Celebrate Hemp History Week 2013!

The 4th Annual Hemp History Week is here!  Hemp History Week is a national grassroots education campaign designed to renew strong support for hemp farming in the US through educational events, a national retailer program,  a restaurant program, local grassroots events, hemp product sampling, media exposure, and petition signing.  Legalizing industrial hemp farming in the US is a cause I feel passionately about and one in which I’ve been advocating on behalf of for many years.

It’s not just the world’s oldest and most versatile crop, hemp is also easy on our eco-system.  Hemp can be grown without pesticides, herbicides, and with reduced fertilizers, unlike other crops (like cotton for instance, which is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world).  Hemp also uses less water than other crops (like cotton) when grown as a fiber.  It prevents soil erosion (by root-binding), adds nutrients back to the soil, and produces oxygen (lowering Co2 levels in our atmosphere – decreasing global warming).

Why should vegans care about hemp?  Growing hemp for food, fuel, textiles, plastic, and other products improves the lives of animals (including us humans).  Hemp is 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 as hemp.  Further hemp 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, hemp is one of the most easily digested foods as well.

Besides having an abundance of ecological advantages, hemp can be made into almost anything.  The plastic in your laptop, your car, and anything else you’re currently looking at right now, could be made of hemp.  In fact, there are many uses for hemp you might not even be aware of.  Did you know hemp could be a major player in the biofuel industry?  True.  The fact is, hemp is an industrial powerhouse, but the potential for its greatness is diminished by its legal status across the globe.

The U.S. government does not distinguish between hemp and drug varieties of cannabis, which are a Schedule I controlled substance.  Hemp is a potential billion dollar industry for the U.S., as well as a plus for the environment and excellent nutrition for our bodies.  The world’s leading hemp producer?  China.

It’s time to bring hemp back to US farms.  US farmers want to join the thriving market for healthy and sustainable hemp.  YDV is celebrating the 4th Annual Hemp History Week to spread the message that we need to change federal policy on industrial hemp to reflect today’s reality and ensure a better tomorrow for American families, farmers, the economy, our planet, and the animals we share this planet with.

During Hemp Week, YDV will focus on hemp, of course!  We’ll talk about food.  We’ll talk nutrition.  We’ll talk fashion.  We’ll talk about industry.  And of course, we’ll share all the hemp celebrations around the country.  Join us!  Hemp is good for the earth, good for the animals, and good for us.