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History of Hemp

Although Alterna would love to take credit for the initial discovery of hemp and its vast uses, hemp has been a widely recognized industrial source for many centuries. Hemp Background A distant cousin plant to marijuana, industrial hemp is drug-free. Hemp (also known as Cannabis Sativa, which is Latin for many uses) is a non-hallucinogenic, Asian plant that is generally cultivated for fiber. Recognized as one of the world's most valuable resources, hemp can be used to produce more than 25,000 products ranging from personal care products, fuel, foodstuffs, paper, textiles, lumber, to much more. Although hemp is currently a very topical issue, the history of its industrial use is far from breaking news. Dating back more than 6,000 (some historians say 10,000) years ago, hemp fiber was first used in China for paper and cloth, while the hemp seed was used for food and oil. As the seeds and knowledge spread from Asia to Europe, and the North American colonies, use of the versatile hemp fiber grew like wildfire, and soon hemp became an indispensable raw material for many nations.
Hemp Facts Industrial hemp is drug-free Under federal law it is illegal to cultivate hemp with out local and Federal permits in the U.S. but it is legal to import it. "Sterile hemp seeds are specifically not excluded from the definition of 'marijuana' and are not controlled substances under federal law." Public Law 91-513, section 102 (15). Hemp seed oil is one of the richest sources of essential fatty acids, essential amino acids and other nutrients responsible for healthy skin and hair. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were hemp farmers. Henry Ford used hemp to build and fuel early Ford automobiles. The first drafts of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were printed on hemp paper. Even though the U.S. government encouraged American farmers to grow hemp for WWII and had even accepted it as payment of taxes in Colonial America, it is now prohibited to grow hemp in the United States. The first pairs of Levi's jeans were made of the durable hemp fiber. The writings of Confucius and Lao Tsu were transcribed on hemp paper. For centuries, Bibles and illuminated manuscripts were printed on hemp paper. The hemp seed, like the soybean, can be processed into many nutritious food products. Hemp seed is a nutritious food source, high in protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and Vitamin A. Twenty-nine countries including France (Alterna's hemp seed oil source), Canada, England, Germany and China legally produce industrial hemp. All members of the Group of Seven Industrialized Nations permit hemp cultivation except one-the United States. The cultivation of industrial hemp could help to preserve the earth's natural resources. Hemp is a quickly renewable resource in compariso n to trees (90 days vs. 70 years in some cases.) 10,000 acres of hemp can prod uce as much paper as 40,000 acres of trees. The process of turning hemp into paper requires fewer caustic and toxic chemicals than paper production from trees, thus reducing pollution. Hemp requires no herbicides or pesticides for cultivation and naturally re-fertilizes the soil for future crops.
Hemp Bandwagon Alterna is not alone as a hemp industrialist. Couture designers Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein have made hemp clothing. The Gap™, Adidas™, Vans™, and the Body Shop™, have used hemp in some of their products. Mercedes Benz™ has used it in car doors, trunks and roves. The hemp foodstuff business is flourishing with companies like Hempola, which manufactures hemp seed cooking oil, hemp vitamin supplements, hemp baking flour, hemp oil salad dressings, and more. Many American farmers feed their livestock hemp meal imported from Canada's largest hemp importer, Kenex, which also imports livestock bedding and birdseed into the U.S. Environmental Benefits Industrial hemp has substantial environmental benefits and could help preserve the earth's natural resources. Hemp is grown with little or no herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides commonly used by other crop farmers, which contaminate our nation's ground water. The crop's deep root system also aerates the soil so it functions as a great rotation crop. Hemp's rapid growth and dense foliage inhibits weed growth. In addition, hemp is a quickly renewable resource and can be harvested a mere 90 days after planting. Paper-producing trees have a slow growth rate, and take up to 70 years to grow. The facts speak for themselves as 10,000 acres of hemp can produce as much paper as 40,000 acres of trees. Combining these environmental benefits with hemp's 25,000 versatile uses, Alterna deems hemp as the ecologically correct plant of choice.
It is for these reasons that Alterna is committed to making the public aware of hemp's historical and modern day applications in an effort to protect the environment for future generations.