This is a tale about the South, its heritage of farming, its demise, and some thoughts on the future of agriculture here in the South. The premise applies to all agricultural areas of the U.S. This is only a Thumbnail Sketch, non comprehensive, but it does paint a picture of hope, if only Washington faces reality and acts accordingly!
Once upon a time in the U.S., many crops were grown. They produced virtually ALL of the needs of the country, including food and other necessities, like shelter and clothing. Then came the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, which created products previously unavailable to Americans. Iron, steel and the resulting products, such as plows and other farming implements, coal and wood burning stoves, cookware and serving ware and many other products resulted. Trains crossed the country to provide transportation to "parts unknown". Telegraphy, electricity and the telephone revolutionized communications. Mining became a major part of this revolution, to furnish the raw materials necessary to support industry.
Farming flourished! The South became known as "The Cotton States", furnishing virtually all of the clothing needs of the country. The Peanut was the number one food crop from the South, aside from corn, which was available almost nationwide.
However, one fact that has been omitted from the history books, is that HEMP was a MAJOR CROP in the South, as well as in other agricultural areas throughout the country. With the passing of the "Marijuana Stamp Tax Act of 1937", its parent, HEMP, was banned, in order to eradicate Marijuana. This was a case of throwing out the baby AND the bath water in one fell swoop!
Why? The answer is simple. DuPont had just discovered how to make Nylon from chemicals. Hemp, along with cotton and wood fiber, were the primary sources for clothing, canvas (ship sails, tarps, etc.), rope, paper and many other products. DuPont wanted to sell his new Nylon ropes, along with cloth. Rockefeller, who controlled many things, wanted to use trees for paper to justify the paper mills as part of the industrial revolution. Eli Lilly wanted to promote lab developed drugs for medicinal use to promote his own self interests. Together, they pressured Washington to pass the law and enforce it beyond just eliminating marijuana. [NOTE: SINCE THEN, ALL HEMP PRODUCTS ARE IMPORTED! DESPITE NO U.S. PRODUCTION, A HIGH TARIFF IS PLACED ON ALL THESE PRODUCTS!]
Over the coming years, Rayon was developed, and along with Nylon, replaced cotton and hemp for virtually all clothing! It is worthy to note that Levi Strauss developed the first Denim for slacks (jeans). The first denim was made from HEMP...NOT cotton! Cotton replaced hemp for jeans ONLY after the passing of the 1937 law and the banning of hemp cultivation and production in the U.S.!
Since the 30's, cotton has virtually disappeared from the South, replaced by cattle, soybeans and DEVELOPMENT, replacing farms. Only peanuts remain as a major crop almost exclusive to the South. Cattle, once the mainstay of the midwest and west, has become a major portion of Southern agriculture, along with chicken production. Small farmers have all but disappeared!
Now, here we are in the 21st century...234 years after the Declaration of Independence. Nearly EVERYTHING we must buy to sustain life is labeled with 'Made in China" or a myriad of other countries. Fruits and vegetables from South America, Mexico, Indonesia, Japan and many European countries, including those once behind the Iron Curtain. TV's and other electronics from Europe, Japan and China. Shoes from Mexico, Hungary and China. Clothing from EVERYWHERE BUT the U. S.! Finding labels with "Made In the U.S.A." has become as hard to find as the proverbial "needle in a haystack"!
Without boring you with all the stuff that IS going on (which you are bombarded with constantly), let me briefly touch on what is NOT going on in Washington. NO effective effort to promote U. S. production of any products (except for auto bailouts). NO effort to increase U. S. agricultural production (except for corn for biofuels, whitch reduces the food supply and increases costs for consumers). NO action to allow HEMP production in the U. S., despite YEARS of prodding by many sources. Minimal efforts to allow more oil and gas drilling and virtually NO efforts to increase nuclear OR HYDRO plants as means to increase energy production. Instead (and I digress), SOLAR AND WIND are being pushed as the ways to produce energy for the future as opposed to all alternatives! [FYI: SOLAR AND WIND ARE THE HIGHEST COST FORMS OF ENERGY PRODUCTION AVAILABLE! HYBRID AND ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE RIGHT BEHIND!]
HEMP produces 4 TIMES the amount of fiber per acre than that from TREES! One crop of HEMP absorbs as much or more CO2, and resultant emissions of O2, as a stand of trees in the same area! Coincidentally, increasing U. S. production of oil would reduce dependency on foreign sources. NATURAL GAS production, a cleaner form of energy, is ABUNDANT in the U. S.! [Our oil reserves are estimated to be greater than those in the Middle East!]
So, what is the BEST answer to solve our energy AND ECONOMIC problems? More oil and gas production would offer immediate reductions in foreign oil. Longer term, since production methods must be developed, HEMP offers the GREATEST POTENTIAL...anyone with an acre of land can grow HEMP economically feasible! From HEMP, we can get cloth, paper, plastics, MEDICINES and, yes, BIOFUELS!...or even products not yet discovered! HEMP would regain our agricultural base...EASILY!...AND solve our energy problems in the meantime! Oh, did I mention solving Al Gore's perceived CO2 MENACE?
Nevada Barr, in her novel "DEEP SOUTH", described her introduction to southern Mississippi (from the West) as most represented by the presence of KUDZU. She noted that the plant was imported from Japan for soil erosion. As soon as the plants emerged, they noticed the high humidity and the red clay all around them and yelled...'HOT ZIGGITY!" You know the result!
Guess what? HEMP thrives in the same environment! From the start, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides and normal cultivation techniques ARE NOT REQUIRED! It is like growing KUDZU, except easier to contain and control. Crop rotation is NOT required! Why do you think it is called "WEED"? Simply, because it GROWS as a weed! Maybe, it REALLY IS a WEED!
It really doesn't matter. HEMP production in the U. S. CAN SOLVE SO MANY PROBLEMS ALL AT ONCE! Maybe THAT is why our government does not want to pursue this course of action! It would promote CAPITALISM, provide HOPE for the LOWER AND MIDDLE CLASSES who strive to reach the AMERICAN DREAM and make it harder for FAVORS BETWEEN CONGRESS AND BIG BUSINESS to be realized! Could reducing PORK be far behind?
Jack Herer has been looked upon by "the ESTABLISHMENT" as being a radical who only wants the legal right to "get high"! His "sermon" is all about HEMP! All its benefits have been promoted by Jack. He wears HEMP clothing! Read "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack for his whole message.
To avoid the obvious and ignore the opportunities offered from the restoration of HEMP PRODUCTION in the United States is INEXCUSABLE, if not CRIMINAL, on the part of our government in Washington! GOD gave us this MAGNIFICENT AND BOUNTIFUL NATURAL RESOURCE! Certainly, he INTENDED FOR US TO BENEFIT FROM IT! The WORLD, including the U. S., DID...until BIG BUSINESS and GOVERNMENTS decided that THEIR BEST INTERESTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAT OUR BEST INTERESTS!
Americans...IT IS TIME THAT IMBALANCE IS REVERSED! Let us band together and turn Washington UPSIDE DOWN until OUR NEEDS COME FIRST! Legalizing HEMP PRODUCTION is a MAJOR PLAYER in accomplishing that GOAL!
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