Should the United States legalize the hemp industry??

[Mommy]

I realize that buying hemp products and selling hemp products is legal within certain boundries in the US. But the growing of hemp and the manufacturing of hemp products is illegal. Industrial hemp plants do not contain a high enough amount of THC to produce any intoxicating effects so it is not like legalizing marijuana as a drug.The hemp industry brings millions of dollars a year into other countries that are not fearful of this drug. It could do the same for us! Hemp is one of the most useful plants on the planet. It can be used to make clothes which are more durable than cotton and breathes better than cotton. Hemp seed oil can be used in cooking and has far less fat content than any other cooking oil. Hemp can be used to make shampoos and soaps and other cleaners that are not harmful to our enviroment. Hemp can be made into paper, which in turn, solves our forestry problems. Hemp oil can be used to produce plastics instead of using potroleum based products. Hemp fibers can be used to strengthen cement and other manufacturing applications. Hemp can be used to make interior panels for cars. Hemp seeds can be ground into flour and used for baking and contains beneficial omega fatty acids, amino acids, and minerals. Hemp seeds can be used to produce non dairy "milk" similar to soy. Biofuels such as biodiesel and alcohol fuel can be made from the oils in hemp seeds and stalks and hemp produces more energy per acre per year than corn, sugar, flax, or any other crop currently grown for ethanol or biodiesel.

[AudiBuyer]

I think yes but until they can find a way to tax it properly, they won't do it.

[Meagain]

Personally i think anything to do w/ hemp or pot should be legalized. Think of all the money they'd save leaving the people on their couches w/ their ho-ho's instead of making the tax payer pay for them in jail. And as you stated, all the money they could makeand all the good that could come by legalizing it far outweighs any badthey could concoct. Just because they havent come up w/ a way to tax it is no reason to keep it illegal. It is clinically proven to do good medically, and causes less damage than cigarettes. And you never hear of people flipping out and killing each other over pot. And anyone who says they've ever been addicted has obviously never gotten strung out on heroin or alcohol. I bet if bush smoked a litle more often we wouldnt be in the mess we are in now.

[bwanazulia]

I think that they should utilize an important raw natural resource that we have. The reason it was made illegal in the first place, was because it was a competitor to cotton back in the day.Apparently Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on Hemp paper.When my parents remodeled their house, the contractor made a comment on how dated the color of the carpet was and was surprised that it was in such good shape. When he started to tear it out, he knew why. He said "Wow, this is hemp-backed carpet and top of the line. You can't match this quality today because they don't use hemp anymore." We were like, that's stupid. Were they afraid people might try and siphon THC out of their carpet? Stupid. That was just a dumb story I wanted to share.

[carcomplaints]

Unfortunately in their determination to rid the U.S. of the form of cannabis that is used as a drug..Cannabis Indica..the government of the day simply outlawed the growing of hemp altogether.This has had a devastating effect on the rope making industry but not really done much harm to the drug producers. The law needs to be repealed and reworded,hardly a gargantuan task.

[emdee]

Sure, but they should go even further and legalise the use of marijuana. Then they could tax it as they do alcohol, and free up spots in prison for violent criminals.BTW, I am not a pot smoker, never have been, just pragmatic.

[ajwhit28]

I won't begin to argue the uses and benefits of hemp products. But, why would a highly industrialized country like the U.S. want to infringe on the economics of poorer, and smaller industrialized countries? I believe it would benefit all interests if the U.S. were to continue importing hemp products -- ONLY!!!