We gonna start this sucker off with a capital-”D” Disclaimer: by discussing hemp, we’re not advocating the legalization of marijuana; we’ll advocate that later.
First, a little history. The fogged brains (maybe they were potheads?) running this here U.S. of A. back in 1937 decided with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 to, for all intense and purposes, put the kibosh on all this cannabis, even the 
practical, useful, environmentally friendly, and all-around-nice-gal hemp. Forty-nine states have bans similar to the federal one on their books. The lone state with common sense that’d make Thomas Paine smile and the hutzpah to lift a middle digit to the feds in your Peace Garden State and mine, North Dakota. Of course, federal law still tells ND that cultivating hemp is a big no-no.
Hemp, which contains almost no THC, is the renaissance man of plants. Here’s a brief list of the swag you can build out of hemp:
- shoulder bags
- backpacks
- rope
- twine
- cord
- hats
- shirts
- shoes
- belts
- pants
- necklaces
- exfoliating washcloths
- back scrubbers
- wallets
- cosmetic bags
- soap
- lip balm
- hair care products
- skin care products
- hammocks
- powder
- pasta
- flour
- cereal
For some reason, the War on Drugs includes this innocuous yet intensely handy plant. Need we say more? We need. European and Asian countries hold the majority of the growing hemp-product market, leaving America behind. Of course, there are concerns by the business world who dig on synthetics and factory farmers who grow other natural fibers. We’re pretty convinced that if they’re against hemp, then we should be for it.
So, what can you, the average web reader do?
You could buy some stuff at Hemp Sisters or Hemp Basics or find other places yourself here. This could be your way of continuing the popularity of industrial hemp products. Eventually, the capitalists will listen.- You could use drop a line to your representative in Congress.
- You could make a donation to the Hemp Industries Association, even if you can only spare a fiver.
- Speaking of five, you could pass FAQ link along to five progressive friends.
- You could educate yourself ever more by watching this video, then passing the word (or link or both) along to your pals.
So, please, go forth and love, but don’t bother smoking, some hemp.
