Hemp Could Be Next Biofuel Feedstock
Farmers in the U.S could be growing hemp as a biomass crop, if a federal court rules in favor of two farmers trying to get a ban on the marijuana-related plant lifted.
This story from Biomass Magazine says the new president could also have a hand in lifting that ban:
The U.S. Appeals Court in St. Paul, Minn., heard arguments Nov. 12 by two North Dakota farmers trying to get a lower court’s dismissal of their suit against a federal agency overturned. David Monson, Osnabrock, N.D., and Wayne Hauge, Ray, N.D., have state approval to grow industrial hemp in North Dakota, but are suing the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to get a federal permit to grow industrial hemp. Hemp is related to the illegal drug marijuana and under federal law some of the industrial hemp plant is considered a controlled substance. The three-judge appeals panel will issue a written decision, but that isn’t expected to be available for several months…
[Jim Pillsbury of Framingham, Mass., who is developing hemp for heating pellets and had a Canadian prototype biomass research facility] predicts President-elect’s Barack Obama’s administration will lift the ban on growing hemp in the United States, and pointed out that it’s being grown in many other countries. “The new administration has a solid commitment to bring new and old ideas to the table for renewable energy,” he said. Industrial hemp is an ideal bioenergy, Pillsbury said, citing figures from Canada that show straw yields of 6 tons per hectare (2.47 acres) and 1.5 tons of fiber, in addition to 200 liters (50 gallons) of oil pressed from the seed.
9 Comments »
Alan
I do not use drugs and I don’t even drink alcohol. I think this could very well be the best thing for America. America has been spending too much damn money on wars period. The war on drugs is one of them. Do you have any Idea how much money this country is spending to keep marijuana offenders in prison? I would say at least 40% of prison inmates are in prison for marijuana. I think this drug should have been legalized long ago. This would have saved this country a lot of money. I admit other drugs are dangerous. But, I never have seen any stories in the paper or on the news about anybody going crazy from smoking a joint. Some people say the U.S. won’t legalize it due to the fact that it cannot be taxed. Others say it can’t be patented. We don’t tax or patent corn, tomatoes or apples. So, tell me what is the difference? They all grow from the ground. I can’t believe America has wasted so much of our money to finally admit marijuana is not a bad thing. Last but not least, fuel for automobiles can be made from hemp as well. Even farmers know it would be impossible to grow enough corn to provide the U.S. with fuel. Now our automobile industry is going bankrupt to try to come up with a better solution for fuel to sell more automobiles. Well let’s be fair I think greedy people with NO college education making $35,000 to $75,000 a year backed by unions had a little to do with that as well. But, that is another story.
J. Michels
It does seem encouraging that Obama has backed hemp legislation in the past and even defended medical marijuana use in Oregon; but does anyone think that he will have the wisdom to actually end the war on drugs? Hemp farming will be marginally beneficial if it is regulated as some have proposed, being susceptible to federal bureaucracy and corruption.
On the other hand, following the advice of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) and crippling the finances of terrorists worldwide would make it much easier for our farmers to grow hemp while conserving unimaginable amounts of energy. Not to mention, this would also give us the money to rebuild a domestic manufacturing industry for things like cars–which thanks to hemp, can now be made sustainably.
The problems we are facing require that we change, but that change has the potential to make this nation better than it has ever been. If you support hemp legislation, please don’t forget that the entire War on Drugs is unconstitutional and completely ineffective. We need policies based on scientific facts, not prejudice and fear. To show your support, please sign up with LEAP and/or call your local news provider.
Alan
Dear J. Michels,
I liked the web site and think everyone reading these posts should refer to it for more accurate information from the men in blue. I found it interesting that even police officers agree the war on drugs is a waste of tax payer’s money and prisons are bursting at the seams. I do appreciate their work. I also believe it is very important the harder drugs like (other than marijuana) cocaine, heroin and meth should be kept off the streets. I know what that stuff does to people and it is terrible. I’ve heard about people stealing from their own families and break into other people’s houses just for more. With all due respect, if LEAP wants to force an issue they should think about their effects and reevaluate their plan. I don’t want no crack head busting into my house. I know how it feels. It happened to me six times in five years and the feeling of being violated is unbearable, there is nothing you can do.
