Drug War Facts: Hemp

Drug facts
Hemp

DRUG WAR FACTS
compiled by Kendra E. Wright and Paul M. Lewin
for Common Sense for Drug Policy, http://www.csdp.org/ 

Updated: January 15, 1999


1. According to David West, Ph.D. , "The THC levels in industrial hemp are
so low that no one could ever get high from smoking it. Moreover, hemp
contains a relatively high percentage of another cannabinoid, CBD, that
actually blocks the marijuana high. Hemp, it turns out, is not only not
marijuana; it could be called 'antimarijuana.'"

 Source: West, David P, Hemp and Marijuana: Myths and Realities, p. 3
 Madison, WI: North American Industrial Hemp Council (1998).

2. Although opponents of hemp production claim that hemp fields will be
used to hide marijuana fields, this is unlikely because cross-pollination
between hemp and marijuana plants would significantly reduce the potency of
the marijuana plant. On March 12, 1998, Canada legalized hemp production
and set a limit of 0.3% THC content that may be present in the plants and
requires that all seeds be certified for THC content.

 Source: West, David P, Hemp and Marijuana: Myths and Realities, p. 4, 21
 Madison, WI: North American Industrial Hemp Council (1998).

3. In a July 1998 study issued by the Center for Business and Economic
Research at the University of Kentucky, researchers concluded that Kentucky
hemp farmers could earn a net profit of $600 per acre for raising certified
seeds, $320 net profit per acre for straw only or straw and grain
production, and $220 net profit per acre for grain only production. The
only crop found to be more profitable was tobacco.

 Source: Tompson, Dr. Eric C., Dr. Mark C. Berger, and Steven N. Allen,
 Economic Impacts of Industrial Hemp in Kentucky, p. 21, Lexington, KY:
 University of Kentucky, Center for Business and Economic Research (1998).

4. In a July 1998 study issued by the Center for Business and Economic
Research at the University of Kentucky, researchers estimated that if
Kentucky again became the main source for industrial hemp seed (as it was
in the past), the state could earn the following economic benefits:

Scenario: Main source for certified industrial seeds only
Full time jobs created: 69
Worker earnings: $1,300,000.00

Scenario: Certified seeds, plus one processing facility
Full time jobs created: 303
Worker earnings: $6,700,000.00	

Scenario: Certified seeds, plus two processing facilities
Full time jobs created: 537
Worker earnings: $12,1000,000.00	

Scenario: Certified seeds, one processing facility, one industrial hemp
paper-pulp plant
Full time jobs created: 771
Worker earnings: $17,600,000.00	

 Source: Tompson, Dr. Eric C., Dr. Mark C. Berger, and Steven N. Allen,
 Economic Impacts of Industrial Hemp in Kentucky, p. iv Lexington, KY:
 University of Kentucky, Center for Business and Economic Research (1998).

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Available online at: http://www.csdp.org/factbook/
Questions, comments or suggestions for additions and modifications
may be addressed to Paul Lewin at: csdp@csdp.org

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