Hemp Talk

Hemp legalization closer to reality?

2009-10-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

California is ready to grow green

When most people think about hemp, they don't realize that hemp and marijuana are not the exact same plant, but very different variations of a related plant.

Nonetheless, marijuana might might just be hemp's best friend.

With a growing movement in California to legalize marijuana, it seems hemp legalization cannot be that far behind if California voters make marijuana legal via proposition in 2010.

Where's the hemp: Santa Anita Mall

2009-06-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

Et tu Vans?

I really need a new pair of street shoes. So I thought I would give the mall in Santa Anita one last chance to find some hemp shoes.

I've stopped here in the past searching for organic clothing - whether hemp, organic cotton, or bamboo in the past. Maybe its the economy, but I didn't see hardly anything that was a weed - anything organically grown.

Even worse, the Vans store - which has normally offered some hemp shoes - didn't offer any hemp shoes any longer. All of them, they told me, have been shipped to the outlet stores.

Bummer, unless a Vans outlet store is in your vicinity.

Anyway, makes me think that I'm going to have to pick up those hemp shoes from Neo 39 before they are also gone.

My future black hemp shoes at Neo 39?

2009-06-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

Has YT found what he's looking for?

Found several pairs of hemp shoes at Neo 39, but only one of them was black - a pair of Saucony's. Sure wish I could find a wider selection of hemp shoes in Old Town.

Id stop by the Vans store again, but I'm still mad after my last Vans shopping trip. Of course, this trip wasn't much better. Fricken sale's people don't even know they have hemp.

Nonetheless, I think the Sauconys might work, but I have to come back and try them on with shorts.

Do you wear weed? Check out more of YT's hemp adventures at Iwearweed.com.

Stinky hemp shoes

2009-05-14T10:09:00.001-07:00

Smell resistance?

I have sweaty feet, and sweat means stink. Thus, I thought that hemp shoes might alleviate this nuisance. Unfortunately, one pair of my hemp shoes is the stinkiest pair I currently own. Now, perhaps, this is much more about the sole of the shoe, which is not made of hemp, and it has nothing to do with the hemp at all.

Moreover, I have a few other pairs of hemp shoes as well that are not stinky. Nonetheless, I've noticed nothing about my hemp shoes that makes me believe that hemp shoes fight foot odor better than any other kind of shoe.

Still, that was a minor and insignificant reason for my hemp shoe purchases.

Wanted: Black hemp shoes

2009-05-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

Should I get them?

Damn it.

I went to the Vans store in Old Town Pasadena to check out some shoes. They had this new pair of hemp shoes, but they were brown and I'm looking for black shoes.

So, I asked the salesperson if they had them in black. "I don't think they make them in black," she replied.

Thus, today, I almost bought these brown hemp shoes at the Vans Store. Thankfully, I got caught up at Barneys in Old Town Pasadena and had a few too many.

Fortunately, however, I came home and checked out the Van's website and found these black hemp shoes.

Anybody else shopping for black hemp shoes?

Hemp Legalization: Let's grow up America

2009-05-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

The dangers of hemp?

These are some of my hemp shoes. Speaking of hemp shoes, I just saw a really cool pair yesterday at the Van's Store in Old Town Pasadena.

Anyway. So, let's roll some hemp and smoke it.

Feel better?

No. In fact you probably have a headache because hemp is not a drug. Hemp has very little THC, the ingredient in marijuana that makes it a drug worthy of regulation.

Hemp, on the other hand, is used for clothes, food, car parts, etc. and on and on. Hemp is an industrial product. Yet, it is still illegal just because it looks like marijuana. So, only looks matter? Not reality?

Certainly there have been relatively recent studies, such as the infamous University of Wisconsin hemp-hammering study that essentially claims hemp might not be very useful today compared to other crops.

Perhaps. Minimally, nonetheless, hemp is a great organic product that is conducive to other organic crops, minimally. Even the UW study acknowledges that fact.

