HELPFUL HEMPS

Other Uses For The Marijuana Plant, Cannabis

In the past several years, Americans have joined both sides of the fence to
legalize marijuana. Some feel it is an illegal drug and should remain that
way, while others feel it is a mild intoxicant, much like alcohol, and
should be legalized.

"I don't think it's as bad as other euphorias," Florida State University
botanist Dr. Loren Anderson said. "I think if it were legalized, the
government could have more control over the production of it, but there are
lots of reasons why that legalization would be dangerous. You have to ask
if legalizing it will entice more people who have never used the drug
before to try it."

But what many people don't realize about marijuana is that there are
several positive uses for it that don't involve any illegal acts.

Marijuana comes from Cannabis sativa, a plant native to areas of India.

"Cannabis has been domesticated by men for thousands of years," Anderson
said. "And over those years there have been different strands of the plant
that have developed. There are high fiber strands that are low in THC (see
pg.14) and are used industrially, and then there are low fiber strands that
are high in THC and low in fiber."

It is a relatively simple plant to grow as well, which makes it valuable to
both industrial users and recreational users.

"Where you grow the Cannabis plant will alter the levels of THC in it,"
Anderson said. "THC is grown in hot, tropical areas."

The cannabis plant is an annual plant, and must be seeded every year. It is
also known as a "short day plant," meaning it blooms when the days are
shorter. All parts of the plant can be used in different ways, but most
people are not familiar with their uses.

The term "marijuana" refers to the flower of the Cannabis plant. It can be
used as a narcotic, and is even being introduced as a form of medical
treatment for ailments such as seizures, pain, depression, asthma and
cancer. While it may not cure these diseases, it helps the patients to cope
with them more comfortably.

"I am not sure about cannabis being used medically," Anderson said. "It is
true that it helps certain patients whose illnesses might cause nausea.
Glaucoma patients use it to help cope with the treatment. But the fact is,
there are other drugs out there that have the same effect. I think most of
those people who push for legalization for medical purposes are wanting it
to just be legalized in some form so it can be used recreationally."

Before the 1930s, when the federal government made the first laws
restricting the use of cannabis, marijuana was the number one treatment for
migraine headaches.

The term "hemp" refers to the industrial use of the stalk and seed of the
Cannabis plant. In contrast to the flower part of the Cannabis plant, which
contains 5-15 percent of THC, this part of the plant only contains up to
1.5 percent of THC.

An important product of the Cannabis plant is the fiber that it produces.
There are two distinct types of fiber that are found in the plant: long
fiber and short fiber. Long fiber is made of the bark of the stalk. This
bark stretches the entire length of the plant, sometimes up to 15 feet
tall. This fiber is incredibly strong and durable and is used in many
products. Because it has an insulation quality to it that keeps things cool
or warm, it is great for use in clothing.

These long fibers are also used in things like twine, cordage, textiles,
paper, webbing and household goods.

"I make hemp necklaces during the summer," sophomore Jay Hooper said. "They
last longer and the salt water doesn't bother them when I surf. It's a
strong rope."

These hemp necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry are made from this bark
of the Cannabis known as the long fiber.

The other type of fiber is called the short fiber. This fiber is called
"tow." Tow is used in things like textiles, caulking, auto bodies and
building material.

Hurds are the woody material found at the center of the hemp stalk, and are
the final useful part of the Cannabis plant. It is rich in cellulose, and
so it is good for things like making paper and packaging supplies. There is
evidence that the first drafts of the American Declaration of Independence
were written on papers containing hemp products.

Hemp has played an important role in our society even in modern times. In
the 1980s, the city of Newport, Rhode Island used wood covered in hemp in
their water pipes. Recently, Canadian farmers have been given permission to
grown the Cannabis plant for industrial purposes only. They keep a close
watch on the production, making sure that there are legal levels of THC in
them. They are not allowed more than 0.3 percent in their products.

While the hemp craze is still an unspoken subject in the United States, it
is clear that there is more to the Cannabis plant than just a recreational
and illegal drug. Whether is should or will be legalized in the United
States has yet to be determined, but one fact remains. There are uses to
this plant that can benefit society, if used responsibly and correctly. It
might not be long until Cannabis joins the amber waves of grain that grow
across the American landscape.