Marijuana Money & The Environment

Submitted by BenReilly on Mon, 01/25/2010 - 12:51pm
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Its funny that while the United States appear to be harder on marijuana at first glance, they are actually progressing faster that one might think. Many states have introduced decriminalization bills and are moving towards more marijuana friendly laws. Shouldn't Canada be having the same discussions and moving in the same direction? Weren't our legislators having these same talks only a few years ago? Now that the United States is finally moving towards ending prohibition Canada should be looking to do the same thing. Imagine the revenues of marijuana sales and taxes on those sales in Canada and the trading potential between nations. With marijuana legalized then the hemp farmers would also be unrestricted to grow hemp, arguably one of the most useful plants on the face of the earth. Environmentalists rejoice! Industrial hemp production means less forests will be clear cut and less habitats destroyed. Farmers will not need to use harmful chemicals to produce their hemp crops and will be contributing to the growth of the green economy at the same time. Hemp paper, plastic and cloth production represent the creation of new, innovative industries at a time when the economy is hurting and job creation is at the top of every political party's priorities. It's time for Canada to be a little more progressive, theres money to be made and empires to be built.

Comments

Hemp farming

Submitted by Sharon on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 5:00pm.

It is legal to grow hemp in Canada. The one hemp farmer that I have some personal knowledge of is growing it for animal bedding. That is the only market he has found for it. There are some small niche markets that are producing food and health products as well.

When the big industries in the states pushed for a ban on marijuana that would include cannabis for medicing and hemp for industrial purposes, their intent was to replace it with products that they made themselves.

Papermills are built to deal with wood fibre, not hemp. Their would likely have to be a huge refit in the industry.

The entire textile industry has been outsourced to Asia and it focused on cheap. That means man-made fibres, not natural. People are spoiled. Hemp doesn't come out of the dryer smooth and ready to wear. Who's got time to go back to ironing their clothes.

Ropes, tarps, bags, all made from plastic now. Hemp ropes rot, so do the tarps. Burlap bags, haven't seen those for awhile either.

In the time that has elapsed since prohibition began, the big plastic and chemical industries have done their best to supplant hemp in industrial uses.