J. Michels
Dear Alan,
Thanks for reading my comment, and I’m glad that you found the LEAP website interesting. I do agree with you that cocaine, heroin and meth are addictive and dangerous; but the simple fact is that prohibiting these substances and labeling anyone with a chemical dependency a criminal is inhumane and unconstitutional. The black market our laws created is what forces poor crack and heroin addicts to steal from their families and others, but the Swiss government has already proven that compassionate use programs dramatically reduce crime while forcing people to deal with the real damage they cause. Their citizens just voted to make the experimental heroin treatment permanent by a wide margin, in large part because the youth no longer romanticize these addictive substances.
Additionally, a number of other schedule I drugs including LSD, MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, Ibogaine and DMT have all undergone clinical testing and been proven effective for a wide variety of treatments. These treatments include PTSD, cluster headaches (much worse than migraines), various cancers and, perhaps most importantly, addiction. LEAP advocates treating all drugs as a health issue rather than a criminal problem, and supports policies based on science instead of propaganda. Realistically, I see this as the only way to successfully combat terrorism while furthering the ideals of justice and freedom that our nation claims to stand for.
Lynda Parker
I’m glad to see there is support for this idea. However, it is unfortunate that conversations about hemp often end up being about drugs. Please note: hemp is a nonpsychoactive crop and therefore should not fall into the category with psychoactive substances. This contrast defines the difference between marijuana and industrial hemp. I am an advocate for industrial hemp and work constantly to educate people about this difference. It does not help our effort to continue to use the terms interchangeably.
J. Michels
Dear Lynda,
While I can sympathize with what you are saying, please keep in mind that marijuana became illegal only after hemp threatened to compete with a number of established industries (timber, cotton, chemical and petroleum.) Henry Anslinger, Andrew Mellon, the DuPont brothers and William Randolph Hearst were the leaders of a massive propaganda campaign against ‘marihuana’–a mexican slang term used to confuse people familiar with the useful hemp plant–including members of Congress. They are not two separate species, but since the plant has been domesticated for many thousands of years, different strains have been cultivated for different purposes. Without decriminalizing marijuana, hemp farmers would be forced to buy genetically-altered seeds (quite expensive) every year in order to make sure THC levels didn’t increase from season-to-season. Beyond this, please consider that half of our prison population is there due to illegal drugs–yet every study ever done concludes that alcohol and tobacco are much more addictive and dangerous than most schedule I narcotics. These issues are intertwined and affect each of us much more than meets the eye, and all LEAP is saying is that it’s time to face the facts.
Garry Minor- Columbus Indiana
Hemp industrialization is going to change the way we live! Every aspect of our lives will be improved!
Once we start utilizing it for paper, plastics, fuels, lubricants, textiles, plywood, insulations, paints, varnishes, concretes, structural components, cosmetics, health foods, and medicines, over 25,000 products, our environment and the way we think will begin to change.
Hemp industrialization will create millions of Earth friendly jobs from the farm to the laboratory right here at home. Hemp seed and cannabis medicines will improve our health care system and make it affordable for everyone. The Hemp seed is the single most nutritionally complete food source on Earth. How sad that the “land of the free” is the only major nation not growing it!
LEAP is a great organization!!!
Mike
Great post, thanks for the info… last part makes the most sense though
scott
I’m glad states like Michigan, have opened up their laws to allow medical Marijuana. I was at a local bio-diesel forum a year or two ago, where Mitch Irwin eluded to the legalization of hemp. As the Director of Ag for the state, it is reassuring that we can find open minds in positions of government. With theauto industry leaning toward more plastic body parts (look at them) we may even see the Chemurgy concepts of Henry Ford(Ford), Charles Kettering (GM) and George Washington Carver come to fruition. It will be a demanding transition that will require alot of closed minds to be opened. With the info from LEAP and other professioinals like Doctors we may actually be able to allow free will and commonsense to prevail over the suppression of knowledge and awareness that has been prevalent to date, and we may end up more like places like Switzerland. Go President Obama.
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