What is the big objection to growing industrial hemp - as a viable alternative t

1. 59

   peterxdunnposted 14 years ago

   What is the big objection to growing industrial hemp - as a viable alternative to tabacco - in...
   
   the US?
   
   Could it be that some large agri/industrial concerns don't like the idea because hemp virtually grows itself (it is a weed afterall) and doesn't need to be sprayed with tons of herbicides and pesticides: products that they make a lot of money out of?
   
   The argument that cultivating it would send the wrong message about marijuana consumption is patently pathetic.

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2. 0

   Louis Mascoloposted 14 years ago

   The objection is "the status quo". Too many vested interests are making money off the prohibition on hemp growing, i.e. pharmaceutical companies, cotton agribusiness (hemp is much better than cotton), the entire penal system (lots of jobs in prisons and DEA/ATF jobs, guns, equipment. Basically, America is too stupid to let go of the propaganda in their heads that's been fed to them since the "assassin marijuana" campaign 90 years ago.

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3. 60

   misscolesposted 14 years ago

   The government already makes too much money from tobacco sales. They will never give up that revenue to try pushing hemp as the new cash crop.

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4. 61

   JD Barlowposted 14 years ago

   King Cotton was behind the campaign to outlaw hemp. Like any industrial concern you have two ways to rid yourself of the competition. Run a better business model or use your polititans to tilt the playing field in your favor.

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5. 0

   Butch Newsposted 14 years ago

   It's all politics, ignorance, stupidity.  Hemp is not exactly the same as smoking grade marijuana.  Hemp for industrial use is grown from plants that grow big rapidly.  Good pot comes from smaller plants with lots of flowers.

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6. 61

   nightwork4posted 14 years ago

   part of the problem i think is that by letting hemp be used in any application legaly will show that it is better then we've been led to believe. governments and religious groups have tried to make hemp out as a terrible thing for years. by promoting it's good uses , this will show the hypochrisy of these groups. many people know that hemp, pot, marijuana etc., is less damgerous then many products we currently use but by allowing it to be legal , a lot of big companies will suffer finacialy and we all know that money rules.

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   ThePeeDeeWildcatposted 14 years ago

   Perhaps a compromise can be reached in this matter. One of the legacies left to our country by Native Americans or Indians is a variety of uses for tobacco. Tobacco use by white Europeans was unheard of until their arrival in the New World and they learned of the tobacco plant and its uses from the indigenous peoples. It would be just one more indignity heaped upon Native American culture to remove tobacco from present-day American life completely. Surely, both hemp and tobacco cultivation can somehow peacefully coexist in the United States.

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   luv2wanderposted 14 years ago

   68-72% of the country is on, using or addicted to something. Legalizing marijuana would cut perscription drug companies profit, save the rain forest, medical exspenses (when nothing else helps), treat depression... and its not addictive. Its a wonder the world has gone mad.By the way smoke ragweed it is minus 1 chemical then the marijuana plant,wont show up in a drug test. what do you think them indians are smoking

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   slc334posted 14 years ago

   I think that, although there are many corporate reasons why hemp is not grown en mass, the real reason is that it is a question of regulation.  Without bringing the reasons for the "war on drugs" into the discussion, it is extremely easy to hide marijuana within hemp fields, which would make it next to impossible to regulate marijuana growth.  Currently, it is easy to detect marijuana due to it's heat signature when hidden in fields of other crops.  If hemp were a productive crop, this would be impossible.  It would be a logistical nightmare for the DEA to try and regulate marijuana, if hemp fields were legal.

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    Jack Holmesposted 14 years ago

    There's a great book called the emporer wears no clothes (i think) which covers this whole issue in great detail. I read it years ago and believe it's available free. It's very interesting albeit somewhat biassed as it was written by someone campaigning for legalisation I believe.

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