Our group chose non-food agriculture as our topic, from there deciding to focus on the legalization of industrial Hemp at the federal level. Initially, our ideas for the project involved educating the public by contacting a variety of political representatives around which to base an informative panel where we would draft a variety of questions that they could then respond to. From the lack of responses that we received, it was easy to see the difficulties that accompany the bureaucratic red tape of the political system, just in response time alone. As a result, we were forced to adapt our project in a new way, in order to create an outcome that could achieve the same result. Throughout this project, collective deliberation within our group was well-facilitated, and our project benefitted as a result. The group dynamic was continuously positive, the delegation of tasks among our group members was easily-implemented, and our project took shape quickly after our short setback.
Our goal with this project was to educate the public on the wide array of benefits that can be derived from industrial Hemp, and encourage the public to exercise their individual rights to express their interest in the legalization of industrial Hemp at the federal level. In order to facilitate this, we created an informative and interactive “whiteboard” YouTube video, highlighting the benefits of industrial Hemp while informing the viewer of actions that they could take in order to effect change in the legalization of this non-food agricultural product.
Most commonly, Hemp is utilized in the creation of woven textiles, environmentally-safe building materials, as well as processed for use in nutritious foods, such as milk and oils. Hemp flowers too, can be used in the production of cannabidiols, believed to treat a variety of medical conditions. Although the use of Hemp is becoming increasingly more common across the United States, federal drug laws have lumped industrial Hemp and recreational cannabis into the same category, and Hemp remains on the list of controlled substances, federally indistinguishable from recreational cannabis. In reality, these plants are distinctive in their chemical make-up, function, and appearance. As a result, there is still much to be done at both the state and the federal level in order to create legal access for this product at a national level. Legalization of industrial Hemp is necessary, for a variety of reasons, primarily for the benefit of individuals throughout the United States.
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Currently there are two bills moving through Congress that would legalize industrial Hemp nationally: HR 5485 and S2667.
Although states are taking matters into their own hands in passing state legislation legalizing the production and distribution of Hemp, the Hemp industry is still hamstrung by federal restrictions that make transporting Hemp across state lines and interstate sale illegal.
To help ensure our country takes this important step, you can contact your congressional representatives, and ask them to support their chamber’s bill. To find your congressional district’s representative, you can go to: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Additionally, here is our final product! Enjoy!
Mackenzie!
What a creative way to look at hemp!
I think we can all understand the troubles of response and I really like the way that you linked these troubles to bureaucratic red tape. I feel like the way your group adapted was very creative without losing your original focus of making a political difference. It is very cool to see that when you couldn’t get the attention of those in power to help with your educational purposed you sought to educate yourselves, and to use that education to motive people to take action themselves. I think this is a very powerful lesson on the use of collective voice. It is really great how you incorporated the current legislation that affected the issues you were studying so that people would have to tools to take action.
Also your video using the wipeboard was very creative. Hopefully the use of such a popular platform helped you to garner the interest your group was hoping for.
I was wondering if after the project your group felt that it would be possible for hemp to overcome the stigma surrounding it to eventually win its legalization? And while you chose to look past marijuana, do you think recent changes in laws surrounding that will help the future of hemp?
Hi Mackenzie!
I had no idea there so many uses for industrial hemp. I thought that your action project was a well-devised outreach because it included an informative video and ways that the public can get involved. The was appalled that the stigma around the uses of hemp hinders it from becoming a more useful resource to the public. From your video, I learned that regardless of the Farm Bill’s provision that made it legal for research purposes, they still have not distinguished it from cannabis. This seems like a clearly negligent law that restrains the other benefits such as making fibers in clothing, replacing water-intensive cotton products, making paper, and even used in construction materials like floorboards. Furthermore, I learned that hemp insulation products are more energy efficient and nontoxic. All of these factors have me questioning why political obstacles are making it difficult to advance a clearly beneficial resource.