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My stoner brother has some conspiracy that the timber and cotton industries are behind the demonisation of hemp. Apparently because hemp can be made into paper

My stoner brother has some conspiracy that the timber and cotton industries are behind the demonisation of hemp. Apparently because hemp can be made into paper and fabric it would put the timber and cotton industries under threat. I never cared enough to look into it, but it wouldn't surprise me if industry lobbying is part of the reason for the suppression of hemp. I don't put too much credence in it though, because hemp is legal to grow in other countries, and it hasn't decimated the timber and cotton industries.

dEnigma 9y ago
Not saying your brother's theory is right, but just because something isn't a real treat doesn't mean it can't be perceived as a threat (and consequently be lobbied against)
take_5 9y ago
My old man worked for DuPont for years and his theory was that they lobbied against hemp because of the competition to the then newly devolved nylon.
- MDib 9y ago
  Here's [1] a good rundown of the conspiracy. To wit, it's a conspiracy of two: DuPont wanting to outlaw hemp which could have provided an alternative to Nylon, and Hearst which was heavily invested in wood-pulping machinery for paper production, again for which hemp was a good alternative. 1. https://www.alternet.org/story/77339/debunking_the_hemp_conspiracy_theory https://www.alternet.org/story/77339/debunking_the_hemp_cons...
  - code_duck 9y ago
    I have trouble with that article due to the tone. There’s no reason to refer to people as ‘potheads’ or mention Jerry Garcia with bitterness and disdain, or at all. It seems the author has an axe to grind with the remnants of 60s culture.
maxerickson 9y ago
Pulpwood is usually the worst market for wood. It takes lower quality wood than other end users, so it is an important market. But pulpwood might sell for $15 a ton while a single high grade log weighing less than a ton might sell for hundreds of dollars. Losing the pulpwood market would mean that the cost mix would shift for other timber products but it wouldn't threaten the industry. I'm not sure that a good, cheap process for turning hemp into paper would be that much of a threat to the pulpwood paper makers. Hemp prices can only go so low before farmers won't plant it. An awful lot of pulp wood isn't competing with corn (and any other agricultural commodity) for space to grow. edit: Here's some global production statistics that back up paper being an important market for wood but not critical: http://www.fao.org/forestry/statistics/80938/en/ http://www.fao.org/forestry/statistics/80938/en/
protomyth 9y ago
He isn't wrong about the Cotton folks as they see hemp as a threat. There is a slight scale difference when great plains farmers (see North Dakota in WWII) can raise a lot of crop. I think its more a unfounded fear then real, but it will probably have a year of lower profits due to novelty when legalized.

dEnigma 9y ago

Not saying your brother's theory is right, but just because something isn't a real treat doesn't mean it can't be perceived as a threat (and consequently be lobbied against)

take_5 9y ago

My old man worked for DuPont for years and his theory was that they lobbied against hemp because of the competition to the then newly devolved nylon.

MDib 9y ago
Here's [1] a good rundown of the conspiracy. To wit, it's a conspiracy of two: DuPont wanting to outlaw hemp which could have provided an alternative to Nylon, and Hearst which was heavily invested in wood-pulping machinery for paper production, again for which hemp was a good alternative. 1. https://www.alternet.org/story/77339/debunking_the_hemp_conspiracy_theory https://www.alternet.org/story/77339/debunking_the_hemp_cons...
- code_duck 9y ago
  I have trouble with that article due to the tone. There’s no reason to refer to people as ‘potheads’ or mention Jerry Garcia with bitterness and disdain, or at all. It seems the author has an axe to grind with the remnants of 60s culture.

maxerickson 9y ago

Pulpwood is usually the worst market for wood. It takes lower quality wood than other end users, so it is an important market. But pulpwood might sell for $15 a ton while a single high grade log weighing less than a ton might sell for hundreds of dollars. Losing the pulpwood market would mean that the cost mix would shift for other timber products but it wouldn't threaten the industry. I'm not sure that a good, cheap process for turning hemp into paper would be that much of a threat to the pulpwood paper makers. Hemp prices can only go so low before farmers won't plant it. An awful lot of pulp wood isn't competing with corn (and any other agricultural commodity) for space to grow. edit: Here's some global production statistics that back up paper being an important market for wood but not critical: http://www.fao.org/forestry/statistics/80938/en/ http://www.fao.org/forestry/statistics/80938/en/

protomyth 9y ago

He isn't wrong about the Cotton folks as they see hemp as a threat. There is a slight scale difference when great plains farmers (see North Dakota in WWII) can raise a lot of crop. I think its more a unfounded fear then real, but it will probably have a year of lower profits due to novelty when legalized.