The point is, legalize it and let's see what happens. It's already a billion+ industry. Yet, American companies have to import hemp because it looks like marijuana?

Let's grow up America, or are we still just skin deep?

Ron Paul seeks to legalize hemp

2009-05-11T10:43:00.001-07:00

Join our hemp legalization campaign

Just watched CNBC's PowerLunch coverage of Ron Paul's attempt to legalize hemp farming in the US. Let's do it people. I'll be posting a link later to the CNBC video segment.

Join our campaign to legalize hemp

Let's start a hemp farm

2009-03-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

Hemp farming

Now that California can essentially legalize the growth of marijuana, why not legalize the growth of hemp? The industrial applications of hemp could make hemp a green cash crop.

Anybody know of any plans out there to legalize hemp farming in California? What about other states? I know North Dakota had a serious hemp legalization movement at one time?

Also, join our campaign to legalize hemp farming.

Another small step for hemp legalization

2009-02-27T08:50:00.000-08:00

A pair of hemp shoes

So, the US government is going to let States decide how they want to manage the laws covering marijuana, particularly medicinal marijuana. And, the move could help develop hemp farming.

While hemp does not contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, it is just as illegal to grow as marijuana.

But none of that might matter any more. If states can license marijuana growers, then it seems there is no reason states couldn't license hemp farming.

With all the environmental problems in the world today, as well as the focus on biomass, it seems that industrial hemp should be given a chance.

Join our hemp legalization campaign.

YT finds hemp in Highland Park

2009-02-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

Sandwich or hemp beer?

Stopped by Gelcos to pick up a Blockbuster for lunch, and I saw this Hemp beer.

Beer. Clothes. Make up. Composites. Food. Fuel. Is there any thing you can't make with hemp?

Hemp on the verge of legalization in California?

2009-02-24T12:42:00.001-08:00

Why is it always about pot?

There is a move in California to legalize marijuana so that it can be taxed by the government, something that would provide a $1 billion in tax revenue for the state according to some projections.

It the legislation were to be successful, it would open the door for hemp farming, a move that could be more conducive than fruit farms and their high water requirements.

Likewise, if the potential of hemp is as great as many speculate, hemp might even generate more revenue than its THC-containing cousin, marijuana. Considering that hemp is highly nutritious, can be made into plastic, cement, composites, clothing - even fuel - isn't it time for change?

Join our hemp legalization campaign.

Latest IWEARWEED.COM t-shirt

2009-02-16T19:10:00.000-08:00

The Founding Founders were hemp farmers

That's right. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew weed. They didn't just grow weed, they wrote about the virtues and importance of hemp to the American economy.

Hemp has played an extremely important role in history. And, despite the fact that you can't even get high if you smoked it, hemp farming is still illegal because it looks like marijuana.

I didn't know looks could kill.

Join our legalize hemp campaign.

YT finds hemp love in Pasadena

2009-02-05T10:57:00.001-08:00

HLP knows what hemp is

As I was getting of the Metro in Highland Park yesterday, some guy asked me if my IWEARWEED.COM shirt was made of hemp. I explained that it was 55 percent hemp and 45 percent organic cotton.

Then he wanted to touch it, so I let him. He was quite impressed.

After than he stared telling me all the things he had heard about hemp, all the possible benefits. He was actually very knowledgeable about the subject and the clear differences between hemp and marijuana.

As we were talking, another dude asked if we were talking about hemp.

Turns out the kid in front was working on a paper about hemp, so the three of us talked about hemp as we walked a few blocks down 57 before heading our separate ways.

Pretty cool.

Unfortunately, we finished the conversation agreeing that the chances of legalization were pretty slim.

So, help us legalize hemp.

YT blows hemp assignment

2009-01-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

I blame it all on the 35er

So, I had to run a few errands yesterday, and I thought I would use the opportunity to promote IWearWeed.com, another piece of the RateYours community.

