Hemp

[the.fee.fairy]

Never did get to find out whether it was any good - dad composted it

I'll have to plant some more bird seed next year and find out then

Does anyone know how to use the fibres to make cotton-type things? I like the idea of growing a shirt like Muddy!

[bwaymark]

I've got a hemp wallet that has been harder wearing than anyother wallet I've had.... however, on my way back home to Canada for a visit I went through the US and suddenly started getting nervous that it'd land me in trouble enterting the US.... considering that they are now finger printing and photographing everyone who enters the country, I'd to think what happens if you get busted while in the country! So if you go to America it might be worth checking its legal status....


... I've also recently bought some hemp seed oil, which can be used much like olive oil, and its fantastic! Great for salads, great for popping popcorn... and I generally think all this hemp-mania and hemp-is-a-the-cure for everything movement is a load of snake oil selling bollocks, but I reckon its good for oil and good clothe.....

[the.fee.fairy]

there is evidence that Marijuana is good for a lot of things. I used to know an epileptic who used it to control his brain waves, and an asthmatic who used it to stave off attacks (its a more effective bronchial dilator than any of the prescribed drugs - hence the munchies).

So i do believe that its worth looking into as a wonder-product. however, there is always the risks that it can be mis-used and abused just the same as any other drug.

And it does make good clothing and cookies!

[caithnesscrofter]

Cannabis Sativa is a herbaceous plant. It has many uses, industrial, medicinal, culinary, several others.

Fact is, it is already known as a "wonder plant" and has been used as such for thousands of years the world round. I have a very good idea why it IS illegal now though.

it is not physically addictive, although, one might say it is psychologically addictive... which is clearly not the same ball of wax. Tea, coffee and chocolate are far more addictive and are misused everyday.

[the.fee.fairy]

and nicotine and alcohol!

In fact, Nicotine and alcohol are more deadly than THC. If you were to ingest pure nicotine, your body would be in serious trouble. Ingest pure alcohol, same situation. pure THC does not have a fatal effect (or near fatal effect) merely a mildly catatonic one.

[digiveg]

Re. hemp seeds from bird seed, I bought a bag of hemp seed from a pet shop years ago. It was being sold as fish bait. The idea was that you boiled it, the seeds would split - thus releasing the flavour. The weird thing was, the fish that was supposed to find it irresistable was...the roach! I couldn't believe it. Anyway, having no need to disturb the local roaches, I put one handful after another into the plastic lid of my brother's stereo system and shook it. All the tiny little bits of leaf covering the seeds was shaken loose and stuck to the plastic through static. Then it was easy to collect, and ker-pow! Totally zonked through something I'd bought legally.

I went on a loooong walk with some friends soon after that with all the seeds - we must have had over 20,000 of them. We just scattered handfuls around as we walked along some lovely public footpaths in Kent. Then we went back in the late summer to see the result...

...which was Just Fine. Possibly a .5% germination rate, but then as it's a weed (!) it did pretty well wherever it happened to get going. So, we had about 100 5-6ft plants to bring home. Tough, but we figured we just HAD to do it.

Later long-term studies (!) impressed upon me that, regardless of its origins, you've gotta genetically remove the THC from this one, or it's going to be down there somewhere, ho ho. The stuff I grew was basically for making rope - or for making teenagers hopelessly stoned!

I don't smoke it any more - haven't for years. But have many happy memories...I think...hmmm...