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How Hemp Could Save the World
Living Green
Written By: Kathryn Dewhurst - Virginia High School

According to the Department of Energy, hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all hemp products. The hydrocarbons in hemp can be made into a wide range of biomass energy sources, from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas. Biofuel could reduce our use of fossil fuels and nuclear power.

Hemp grows well in a variety of climates and soil types. It is naturally resistant to most pests. It grows tightly spaced, out-competing any weeds. It also leaves a weed-free field for a following crop. Hemp can grow without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides. Almost half of the agricultural chemicals used on United States crops are put into cotton. Hemp can replace cotton which is usually grown with massive amounts of chemicals harmful to people and the environment. 50% of all the worlds pesticides are sprayed on cotton.


Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber, and can be used for every quality of paper; the long fibers in hemp allow paper to be recycled several times more than wood-based paper. Hemp can replace wood fibers and save forests for watershed, wildlife habitat, recreation and oxygen production, reduces global warming and other values. Hemp can yield 3-8 dry tons of fiber per acre. This is four times what an average forest can yield. Hemp paper manufacturing can reduce wastewater contamination. Hemps creamy color lends itself to environmentally friendly bleaching instead of harsh chlorine compounds. Less bleaching results in less dioxin and fewer chemical byproducts. When used in clothes, it is less chemicals humans let into their bodies.

Hemp can be used for clothes, diapers, shoes, paper, food, building materials, and personal hygiene technical textiles such as; twine, rope, nets, tarps, carpets, and geotextiles. And technical products such as; oil paints, varnishes, printing inks, fuel, solvents, putting and coating. There are over 50,000 uses of hemp, and these are just some of the major examples of what it can be used for. If we replaced all of the toxic materials we use in everything listed above with hemp, we would reduce the dangerous chemicals causing harmful effects on our bodies, and on Earth and start healing the damage we have caused to our ozone layer, and everything else. If people gave hemp a chance, there would be very positive changes on our Earth and to the way people think about how dangerous some of the chemicals we use in everyday things. It could make a healthy, big difference

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