Hemp: A Short History of the Most Misunderstood Plant and Its Uses and Abuses

Dr. Patrick W. Colgan is the director of Research and Natural Lands at
the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Bourrie, active in publishing in Ottawa, has prepared a book of
narrative and advocacy on hemp, otherwise known as marijuana or Cannabis
sativa, from the point of view of economic botany. The first chapter,
“The Plant,” provides historical background. Botanically related to
mulberries and nettles, and originating from central Asia, hemp is a
species with many races, as hemp the fibre or marijuana dependent on
pollen. Found in Chinese and Egyptian archeological sites, hemp was
encouraged by Henry VIII for the production of ropes and became a major
crop—and hence item of trade—in English and French colonies. A
battle during the U.S. Civil war involved a moving breastwork of bales
of hemp. As a drug, hemp has a long history in many cultures, and
Western reports of Mideastern use have been extensive. Termed “reefer
madness” during the 1930s, hemp was associated with Harlem
“tea-pads” and violent crime, and was a victim in the crossfire
resulting from the suppression of illicit drugs. In the United States,
hemp remains bound to this “war on drugs,” while in Canada some
leniency has modified proceedings. Drug tests have raised questions of
personal autonomy. In both countries, hemp as a crop has been staging a
comeback as a textile and weed-smothering crop.

The second chapter, “Uses for Cannabis,” reveals an astonishing
number of applications. As an oil or protein, hemp can be an ingredient
of ice cream. As a fiber, it can be used as insulation, soaps, and
alternative fuels. And, of course, there are medical applications. In
the third chapter, “Defying the (U.S.) Drug Enforcement
Administration: The Fight for Cannabis,” the advocacy begins. There
are accounts of the strategies of growers, operations of the DEA, legal
contests, and, in Canada, the Human Rights Act. Even NAFTA is invoked.
The final chapter, “Growing Your Own,” is a manual of tips,
including urinating about an outdoors site to avert larger animals.

An appendix provides summaries of hemp industries and marijuana laws by
country, as well as a list of pertinent websites. The text moves along
steadily, supported by occasional helpful illustrations. This book is a
fascinating read.