General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCongress just voted to legalize hemp
Congress just voted to legalize hemp
The bill wont legalize marijuana for recreational or medical uses, but allows non-psychoactive forms of cannabis.
By German Lopez@germanrlopezgerman.lopez@vox.com Dec 12, 2018, 4:16pm EST
With a push from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Congress just voted to legalize hemp.
Hemp is derived from the cannabis plant, but it doesnt get you high. Instead, its typically used for its fiber to make all kinds of products food, paper, cardboard, carpets, clothes, rope, and more.
But hemp production and sales have historically been banned under federal drug laws that also prohibit marijuana. (You might see some hemp products in some places in the US, but those usually come from technically illegal sources, outside the country, or places that got narrow exceptions under recent pilot programs.) The bill passed by Congress wont legalize pot for recreational or medical uses; it only deals with hemp.
McConnell (R-KY), along with Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), introduced the bill earlier this year. It was wrapped into the broader farm bill, which mostly deals with agriculture subsidies and food assistance programs, and passed with that legislation. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.
more...
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/12/18136408/congress-hemp-marijuana-legalization-farm-bill
Phoenix61
(17,019 posts)Hemp fibers make incredibly soft fabric. The plant is much easier on the environment to grow than cotton.
Response to Phoenix61 (Reply #1)
linuxuser3 This message was self-deleted by its author.
RT Atlanta
(2,517 posts)Hope this will be signed into law.
uponit7771
(90,363 posts)Caliman73
(11,744 posts)Like Bohner is doing now with cannabis. Large corporations are positioning themselves to make a killing off of psychoactive marijuana.
I have said, the moment that Exxon-Mobil figures out how to make money off of the sun, solar power will be "the greatest thing".
Eyeball_Kid
(7,434 posts)Some historians will point out that the real reason for pots prohibition is BECAUSE of the serious competition that hemp brought to the plastics and timber industries in the 1930s. The DuPont and Hearst families decided to lobby for the prohibition of pot because they could convince the government that pot and hemp were virtually identical, so both must be prohibited. Recall that Henry Ford was using hemp in the production of his cars with great success. So they (especially the DuPonts) proceeded to vilify marijuana as a black mans threat to white mens women. The Reefer Madness movie and public service themes then were part of a media propaganda campaign that stigmatized pot as a racially charged societal menace while raking in big profits (from the hemp prohibition) for the Hearsts and the DuPonts.
ecstatic
(32,731 posts)Where Boehner & Co. are encouraging people to invest in the marijuana industry? It's all coming together now...
Hassler
(3,390 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)They only vote for things that benefits them, usually financially.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Plus, it grows like a weed, no real need to over fertilize or water. Could become a big crop that supplies several industries. With tobacco declining, North Carolina certainly would want it, the stuff grows in abundance there in the wild.
BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)The GOP never wanted to be associated with it in the past due to the confusion with the drug business. That is why I think they must be personally benefiting from it financially for them to do an about face.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Even conservative states voters are approving Medical Marijuana. Next typically come General decriminalization for several years, then legalization. Fighting against weed is a losing battle and even repugs are smart enough to know that.
Volaris
(10,274 posts)I've read George Washington grew it as a cash crop to make rope with (for ship rigging that America's new Navy would need).
Anymore, I'm under the impression that we can make damn plastics from the oil...and it pretty much will grow everywhere you plant it since it's A WEED.
If we invest in this as a technological (Instead of just a pharmacological) base, it potentially could be worth billions to America's farmers.
Not happy it took a GOP Congress to do this, but I'll take it.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)The GOP can get away with taking the previously forbidden leapt forward, democrats get hammered when our party does it. Nixon went to China When they were an archenemy of ours, any democratic President that tried that would have been called a traitor and got impeached.
Volaris
(10,274 posts)I'm wondering if we should start ignoring thise kinds of threats as the impotent raging of an about -to- be- relagated-to-regional-status political party heh
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Volaris
(10,274 posts)The more the GOP will be exposed for the criminal cabal they actually are, and when enough people get woke we will win.
Roland99
(53,342 posts)Surprised it took him this long
Gotta be a financial angle for him
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)Drove thu there while in university in KY.
Duppers
(28,127 posts)Ya nailed it.
Andy823
(11,495 posts)The basics: Hemp can provide two types of fuel.
1. Hemp biodiesel made from the oil of the (pressed) hemp seed.
2. Hemp ethanol/methanol made from the fermented stalk.
shanti
(21,675 posts)Hemp is such a versatile plant. It can replace wood, cotton, and other fibers in so many ways! I had some hemp clothing before. Very pricey, but hemp wears like iron.
Now, they just need to legalize cannabis.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)They were soft, but wore like iron. Kept their color and shape after years of use.
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)I'll smoke to that!
c-rational
(2,595 posts)LunaSea
(2,895 posts)GoCubsGo
(32,088 posts)It's about time!
elmac
(4,642 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)As an ag major, hemp very useful but is no wonder plant. It will not be a major fuel provider as biofuels are not competitive with wind and solar. It will not replace cotton as a major fiber crop due to the increased processing needed. At best it will compete against high quality Linen, which admittedly is perhaps even better than wool and both hemp and linen are way superior to cotton. But way more expensive to produce. But like Linen, a high quality shirt or sheets made of it will last a lifetime. But most clothing will still be cotton.
That said it will be a nice addition to the crops of farmers in the Southeast who do not have the advantage of growing huge qualities wheat, barley or other northern grains in a 3 crop in 2 year rotation like in the Midwest or upper south.
Liberty Belle
(9,535 posts)I confirmed this today with a spokesman from the hemp industry who pitched me on the story idea.
a kennedy
(29,706 posts)ah, ya EVER try to smoke it??? This is pretty good news indeed.....