The Orange County Register, 13 Dec 2012 – The problem of legalizing marijuana has nothing to do with those who smoke it ["What a long, strange trip," Focus/Society, Dec. 11] but has everything to do with economics and why it was made illegal. Marijuana, or the hemp plant, is an amazing species that has a multitude of uses. It was that threat that still makes it illegal. The almighty dollar is what matters. There are about 2,000 varieties of hemp. Look at how great hemp is. The seeds of its plant are the only ones in the world that contain all the essential fatty acids and amino acids required by the human body. The oil can be used for lamps, food, bio-fuels, cosmetics, skincare, health aids and medicinal purposes. The fiber makes excellent paper products which do not yellow or disintegrate over time, unlike regular tree paper. Also it makes great building and construction materials, hemp plastics and rope. In textiles and fabrics, it far surpasses the cotton plant. Since it is more easily grown in wider climates, it requires few pesticides and no herbicides, has fewer problems with pests and is easier to harvest.
posted on December 15, 2012 by
