Hemp has been used throughout history dating back from the A.D times to the 1800’s. According to Jack Herer, it has been used for all sorts of material: fiber, fabric, lightning oil, paper, incense and medicines, and food as well. It is said and known to be one of the worlds most-durable and long lasting natural soft fibers on the plant(1). If hemp is such a beneficial and effectual resource, why is it illegal? Hemp is the natural resource America needs for the two things it struggles with; saving our forests and replacing our scarce oil.

            Hemp is capable of replacing the trees we cut down today to provide us with our pulp industry. It can be grown under almost any climate, and much can be grown very dexterously. According to 1916 USDA Bulletin No. 404, “One acre of cannabis hemp, in annual rotations over a 20-year period, would produce as much pulp for paper as 4.1 acres of trees being cut down over the same 20-year period(3).” We are constantly destroying our forests and homes of animals to supply us Americans with pulp. So why are we destroying our forests that provide us with oxygen and destroying the homes of thousands of animals? According to Jack Herer, “In the 1920’s and 30s, Hearst’s newspaper chain led a deliberate campaign to have marihuana, or as we know marijuana, outlawed.” This was simply due to the fact that Hearst Paper Manufacturing Division at St. Regis was due to loose billions of dollars and possibly go bankrupt if they were to never have received profit from Timber. As for oil, hemp seed oil was the second most consumed oil in America only exceeded by whale oil. Oil, in the United States, is one of the most consumed natural resources used today. Not only do we have a scarce amount of it, but it is also very expensive. “Methane, Methanol, alcohol and fuel oil made from hemp could be substituted for petroleum-based fuel and plastics, thus saving Americas’ oil reserves, reducing the trade deficit and protecting the environment (2-3).” It can severely help our issues with oil for the fact that tons can be grown inexpensively.

            Hemp can also be a great ascendancy to not only America, but to the whole world in terms of saving hunger. According tosquisoo.com, “The seeds in hemp can be processed in to a variety of products, including edible oils, cakes, concentrates, and regular bags of seeds.” It is known that hemp can be grown in almost any climate, allowing it to be grown all over the world. But what makes it as reliable as the food we eat today is its nutritional value. “Hemp seeds are the perfect staple because they have all the essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, and other things necessary to the human body (Hemp Industry 1).” And according to Alisa Blackwood, “Hemp seeds rival soy in protein content and are a potent source of vitamin E, and antioxidants (1).”

            Many reasons that Hemp builds up a stack of protestors, is due to the cousin plant that contains the psychoactive component know as THC. Even though hemp and marijuana are strikingly comparable, they really have a completely contrasting value from each other. Steps can be taken to ensure that the civilians of the United States are growing hemp instead of marijuana. They could validate some sort of Hemp inspection law, or act, to ensure the growth of hemp and not marijuana. And for businesses that supply us with the lumber and timber we get today, they could come up with some sort of an agreement that helps their business not go bankrupt. When two very successful businesses come together, who knows what great outcome they can come up with.

            With hemps ability to fix our nation, why not legalize it and fix what is wrong America today? Our founding fathers used it for all kinds of harmless purposes; we should too. According to Jack Herer, “If hemp pulp process invented in 1916 were legal today, it would provide four times as much pulp with at least five to seven times less pollution.” And when it comes to oil, “Hemp spills of oil would not harm the environment, requires no cleanup, and would actually enrich the soil (2-3).” Hemp is one of Americas’ phenomenal old resources that can save our forests, and solve our oil problems. It needs to be taken in to recognition to become legalized once again.