Hemp Could Save the Planet – But Only If We Let It
Hemp has always been maligned by those who don’t understand it, but that doesn’t stop it from being an incredibly useful plant
A plant that could help save the planet and improve many lives at the same time. So why isn’t it legal? There are plenty of reasons, but I’ll focus on just two here—profitability and ignorance.
How hemp can help fight climate change
Hemp plants capture up to 16 tons of greenhouse gas annually, while trees suck up about 6 tons. This means hemp plants are more effective at reducing carbon dioxide emissions than trees. With approximately 50 million acres of hemp, a couple hundred million tons of carbon per year on that acreage, and these plants also grow faster and need less water than other crops, hemp has the potential to help combat climate change on a large scale. Hemp is an industry with immense untapped potential.
The benefits of hemp
The potential benefits of hemp seem endless. Not only can it be used to make paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics and fuel, it also grows faster than most crops, requires less water and nutrients than other crops, creates oxygen and is a rich source of protein. Hemp is high in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids as well as gamma linolenic acid which decreases inflammatory response to other food allergens like nuts or wheat.
In terms of health benefits for consumers, scientists are discovering that by consuming hemp plants can help people with allergies because hemp protein doesn't trigger immune responses like the proteins in wheat do.
The plant not only has environmental benefits but food ones too. With its unique combination of health and environmental advantages (that create an overall good product), there should be more consumers who want to incorporate this versatile crop into their diet.
The drawbacks of hemp
The Misuse of Drugs Acts prohibits farmers to freely grow hemp in the UK. The Act also prohibits people from selling products that contain it, which has created a lot of red tape for hemp farmers. This is because the government thinks that it might lead to drug abuse, which is not the case. Hemp simply doesn't have enough THC in it to get you high at all.
Plus, industrial hemp doesn't look anything like marijuana, so there would be no mistaking one plant for another. In other words, if we legalized industrial hemp farming in the UK then we could save ourselves a lot of time and money by minimizing any risk of drug-related crimes and environmental destruction while simultaneously fighting climate change and helping our economy.
One potential setback with this solution is that hemp seeds are harder to find than those of other plants and can cost more, but these minor setbacks shouldn't discourage us from pursuing an alternative crop that could actually help the environment instead of harming it. As long as we educate the public on what hemp really looks like and its potential benefits, then they'll understand why they should support this cause too. After all, how bad do things need to be before taking action becomes necessary?
The future of hemp
The APPG on CBD Products has issued a plan to Parliament, moving the industry forward and addressing the red tape that has held back this potential green economy. The plan recommends that hemp should be officially recognized as an industrial crop, with farmers given incentives to grow it in place of other crops like wheat or corn.
Further, regulations would be loosened so that the therapeutic CBD products can be sold online and in stores without prescriptions. Finally, clinical trials will be conducted to assess how safe and effective these products are.
In addition, Britain’s Home Office could use some clarity about what is allowed for importation. With their move to legalize cannabis by next year, there is opportunity for the UK government to set out clear guidelines for those who want to get involved in hemp production here at home.
Hemp is also less vulnerable than other crops when we have extreme weather events such as droughts or floods because they need less water than other crops do and they grow faster than trees do. Not forgetting the carbon capture compared to trees!
For all these reasons, British people who care about our planet should support the movement toward regulating cannabis-related products in a less Draconian way and supporting a new green economy.