by
Paul
Benhaim‘It happened that a Countryman was sowing some hemp seeds in
a field where a Swallow and some other birds were hopping about
picking up their food. “Beware of that man,” quoth the Swallow.
“Why, what is he doing?” said the others. “That is hemp seed he is
sowing; be careful to pick up every one of the seeds, or else you
will repent it.” The birds paid no heed to the Swallow’s words, and
by and by the hemp grew up and was made into cord, and of the
cord nets were made, and many a bird that had despised the
Swallow’s advice was caught in nets made out that very hemp.’
In 1492 Christopher Columbus brought hemp seeds to the
Indians. Jean-Francois Rabelais, a great 16 century French author
said that cannabis was the king of the vegetable world or
‘Pantagruelion’ – meaning ‘feast’ showing that cannabis seeds
were part of a great meal. Throughout the world and throughout
the history, hemp has been used as a staple food. This interesting
pas has led to some interesting stories.
The
Conspiracy
Story
‘It is easier to believe a lie you have heard a thousand times than
a fact you have never heard before.’
In 1937 Mr. DuPont of DuPont Industries patented new
processes for making paper from wood. His company also had
interests in synthetic fibers as well as processing cellulose. Their
aim to replace natural fibers with synthetic was threatened by
hemp. Along comes Mr. Hearst, a friend who was a media giant
with newspapers and interests in the paper industry. Hemp comes
along and, producing four times the amount of pulp in 14 weeks as
30 years worth of trees grown on the same acreage, becomes a
serious contender. As far as I can see they could not monopolise
hemp growing as it was too easy at that time for local producers to
take care of themselves. Nor was it worth throwing away years of
technology and patents directed at using trees for the same end,
trees that were at that time standing in relative abundance.