Pubdate: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA) Copyright: 2009 Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://www.newsreview.com/chico/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559 Author: Curt R. Larsen Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n1077/a03.html THE MANY USES OF HEMP Re "Weed is winning" (From This Corner, by Robert Speer, Dec. 3): Hemp is used for making a durable cloth (dating back to ship sails and still used in Great Britain on their historical ships for rope rigging). Cannabis plants produce more plant fiber per acre than trees do and can grow faster than trees when it comes to the time between planting and full-growth harvest. The cannabis plant has a higher sugar content than even cane sugar and can be made into ethanol or even biodiesel. Add soap, as well! If people could see past the stigma of the medical and recreational uses of marijuana to these alternate uses, maybe even more revenue can be generated to help out with the state's deficit. Curt R. Larsen Chico - --- MAP posted-by: Doug