Today, in the modern world, 32 countries allow their farmers to grow, process and sell hemp just like corn, wheat or soybeans. But after more than 70 years of constant government propaganda, America remains the only country in the world that still prohibits hemp production. How can America, the country founded on the ideal of personal freedoms, the "land of the free" and "home of the brave" find itself banning a natural plant in the name of a "drug war"?
This section of VoiceYourself is dedicated to all those who are fighting to help keep the American dream alive. Please do your part by educating yourself with the real facts about hemp. You can make a difference by sharing the information here with your family, friends and most importantly with your elected officials. Together we can help change the politics of hemp in America. If you have any stories you want to let us know about, please contact us at: Bigissues@voiceyourself.com
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Demand for hemp soaring, firm moves to bigger plant
Martin Moravcik, Alex Chwaiewsky and Mike Fata (from left) at new plant.
These are high times for hemp. Not only is demand for hemp products skyrocketing -- Canadian hemp seed exports increased by 300 per cent and hemp oil exports by 85 per cent from 2006 to 2007 -- but one of the country's oldest and largest hemp food producers, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils, is moving into a new state-of-the-art processing plant this week that will boost its production capacity by 500 per cent. And Wednesday, the federal and provincial governments added icing to the cake with the unveiling of a new national strategy for developing the hemp industry in Canada.
By Murray McNeill - Winnipeg Free Press | Winnipeg, MB, Canada , November 13, 2008
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Industrial hemp growers launch national plan
Why not "American" hemp?
Market research and development, quality control and processing capacity are among the goals of a new national strategy mapped out by Canada's industrial hemp growers. The strategy was rolled out Wednesday at the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance's meeting in Winnipeg, mapping out the market potential and obstacles in the food, fibre and oil markets, as well as in hemp production and plant breeding. Manitoba was among the "earliest adopters" of industrial hemp as a crop, as well as the necessary processing technologies, provincial Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk said.
By Staff - Country Guide | Farm Business Communications | Winnipeg, MB, Canada , November 12, 2008
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Hemp Shower Curtain
Each little green step you take adds up to a whole bunch of green living perks. Even something as small as your choice of a shower curtain can make a difference. With all the dangers of PVC, you’ll want to look for a PVC-free Shower Curtain Liner. If you can’t find a decent PVC-free liner, a second choice is to choose a shower curtain that needs no liner at all.
RiverWired.com , October 12, 2008
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You're Not Hallucinating -- Hemp Is A Prime Ingredient
Our past, "is" our future!
Chris Steinmetz and his 9-year-old son are having "That talk," only it's not going the way most parents rehearse it. "Dad, are you going to talk about hemp . . . AGAIN!?" And Steinmetz the elder isn't even lecturing about the evils of how hemp can be cultivated and turned into hallucinogenic products such as hashish and marijuana. Instead, his focus is on all the wonderful uses of hemp. As the managing director at organic outfit French Meadow Bakery, Steinmetz is aiming to appeal to more than the crunchy granola crowd. Hemp has increasingly become a key ingredient as French Meadow--whose lines include bread, rolls, bagels, tortillas, gluten-free products for people with dietary restrictions and performance-based products for athletes--expands its products to reach beyond the organic category and appeal to more consumer segments within the mainstream market.
By Becky Ebenkamp - The Brandweek Magazine | New York, NY , October 06, 2008
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Houses of straw
Straw bale house.
Bath University researchers are proposing that houses built using hemp, timber or straw could greatly reduce the environmental pollutants generated by the construction industry. Building work and associated infrastructure currently contribute around 19 per cent of the UK's total harmful waste. Members of Bath's BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials are researching low-carbon alternatives to building materials currently used by the construction industry.
The Engineer | London, England , September 17, 2008
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Hemp seeds a great source of beneficial fats
Hemp seeds - packed with protein.
Hemp seeds are a wonderful new addition to the health food aisles at your grocery store. Not to be confused with their cousin, the "other" hemp seeds used to grow marijuana for psychoactive use, legal hemp seeds have a nutty, smooth flavor and are used to make a variety of food products -- from hemp flour and hemp protein powder to hemp oil and hemp milk. They are also used to grow industrial hemp, which is found in a wide range of products including clothing, textiles, papers, and biodegradable materials, and used as an alternative fuel source.
By Laurie Steelsmith - The Honolulu Advertiser - Honolulu, Hawaii , September 11, 2008
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Hemp has qualities to be the ideal crop for Irish conditions
Ireland & France growing together.
Hemp is a promising crop, well suited to the growing conditions in Ireland, according to a farmer from Kells. Gilsenan is the agronomy director with Norgen Ltd and said that “when harvesting is complete and assessed, we will be able to evaluate the crops’ potential fully”. The trial follows an agreement for Ireland between the Green Energy Growers Association and National Federation of Producers of Hemp in France, enabling the former, through its Gesco Network, to provide farmers and growers here with access to a range of industrial hemp varieties and technologies.
The Anglo Celt | Ireland , September 10, 2008
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Tropical trial for hemp crop turns heads
Managing director Kim Hough.
The Ord irrigation region has produced a variety of crops in its 45-year history, but few have attracted as much interest from passers-by, and the occasional police officer, as current trials of Chinese hemp. Reaching 2m, the industrial crop was planted in June by Perth-based Hemp Resources to test its performance in the tropical region. Though similar in appearance to illegal cannabis crops, industrial hemp's drug-like qualities ended there, managing director Kim Hough said.
The West Australian | Perth, Australia , September 08, 2008
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Costco USA to promote hemp textiles
Hemp Textiles Make Sense!
Portland-based Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. (NAT), which has a license for the 'Crailar' enzyme process that is designed to produce super soft textiles made from hemp and bast fibres, has signed a new promotional deal with Costco’s US stores. The deal is with NAT’s subsidiary HTNaturals Apparel Corp. which already sells its hemp, bamboo, organic cotton and soy-blended apparel through Costco stores in Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, HTnaturals is recognised as an approved vendor for Costco USA and will be commencing a series of road show events later this year.
Ecotextile News | Portland, OR , September 05, 2008
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Hemp: The Solution for America's Greening Economy
Hemp Adidas tennis shoes.
Let’s do an experiment. Access in your mind everything you are wearing and what it’s made out of. Now think about the last time you bathed. What kind of soap did you use? Look at the paper you’re reading these words on. What is it made out of? Finally, what did you eat today? Was it organic and healthy? Did you answer “hemp” for any of these questions? If you did, kudos to you for saving the planet by just being yourself—you’re a remarkable environmentalist.
