant, making marijuana less 
attractive to grow. Industrial hemp has been recognized as a distinctive 
and important crop in the U.S. since colonial times, and only recently has 
it been demonized for its connection with marijuana. Hemp is a hearty, 
soil-renewing, carbon-negative crop that can yield 2-3 crops a year, 
requires no pesticides and be used for paper, cloth, oil, food, bio-fuel, 
bio-plastic, building materials and more. Industrial hemp is a ready 
solution for many of our 21st century challenges.

Kristine Madera, Asheville
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