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Matt Clapp

Erdiakoff

English 134

15 November 2017

My Essay Smells Funny

As the human population continues to grow and expand across the surface of the

Earth, the impending danger of the overuse of resources and the destruction of our

environment continues to increase. When referring to the top environmental issues at hand,

many individuals are quick blame the transportation industry or the methane associated

with the meatpacking industry. While these issues are very threatening, it is crucial to

observe other aspects of sustainability in the environment as well. I am referring to the

paper industry, and the use of wood to construct paper. There are many other alternatives

that can be used as the base material in the manufacturing process of paper, however the

best choice, surprisingly, lies within the Cannabis family of the plant spectrum.

Critics of the plant are usually very quick to associate Cannabis with idiot teeneagers who

abuse it for emotional gains. Although this type of use does indeed exist, hemp can be utilized

within many other fields. The main priority that needs to be considered by the general public is

the involvement of the material within the paper industry. Millions of trees are brutally cleared

and harvested for the sole purpose of providing paper. Author Julia Hill passionately states, The

timber industry has become increasingly crafty at repackaging the old destructive

logging-as-usual under new benevolent sounding titles (Hill). It is somewhat ironic, for we as

an American unity are choosing to sacrifice our oxygen supply in order to obtain a material that
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we constantly use and dispose of. One ideal solution to this, if it were to be made legal, is to

replace the material used in the process of making paper to something more sustainable and

reliable. I am referring to hemp. It is not commonly known that hemp is a possible contender for

the paper-manufacturing process, however it has been done before. It makes complete sense. The

average hemp plant, under the correct conditions, can reach full growth in a span of two and a

half to three months. Stalks can reach 15 feet tall in 70-90 growing days (Hemp Facts).

That is an extremely accelerated rate compared to the lifespan of the trees that are currently

accumulated. It would be possible to grow, harvest, and repeat multiple times within a year. The

illegal status of the substance makes it so this cannot be done. In fact, the paper and timber

industry is a large contributor to marijuanas contraband status in the first place.

Toward the beginning of the twentieth century, many new industries were beginning to

blossom and spread all over the continental United States. Two of these industries were

specifically large. With new mechanical innovations and the demand in newspapers

skyrocketing, steel and timber were unstoppable. Before William Randolph Hearst and his

timber company emerged, a decent amount of the paper supply, was manufactured from hemp

either as a portion or entirely. At the time, its possibilities had not quite yet been discovered, so

individuals were oblivious and uncaring of the material their newspaper was made out of. The

industry was growing fast, and Hearst was smart enough to foresee that his company would be in

jeopardy if he let it continue. After the discovery of the effects of the plant, Hearst ran a smear

campaign against the substance, demanding it be illegalized. Stephen Siff aims to describe

current events using his detailed article,The Illegalization of Marijuana, A Brief

History. In it, it is apparent that Hearsts efforts, exploited a new angle during the second half
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of decade: depicting marijuana as the largely unknown drug of murder, torture, and hideous

cruelty (Siff). Although hemp is not quite the same as marijuana, it falls into the general

Cannabis category. Hearsts devious plot worked, and he was able to save the sole thing he cared

for: his profit.

The Hearst scandal was a rough blow to the Cannabis industry. It single-handedly

illegalized hemp and placed a terrible reputation on the industry as a whole. The issue of

hemp being illegal is a major one. Citizens should be able to make their own decisions, as long

as it does not conflict with the safety or comfort of others. Under certain restrictions, Marijuana

and hemp can be beneficial and helpful to the general public. They are not simply being used as

recreational assets, but are being shaped and used in different ways with each coming year. It has

been revealed that side effects of the popular drug involve nothing but minor mental problems,

which can also be applied to various other substances, including coffee, which millions of

Americans consume uncontrollably on a daily basis. There is yet to be a discovery of any

physical or long term consequences. Although it is a federal schedule 1 drug, it is widely used

within medical associations throughout the United States, and is able to treat diseases such as

Cancer and Chronic Seizures. While on the topic of the legal status, Americas own American

Medical Association states that, Marijuanas status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance

should be reviewed "with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and

development of cannabinoid-based medicines (American Medical Association). Basically, the

Hearst incident produced many inclinations that did not even exist.

