• It's several times stronger than cotton.

• It's more resistant to abrasion and tears.

• It's more resistant to mildew, soiling, shrinkage and the deteriorating effects of the sun.

Hemp Economy

• Hemp is being used today by hundreds of businesses around the world. Firms like The Body Shop, BMW, GM/Canada and Mercedes Benz are incorporating hemp as a resource. Designers from Armani, Calvin Klein, Patagonia and others are responding to consumer interest and demand for hemp based products.

• Eventually hemp cultivation in America will benefit the local job and tax base. The domestic industries that would be boosted include agriculture, construction, cosmetics, energy, food, fuel, furniture, paper, and plastic.

 

Today's Hemp industries.

AUSTRALIA - Tasmania research trials began in 1995. Victoria commercial production since 1998. New South Wales has research. In 2002 Queensland began production.

AUSTRIA has a hemp industry including production of hempseed oil, medicinals and Hanf magazine.

CANADA started to license research crops in 1994 on an experimental basis. In addition to crops for fibre, one seed crop was experimentally licensed in 1995. Many acres were planted in 1997. Licenses for commercial agriculture saw thousands of acres planted in 1998. 30,000 acres planted in 1999. In 2000, due to speculative investing,12,250 acres were sown. In 2001 ninety-two farmers grew 3,250 acres. A number of Canadian farmers are now growing organically certified hemp crops.

CHILE has grown hemp in the recent past for seed oil production.

CHINA is the largest exporter of hemp paper and textiles. The fabrics are of excellent quality. (ma)

DENMARK planted its first modern hemp trials in 1997. Committed to utilizing organic methods.

FINLAND had a resurgence of hemp in 1995 with several small test plots. A seed variety for northern climates was developed: Finola, previously know by the breeder code 'FIN-314'. In 2003, Finola was accepted to the EU list of subsidized hemp cultivars. (hamppu)

FRANCE harvested 10,000 tons in 1994. France is the main source of low-thc producing hempseed. (chanvre)

GERMANY only banned hemp in 1982, but research began in 1992 and many technologies and products are being developed. Clothes and paper are being made from imported raw materials. Germany lifted the ban on growing hemp November, 1995. Mercedes and BMW use hemp fiber for composites. (hanf)

GREAT BRITAIN lifted hemp prohibition in 1993. Animal bedding, paper and textiles have been developed. A government grant was given to develop new markets for natural fibers. 4,000 acres were grown in 1994. Subsidies of $230 Eng. pounds per acre are given by the govt. for growing.

HUNGARY is rebuilding their hemp industry, and is one of the biggest exporters of hemp cordage, rugs and hemp fabric to the U.S. They also export hemp seed and hemp paper. Fiberboard is also made. (kender)

INDIA has large stands of naturalized Cannabis and uses it for cordage, textiles, and seed oil.

JAPAN has a religious tradition requiring the Emperor wear hemp garments, so there is a small plot maintained for the imperial family only. They have a thriving retail market selling a variety of hemp products. (asa)

NETHERLANDS is conducting a four year study to evaluate and test hemp for paper, and is developing processing equipment. Seed breeders are developing new strains of low-thc varieties. (hennep)

NEW ZEALAND started hemp trials in 2001. Various cultivators are being planted in the North and South.

POLAND currently grows hemp for fabric and cordage and manufactures hemp particle board. They have demonstrated the benefits of using hemp to cleanse soils contaminated by heavy metals. (konopij)

ROMANIA was the largest commercial producer of hemp in Europe in the late 80's and early 90's. Total acreage in 1993 was 40,000 acres. Some of it is exported to Hungary for processing. They also export to Western Europe and the United States. (cinepa)

RUSSIA maintains the largest hemp germ plasm collection in the world at the N.I. Vavilov Scientific Research Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) in Saint Petersburg. They are in need of funds. (konoplya)

SLOVENIA grows hemp and manufactures currency paper.

SPAIN grows and exports hemp pulp for paper and produces rope and textiles. (cañamo)

SWITZERLAND is a producer of hemp and hosts one of the largest hemp events: Cannatrade.

EGYPT, KOREA, PORTUGAL, THAILAND, and the UKRAINE also produce hemp.

USA - The United States granted the first hemp permit in over 40 years to Hawaii for an experimental quarter acre plot in 1999. The license has been renewed since. Importers and manufacturers have thrived using imported raw materials. Twenty-two states in the United States have introduced legislation. VT, HI, ND, MT, MN, IL, VA, NM, CA, AR, KY, MD, WV have passed legislation for support, research, or cultivation. The National Conference of State Legislators has endorsed industrial hemp for years.

 

Major Court Victory for Hemp Foods The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

On October 9th, 2001, Hemp Industries Association, sued the US DEA in the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In June,  2003 the Court issued a verdict striking down DEA's proposed "interim" rule making.

The 9th Circuit Court heard the entire case of the "final" DEA  rules on September 17, 2003.  On February 6, 2004 the Court ruled in favor of the hemp foods industry 3-0, throwing out DEA's proposed rules which would have banned the sale of an entire class of foods.

"Congress knew what it was doing, and its intent to exclude non-psychoactive hemp from (DEA) regulation is entirely clear," Judge Betty Fletcher wrote for the court.

"I am jazzed. It's a great legal victory that affirms Americans' rights to enjoy hemp foods and oil," says John W. Roulac, hemp author and founding president of hemp food manufacturer, Nutiva.

The DEA has the legal option to appeal the case to the US Supreme Court, so stay tuned over the next few months for developments.

 

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