The Miracle Plant Americans Can’t Have

By Published On: 23 September 2011Last Updated: 17 January 2017

It is the world's oldest and most versatile crop. It can be grown without pesticides and herbicides. It's also the single most nutritious food item on the planet. So, what is this miracle plant and why can't Americans have any?

What's in this post

It is the world’s oldest and most versatile crop.  It can be grown without pesticides, herbicides, and with reduced fertilizers.  It uses less water than other crops, prevents soil erosion, adds nutrients back to the soil, and produces oxygen thus lowering Co2 levels in our atmosphere – decreasing global warming.

Besides having an abundance of ecological advantages, it is also one of the single most nutritious food item on the planet.  No other single plant source has all the essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, and complete proteins in as perfect ratios to meet nutritional needs.  Further, it is a great source of dietary fiber (a whopping 35%), calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and in particular vitamin E.  Not to mention it’s low in saturated fat (less than 8%), and because of it’s globulins, it is one of the most easily digested foods as well.

What is this miracle plant?  Industrial Hemp.  And it’s (still) illegal to grow in the United States.  That’s right Americans, no miracle plants for you.

In a new petition to the White House, people are asking that industrial hemp be legalized once again in the US.

With over $419 million in estimated U.S. retail sales, American companies making hemp products have no choice but to import their raw materials because American farmers continue to fear they will be prosecuted due to an outdated federal policy which confuses non-drug industrial hemp with drug varieties of Cannabis.

Fun Fact:  Dr. Bronner’s import 20 tons of hemp oil a year from Canada. That’s a lot of oil.  A lot of amazing oil.

I’ve told you about the amazing power of hemp foods, how you can make stuff with it, and how fashionable hemp has become.  I have even talked about how hemp could help end hunger in America.  And let’s not forget, hemp milk can make a stellar frozen dessert.  We can easily see the nutritional, environmental, and economic value of producing hemp as food and other goods.  Hemp is good for the earth, good for the animals, and good for us.

Head on over and read the White House Petition: Allow Industrial Hemp to be grown in the US again.  There are currently over 6,616 signatures in support for the measure.  Actually, 6,617- I just signed it.

5 Comments

  1. Palmer Frymark January 30, 2012 at 1:44 am - Reply

    This is the perfect blog for anyone who wishes to find out about this subject. You appreciate so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want to! HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for a long time. Excellent stuff, just excellent!

  2. Jen September 27, 2011 at 7:18 am - Reply

    This is a really interesting article. It’s insanity!! What a ridiculous law!

  3. Tim September 25, 2011 at 12:59 am - Reply

    I find it kind of amusing that this article and the article referenced hyped the significance of the ability to lower CO2s with this particularly plant, as all plants do the same thing. Though I agree with the article, this is just odd.

    • KD September 25, 2011 at 11:36 am - Reply

      Tim, I see your point. That said, please do be sure to click the link- it goes into more depth of why I made the statement in the first place. It will make much more sense to you then. :)

  4. Katherine September 24, 2011 at 2:13 pm - Reply

    Great article! It’s time for our government to use some common sense regarding this issue.

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HELLO! I'm KD Angle-Traegner.

Writer, activist, and founder of Four Urban Paws Sanctuary. I’m on a mission to help people live a vegan life. Read more about KD…

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