Anyway, I thought I'd do a random survey asking people if they knew what hemp was and how it was different from its better known relative, marijuana. Essentially, I just wanted to clarify the fact that hemp is used for industrial applications, such as clothes, bioplastics, even food.

Hemp is not a drug. Hemp is, however, real green. Finish: YT blows hemp assignment

YT promotes IWearWeed - kind of

2009-01-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

I blame it all on the 35er

So, I had to run a few errands yesterday, and I thought I would use the opportunity to promote IWearWeed.com.

Hemp is not a drug. Hemp is, however, real green.

Anyway, I asked two people - both knew what hemp was, and I stopped by DSW, to see if they had any hemp products, which they did not.

Actually, I also checked out American Apparel for hemp shirts, but they didn't sell any either, but they did at least sell organic cotton shirts - I'll be printing my first YTsWorld t-shirts on these shirts (Also, for the record, the only place I've found hemp clothes in Old Town is Patagonia, though I've found hemp shoes at multiple places in Old Town, such as the Vans store.).

Then as I was heading back to the office, feeling as if I failed on my hemp quest, which I did, I stopped by the 35er. At the 35er, I thought, I could get at least one picture and interview on hemp, as I decided an anonymous survey was worthless unless I was going to ask hundreds of people.

Story continues on YTsWorld.com, an IWearWeed partner. Click here to finish.

No hemp at DSW

2009-01-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

But good customer service

Since I'm in Paseo, I thought I would stop by DSW, and check their eco-friendly products. Unfortunately, they didn't have any. They used to have some recycled rubber products, but the salesperson couldn't find any in stock, but she did know what hemp was.

YT wonders: Do you know what hemp is

2009-01-12T10:39:00.000-08:00

Its not a drug

So, I have to go to Paseo in Old Town to pick up some shirts. While im out I thought I would do a random survey about hemp.

Thus my survey question is do you know what hemp is?

Finish: YT wonders: Do you know what hemp is

Hemp bioplastics a huge American opportunity?

2008-12-22T14:54:00.000-08:00

Made with plastic composites

When GM debuted the launch of the Chevy Volt at NAIAS a few years ago, it debuted a concept made with composites. Quite simply composites enable shapes that conventional materials cannot replicate. Still, they are too expensive for the mass market today, but most believe that will change in the near future, and many companies are already exploring this opportunity. Nonetheless, what was particularly interesting about the Volt's composites was that they were plastic composites

Hemp based plastic composites, for instance, could represent a significant, green industrial opportunity for America. Hemp, when mixed with wood-pulp based lingen, could create a "strong, nontoxic alternative to petroleum-based plastics" according to researchers.

America has a significant supply of lingen, and America's farming capabilities could bring the best out of hemp, a plant with amazing potential. Lest we forget, hemp was legalized in WWII as part of the war effort.

In addition to bioplastics, clothing, food, etc are other potential applications for hemp. Still, bioplastics alone justify the legalization of hemp, which as we've stated many times, is not a drug. Yet, hemp bioplastics could be just one tiny piece of hemp's commercial and industrial potential.

Bioplastics: Hemp v. corn

2008-11-12T17:28:00.000-08:00

Shouldn't hemp be given a chance

Hemp is an excellent candidate for bioplastics, a growing field with huge upside potential. Yet, America's corny culture seems pent on not just making corn our top animal feedstock and source of biofuels, but also the major source of bioplastics. Unfortunately, corn is not a very environmentally friendly.

Back in the early days of Ford, hemp had already been fashioned into bioplastics by Henry himself, and hemp shows vast potential for this application. Most important, hemp is more green than corn, and is easier to produce organically, although it is not entirely pest resistant as some have claimed.

Hemp might not save the world, but it does have significant potential, probably far more potential than corn. Shouldn't America at least give hemp a shot? Let's legalize hemp farming.

