Being that hemp can grow in almost any condition or environment and grows up to 10x faster than trees. Why don’t we fill the United States with hemp everywhere and build manf. plants to products top quality lumber, fabric, oil, etc and start exporting and getting some of our money back. It would create countless labor, factory, and commerical jobs. Is what’s stopping us the fact that help is considered weed and illegal?

6 Comments so far

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   In the 1930′s, the Federal Government recognized that marijuana (THC up to 20% or more) and industrial hemp (THC<1%) are not the same thing. In 1970 when it was feared that Indians on the Pine Ridge Reservation might pull themselves out of poverty by raising industrial hemp, idiots in the government reclassified it as a potential drug.
   The hemp used in the U.S. is grown in Canada.

2. ---

   Hemp is essentially cannabis or marijuana. The problem with growing it is, it is illegal to use except medical purposes given by your doctor. I have seen this argument many times before. “Legalizing marijuana would stimulate the economy”. Well even if that were true, you would have many who would abuse marijuana. That is why it is outlawed because you have those who would not use it respectfully, not to mention there are issues with the side effects of the drug. The whole point is, its a hazard to those who use it and to those around the person using it. So growing it wouldn’t be best. Its illegal and that is the way it will stay.

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   Yes, possession of the hemp plant and/or any of its constituent parts that contain even a trace of tetra-hydrocannabinol (THC) are prohibited by federal drug laws.
   Some individual states have approved the use of cannabis for medicinal uses, and the federal government (U.S.) has just recently relaxed the enforcement of its stricter controls in those states.
   Hemp fibers that are grown elsewhere are permitted to be used in fabrics, paper-making, etc., but the growing of the plant is still prohibited. With the long-standing public association of cannabis with felonious drug trafficking, it will probably be a long time before the beneficial uses of cannabis will be respected in this country.

4. ---

   that last guy is a dork. every qualm he had with marijuana is similar to issues with alcohol, and actually less severe. “some people could abuse it” can apply to a lot more than intoxicating substances too: fatty foods, religion, electricity, the health care system, welfare, pornography, birth control, loud music, foul language, blah blah blah…
   oh, and there are several established strains of cannabis that are not intoxicating. They can be used as an industrial material without the horrible, society-threatening side effects of pot.
   Legalizing pot is a great idea. The people who argue against it are probably driven more by paranoia and fear than any legitimate practical concern. There are also established companies and political organizations that would object to it out of concern for their ability to make money. But really, screw them. It may not be a big enough change to save the economy or anything, but it could help.

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   Your plan is good, but your reasoning is not.
   Legalization will stimulate the economy because government would be able to transfer the billions they waste annually fighting their war on drugs to much more productive uses.

6. ---

   the flaw is that labor is a lot more expensive in US than it is in Mexico. So your plan would be a waste of money.