A gift from nature

As published in the Berlin Journal Newspapers and affiliates on Thursday, September 30, 2010.  Issue Number 39.

A gift from nature

One can say the United States SHOULD be nuts for the seed from the hemp cannabis plant, it is truly one of nature’s perfect foods.  The seed is actually a nut and has a long standing relationship with all of humanity.  Modern science revealed hempseed contains all essential amino acids and fatty acids necessary for human life.

If you need jobs, legalize industrial hemp.  Grow it, process it, refine it, transport it, sell it, market it, eat it, use it, and prosper from it.  The seed can be used to make bread, granola, ice cream, milk, cereal and protein powder.  The seedcake can be used for flour and animal food.  Hempoil from the seed can create food products such as salad oils, EFA food supplements, margarine, sauté oil and body care products like soap, shampoo, hand cream, cosmetics and lip balm.  Technical products made from hempoil include diesel fuel, printing ink, lubricants, varnish, solvents and oil paints.

The whole stalk can be used to produce apparel, fabrics, bags, shoes, socks, cordage, netting, canvas, carpeting, geotextiles, bio composite, compression moulding, fibre board, insulations, hempcrete, animal bedding, mulch, boiler fuel, chemical absorbent, paper product, cigarette filters, newsprint, packaging, cardboard and netting.