Hemp bricks keep this building cool

2008-11-11T21:18:00.000-08:00

Adnams Brewery distribution center

Brits might know of the Adnams Brewery, but they probably don't know that the Adnams distribution center was built from hemp bricks made from locally-grown hemp lime and chalk. The hemp bricks are energy-efficient to manufacture and they also help regulate the internal temperature of the building.

Adnams invested in machinery to produce a large quantity of hemp bricks, but it was worth it as the bricks keep the building cool enough that air conditioning is never needed.

Hemp insulation and horse bedding

2008-11-10T20:24:00.000-08:00

Isonat insulation

'Isonat is a hemp and recycled cotton product made from hemp grown without the use of herbicides and pesticides. Extracted in an entirely mechanical, chemical free and waste free process, this hemp fiber is used as a top quality insulation and horse bedding.

As an efficient and acoustically-effective insulation, Isonat is sustainable, clean and healthy. You can handle it without gloves, or a mask and it is easy to install in walls or ceilings.

And, when you're done with it, you can simply compost it as it's biodegradable.

Hemp has great automotive potential

2008-11-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

Even Henry Ford loved hemp

Here is Henry Ford taking a hammer to a plastic trunk door that was reinforced with resin stiffened with soybean and hemp.

According to the paper, published via Purdue University, Hemp: A New Crop with New Uses for North America, hemp is a natural for the automotive industry because of "considerable advantages for use in conveyance: low density and weight reduction, favorable benefits (compared to glass fibers), no off-gassing of toxic compounds, and price advantages.

Hemp. It's not just about food. It's not just about clothes. It's not just about beauty products. Hemp offers amazing industrial applications. Recently, Ford has renewed its use of hemp, and other automakers, such as Mercedes, also use hemp for automobiles.

So, why is hemp illegal? Let's legalize hemp farming.

M's Patrol hemp shoes

2008-11-10T18:04:00.001-08:00

Eco-friendly Hemp Shoes

I have two pairs of these M's Patrol shoes from Patagonia, the Alpaca Brown and the Blue. When I first bought these hemp shoes, I wasn't sure if I was going to like them, but I kind of liked the way the looked. More important, I loved the fact that they utilized a significant amount of hemp.

They do feel a bit different when you wear them, and I noticed that as soon as I tried them on, it feels almost as if M's Patrol hemp shoes need to be a bit wider on the bottom.

Anyway, I wore them for about a month, taking them on several long walks, and I was surprised that these green, eco-friendly shoes neither led to foot or back pain. Thus, I picked up another pair in a different color.

I love these green shoes from Patagonia. M's Patrol Hemp shoes might take getting a little used to, but its worth the effort if you care to purchase green, eco-friendly footwear.

Price $85.00

(Click here for more information)

M's Shemp Hemp / Organic Cotton Shirt

2008-11-10T16:24:00.001-08:00

Eco-friendly Hemp/Organic Cotton Shirts

I like to buy hemp clothes whenever I need a new piece of clothing. Since I'm down to basically t-shirts for the summer, I picked up one of these very green short-sleeved shirts as soon as I saw it.

On the same day, I bought a similar shirt, the Hemphasis hemp shirt. Since the Hemphasis is made of 100 percent hemp, it's not the perfect short-sleeved shirt for hot summer days. The hemp/organic cotton Shemp shirt, on the other hand, is a perfect summer shirt.

This Shemp hemp/organic cotton shirt might have a funny name, but its a great green shirt even for the hot Southern California summers I journey through every year.

Price $70.00

(Click here for more information)

Bring the salsa, hemp tortilla chips!

2008-11-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

Hemp Tortilla Chips by Trader Joes

Healthy tortilla chips? Say it isn't so! Well, hemp makes these tortilla chips a great, healthy snack. While these hemp tortilla chips go well with salsa, I almost prefer them more as a cracker substitute. In fact, they go great with hummus!

Kudos to Trader Joes for supporting hemp products!