Thread: Using Hemp trees instead

A BRIEF HISTORY OF HEMP

Archaeological evidence proves Hemp has been cultivated since prehistoric times with the earliest at the Neolithic site, Yuan-Shan in Taiwan carbon dated to be from 12000 BC. The first known fabric dated from 7000BC -8000 BC was woven from Hemp fibres.

16th Century England relied so heavily on Hemp cultivation and importation that farmers were fined if they did not grow it. During the Tudor period the British Navy was dependent on Hemp for rope and canvas. In the 18th Century full British Citizenship was bestowed on foreigners who would grow Hemp and fines were levied on those who refused. The war of 1812 involving America and Great Britain was sparked by the desire of each country to dominate Russian hemp supplies.

Russian Hemp production was the primary reason Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812. Queen Victoria’s physician prescribed cannabis as treatment for menstrual cramps. The Gutenburg Bible is written on Hemp paper as were Thomas Paine’s pamphlets and Mark Twain’s novels. Benjamin Franklin started one of America’s first paper mills with Hemp. This allowed America to have a free colonial press without having to beg or justify paper and books from England. Australia grew Hemp prior to the USA prohibition, we then follow their political ‘war on drugs’.

In the 19th Century in Australia starvation due to famine was stopped by the use of Hemp as food. In 1937 Dupont Industries and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst had significant interest in the synthetic fibre, logging and paper industries. They launched a successful campaign against Hemp as a potential competitor for their new industrial materials. In a major turnaround the USA in 1940 launched their WWII campaign demanding the growth and use of hemp. Farmers were fined for NOT growing Hemp. After WWII Hemp was outlawed. In 1941 Henry Ford made a car using Hemp composites and bio plastics
which was so strong that an axe bounced off the car.

1961--Under the United Nations Single Convention on Drug Use Hemp has been excluded for industrial and horticultural cultivation. Article 28 Section 2 reads, “This convention shall not apply to the cultivation of the cannabis plant exclusively for industrial purposes (fibre and seed) or horticultural purposes.”

Industrial hemp has been LEGALLY grown in Queensland since 2002.

http://www.puredelighthemp.com.au/History_Hemp.htm

This thread perfectly demonstrates the power of propaganda.

Some one mentioned hemp and everyone started thinking drugs.
Do you look at the poppy seed on your bread and think drugs?
Do you see poppies in a garden and think of opium?
Do you see a chilli bush and think drugs?
Do you drive past a field of barley and think about drugs?

Hemp has nothing to do with drugs, the sucessful linking of it was caused by the cotton industry seeking to destroy its major competitor.

Hemp has as much to do with getting you high as Coke (the softdrink) has to do with getting you drunk. You can, only after ingesting ridiculous quantities.

Originally Posted by Cruzi

This thread perfectly demonstrates the power of propaganda.

Some one mentioned hemp and everyone started thinking drugs.
Do you look at the poppy seed on your bread and think drugs?
Do you see poppies in a garden and think of opium?
Do you see a chilli bush and think drugs?
Do you drive past a field of barley and think about drugs?

Hemp has nothing to do with drugs, the sucessful linking of it was caused by the cotton industry seeking to destroy its major competitor.

Hemp has as much to do with getting you high as Coke (the softdrink) has to do with getting you drunk. You can, only after ingesting ridiculous quantities.

Why do you think Coke is called Coke?

Originally Posted by Cruzi

This thread perfectly demonstrates the power of propaganda.

Some one mentioned hemp and everyone started thinking drugs.
Do you look at the poppy seed on your bread and think drugs?
Do you see poppies in a garden and think of opium?
Do you see a chilli bush and think drugs?
Do you drive past a field of barley and think about drugs?

Hemp has nothing to do with drugs, the sucessful linking of it was caused by the cotton industry seeking to destroy its major competitor.

Hemp has as much to do with getting you high as Coke (the softdrink) has to do with getting you drunk. You can, only after ingesting ridiculous quantities.

"" Hemp (from Old English hænep, see cannabis (etymology)) is the common name for plants of the entire genus Cannabis, although the term is often used to refer only to Cannabis strains cultivated for industrial (non-drug) use.""

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp

Yes, I know tis is an older thread, but I'm bursting to have my say.
I think, after all the dust and emotive arguments are over, that the major impediment to commercial hemp production in this country is plain and simple economics.
Broad-acre hemp production is viable only in certain circumstances. It's already been investigated in limited scale production in Tas., where a few hectares are quietly, and perfectly legally, grown each season, out of sight and out of the public's emotive eyes.
To date, production has proved to be both successful and viable as an industrial source of fibre and non-psychoactive cannabinoids. It has proven to be more climatically appropriate, and kinder to soil microbial life, than most alternative fibre crops.
However, Tasmania is able to produce another fibre crop, on a similarly sustainable basis, for a mere fraction of the overall cost of production of cannabis. That fibre is, of course, Eucalyptus.
Commercial producers of Cannabis in Tasmania require a farm gate price (according to DPI experts) of some $200 to $300 per tonne (per annum) to viably grow Cannabis. Trees produce fibre at a significantly more cost and environmentally efficent rate than this.
As a competitor to cotton: I don't know, and lack the figures to back up any comment I might make, but hemp fibre cannot compete with tree fibre in a free market, meaning it's usefulness is therefore restricted to the industrial, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. I would even suggest, that as a nation we now lack a viable textile, clothing and footwear industry. Ergo, you can't sell fibres to an industry that no longer exists.

Ratbag,
Does this information refer to the two fibre crops only as a source of chipping to make paper? If it does, then I think you would also need to compare similar break even prices to wool, cotton and other textile costs to get a real idea of its viability. Do you know what the Farm Gate price is for Eucalyptus? Not trying to stir the pot, just interested in answers

Corbs

In Tasmania, as I'm sure holds true for other areas, the vagaries of supply, demand, fibre type, quantity and quality would affect the "wholesale" price. Suffice it to say that the price would fall somewhere between $10 and $50 /tonne.

Corbs, perhaps i should add that the figures are supplied by a registered grower of hemp fibre. He was commenting on the available markets for proposed broadacre production of hemp in Tasmania. He is quite dismissive of the viability, now or in the future, of hemp as a source of paper pulp and construction materials.
Might I also add my personal belief that all other factors being equal, intensive agricultural production places far higher demands on water supplies, soils and wildlife than Silviculture has traditionally done in Tasmania.

Even on this thread there is difference of option and people are always going to have an opion. I would not discourage this butt encourage this. If we were to make something from something then please do. It does have to be sold and purchased.

This is what guides our society.

Now please note that I said guides not govens our society.