Proposal for the Legalization of Hemp in Mexico

What is hemp?

Hemp is one of the earliest domesticated plants known to humankind.  Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties.   Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa var. sativa is the variety grown for industrial use, while C. sativa subsp., indica, typically known as marijuana, generally has poor fiber quality and is primarily used for production of recreational and medicinal drugs.  

The major difference between the two types of plants is the appearance and the amount of THC secreted in a resinous mixture by epidermal hairs called glandular trichomes, although they can also be distinguished genetically.  Oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis approved for industrial hemp production produce only minute amounts of this psychoactive drug, not enough for any physical or psychological effects. Typically, hemp contains below 0.3% THC, while cultivars of Cannabis grown for marijuana can contain anywhere from 2% to over 20%.

Hemp Today Around the World

Only recently, in the early 1900’s was it made illegal around the world following the lead of the United States.  It is ironic considering that United States Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp, used products made from hemp, and even wrote the United States Consitution on hemp and under pressure from John D. Rockefeller and his petroleum empire did the US decide that hemp was dangerous for America and the world. 

Despite it being made illegal in 1937 under the Marijuana Tax Act, the US government ran a nationwide campaign to grow hemp for use in World War II.  That campaign was called Hemp For Victory.  While more hemp is exported to the United States than to any other country, the United States Government does not consistently distinguish between marijuana and the non-psychoactive Cannabis used for industrial and commercial purposes. 

The laws in the US are on the verge of changing.  Since 19XX, 15 US states have legalized medicinal marijuana and popular support is growing everyday.  More importantly, legislation has been submitted to Congress for debate by the current leading Republican presidentail candidate, Ron Paul.  This proposed legislation is known as H.R. 1831, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011.

In modern times, hemp is being used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food, biofuels, biomass, offering an envrionmentally friendly alternative to all petroleum biproducts.  Today the world leading producer of hemp is China with smaller production in Canada, England, Germany, and Eastern European nations, Australia, Chile and North Korea.  

UK-based Lotus began work a hemp-based car and released it into production and in Canada , an automobile called the Kestrel being produced for release by Motive Industries in 2012 which will be an electric car made of hemp composite and weighing only 2500 pounds .

Mercedes Benz of Germany has recently begun manufacturing automobile bodies and dashboards made from hemp.

Why Hemp?

Hemp is one of the faster growing biomasses known, producing up to 25 tonnes of dry matter per hectare per year. A normal average yield in large scale modern agriculture is about 2.5–3.5 t/ac (air dry stem yields of dry, retted stalks per acre at 12% moisture).  Approximately, one tonne of bast fiber and 2–3 tonnes of core material can be decorticated from 3–4 tonnes of good quality, dry retted straw.

It is very environmentally friendly as it requires few pesticides and no herbicides.  Results indicate that high yield of hemp may require high total nutrient levels (field plus fertilizer nutrients) similar to a high yielding wheat crop.

Fuel - Unlike oil, coal, natural gas or nuclear fuels, hemp is a biodegradable, renewable resource that could supply us with raw materials for thousands of years, without changing our climate and without producing waste that remains radioactive for millions of years. 

Plastics - Thousands of products made from petroleum-based plastics can be produced from hemp-based composites to create strong, durable and environmentally-friendly plastic substitutes.

Textiles - Many textile products (shirts, jackets, pants, backpacks, etc.) made from 100% hemp are now available.  It is frost tolerant, requires only moderate amounts of water, and could grow in all 32 states on Mexico.  On an annual basis, 1 acre of hemp will produce as much fiber as 2 to 3 acres of cotton, and as much paper as 2 to 4 acres of trees.  Hemp fiber is stronger and softer than cotton, lasts twice as long as cotton, and will not mildew.  Hemp requires no pesticides, no herbicides, and only moderate amounts of fertilizer. Using hemp instead of trees will reduce the demand for massive deforestation and counter the environmental damage caused by the petroleum industry.

Why legalize hemp in Mexico?

Hemp would provide Mexico with a completely new industry which could generate incomes for rural families and small businesses in all 32 states of the Republic. Hemp would be an enormous source of clean energy and clean industry and would actually reverse the environmental damage caused by the petroleum industry which contaminates the air, land, and sea through all phases of use.  Other reasons to legalize hemp would be that it would:

• Create productive use of both public and private land.  
• Be used to produce non-toxic diesel and ethanol fuel and lubricating oil  enabling nearly every automobile, train, plane, or fuel burning mechanical device can run on hemp fuel.
• Grow in every state from Baja California to Estado de Mexico to Chihuahua and Chiapas.
• Yield from three to six tons per acre on any land that will grow corn, wheat, or oats.
• Be planted after other crops are in as it has a short growing season, leaving the soil in perfect condition for next year's crop.  The dense shock of leaves, eight to twelve feet above the ground, chokes out weeds.

Benefits to Municipal, State, and Federal Governments

A small fee for licensing the production and distribution of this new crop and energy source would create revenues for city and state governments fighting budget deficits.

As a domestically grown alternative biofuel, hemp could provide Mexico with an alternative to decreasing petroleum production by PEMEX.  (It should be no secret that oil production in Mexico peaked around 2000 just as it did in the US in the early 1970’s.  It is not for a lack of investment and technology nor education.  The alternative is to continue increasing the cost of PEMEX gasoline until the economy screaches to a halt and the people revolt.)

The new hemp industry, from farming to plastics to energy, would create hundreds of thousands of sustainable jobs across the country for many years to come.  This would reduce the flow of unemployed farmers to the United States and to the overcrowded cities across Mexico, thereby undercutting the source of labor for the drug, prostitution, and human trafficking that has plagued Mexico for the past 20 years. 

Benefits to Farmers and Small Businesses

Confining licenses to citizens and chartered small businesses would promote sustainable jobs for farmers and millions of entrepreneurs across the country and facilitate financial independence for creative clean energy entrepreneurs.  

Farmers could distill ethanol from hemp on their own lands, reducing the cost of cultivating and transporting their harvest.  Farmers could also use the biomass leftover from their harvest as a source of feedstock for local electricity production, reducing utility costs.  Some farmers could even sell their excess energy and fuel capacity to other neigboring farmers, creating more locally sustainable economies.

Hemp for Victory in Mexico

By legalizing hemp cultivation now, Mexico has the opportunity to tap into the export market and gain a foothold in North, Central, and South America.  Failure to repeal Hemp Prohibition will result in the continued decline of the American economy and a significant economic and environmental opportunity will be lost. 

If a fossil fuel as dangerous as petroleum can be used, then surely utilization of industrial hemp cannot be denied.  There is no logic which can block legislation to legalize a plant, only twisted politics.

Like no other time in history, modern Mexico suffers from a lack of domestic clean energy production, unprecedented personal and governmental debt, and a destitute agricultural community. 

What Can You Do to Support the Movement to Legalize Hemp?

Mexicans concerned about jobs, emmigration, drug trafficking, energy, pollution, war, and economic prosperity, must ACT NOW.  Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn can be used to garner support for courageous local politicians seeking true change in difficult economic times.  

Twitter hastags: #hemp4victory #hemp4fuel