Although there are many benefactors that are involved with the idea, some may critique

the decision to use hemp as the base for paper for many reasons. In his article in the Modern
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Farmer, Dan Mitchell thoroughly explains some of the disadvantages of growing hemp for

material use. He states that Hemps Demand isnt as high as hemps loudest proponents would

have it (Mitchell). Demand has fallen for the use of hemp in paper, because cheaper, artificial

materials can be used as an alternative for it. However, by using these alternative materials,

buyers are producing an impending strain on the environment. Hemp requires very few

pesticides and almost no herbicides, and can also be cultivated in mass quantities without

producing a threat to our atmosphere. The main key of using hemp in the first place is to create a

sustainable, clean system that harmonizes with the Earth. One other possible issue that arises

involves costs of the project. To convert timber mills into hemp-harvesting plants would require

a sufficient amount of funds. Although this would put a temporary strain on the United States

economic system, the benefit lies within workers. By transforming the existing timber factories,

a considerable amount of jobs would be created and offered to American residents. A final

complaint in regards to the subject revolves around the fact that hemp is seasonal, and cannot be

grown year-round. This means it would have to be mass-produced and stored during its

offseason in the winter. Knowing full well that it would be impossible to produce enough of the

material to store it for the human populations consumption, a plausible compromise is to use

hemp throughout most of the year, and replace it with another sustainable material during its

offseason in the winter. It seems as though the beneficial possibilities severely outweigh the

negative connotations of the proposal.

Overall, there is some blatant evidence as to why marijuana continues to be nationally

illegal. Hemp, on the other hand, is something else entirely. Legalizing it would not make a large

difference amongst drug users, as it does not offer the same effects as marijuana. Although the
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two are extremely similar and fall under the Cannabis family, they are coincidingly different.

For instance, hemp contains little to almost no THC, which is the active ingredient in

marijuana that produces euphoric effects. The human race is rapidly approaching the point of

no return in regards to the environmental impact of the planet. While some individuals rightfully

focus on the more popular issues such as the burning of fossil fuels and the meat industry, it is

equally as important to turn the attention toward other contributing factors as well. According to

Hemphasis, a credible website that gives facts on the material, The pulp and paper industry

is the fifth largest consumer of energy, accounting for 4% of the worlds energy use.

Deforestation simultaneously decreases the net oxygen supply and robs necessary wildlife of its

varying natural habitats. What is going to happen when there are no more trees to cut down?

In conclusion, hemp is not what Hearst originally made it out to be. He exaggerated

it to be a tool that is simply used for unproductive fiends and delinquents. This well-known

herb can be used for a plethora of healthy and environmentally beneficial uses. This is shown

through the increasing legality of the plant. Cannabis is now medically and recreationally legal in

various areas around the country, and it continues to spread its influence. The sick rely on it for

treatment and aid. The endless variations and applicability that marijuana and hemp posses

extends indefinitely. Replacing timber with hemp is simply a small step in the improvement of

our environment and our home.

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Works Cited

Hill, Julia. Getting Burned by the Timber Industry. Getting Burned by the Timber

Industry

www.mit.edu/~thistle/v13/2/timber.html.

What Motivated Marijuana's Outlawing in the U.S. | Marijuana News. CannaCentral,

13 Feb. 2011

www.cannacentral.com/news/what-motivated-marijuanas-outlawing-in-the-u-s/.

The Illegalization of Marijuana: A Brief History. The Illegalization of Marijuana: A

Brief History | Origins:

http://origins.osu.edu/article/illegalization-marijuana-brief-history

Marijuana: Effects, Medical Uses & Legalization. Drugs.com, Drugs.com,

https://www.drugs.com/illicit/marijuana.html

Hemphasis.net ~ Hemp Paper,

http://www.hemphasis.net/Paper/paper.htm

Why Legalized Hemp Will Not Be a Miracle Crop. Modern Farmer, 2 May 2016,

https://modernfarmer.com/2013/10/legal-industrial-hemp-wont-matter/

Hempfarm.org - Hemp Facts,

www.hempfarm.org/Papers/Hemp_Facts.html.