BC is burning. Forests all over the world are in flames right now. The air pollution from man-made industry and carbon emissions being dumped into the atmosphere has devastating effects felt the most today in third world countries. According to the annual State of the Global Air Report published by the Health Effects Institute (HEI), 95 percent of the planet’s population are breathing unhealthy air.
It’s very easy to look at the world and the direction it’s heading with fear and dread. However, I believe that hope still exists.
What we need to do is examine all the options to find a game changer to save the planet and reverse the damage we have done… I think we should look to cannabis.
I am actually being serious and I don’t mean this with any disrespect whatsoever. Forest fires displace thousands of people every year and air pollution–related death rates rise at horrifying rates; I know this. However, cannabis could work in a variety of ways and considering the state of the environment, its time to look at this seriously.
Cannabis acts as a carbon sink
A carbon sink is a natural system that sucks carbon out of the soil and the atmosphere and stores it. Our biggest natural carbon sinks are the ocean, the plants and soil. Thanks to deforestation and the increase in greenhouse gasses, a vicious cycle of climate change has been sped up. So, in order to clean the air quickly, we need to plant hemp EVERYWHERE.
A study on The Role of Industrial Hemp in Carbon Farming was conducted by James Vosper BSCHons, FRGS at GoodEarth Resources PTY Ltd. The study was conducted to help the Austrailian Government reduce their global emissions and what was found was the ideal solution environmentally and economically.
The Science behind it
Hemp works as one of the best plant carbon sinks because of its growth rate, molecular makeup and the biomass, or weight, of the cannabis stalks.
The cellulose content in industrial hemp is very high and it gets displaced with a lot of the carbon it takes out of the atmosphere.
Through photosynthesis, that carbon permanently bonds to the molecules, thus, any concern about contaminating its surrounding environment is completely eliminated. The process of c02 displacement from hemp is so prominent and undeniable, it can be measured by weight in dry stalk left out.
Furthermore, this hemp can still be used.
The chemical makeup of cannabis is truly incredible and we could use it to replace all oil based and plastic products. From the moment it is planted, hemp will begin removing c02 from the soil and air, locking it in. These fibers can be used in everything from building materials, everyday household items, cosmetics and even in cars.
BMW has already begun creating faster cars using hemp for replacing parts. After all, a lighter car produces better fuel efficiency.
I will admit that to a conservative person avoiding cannabis, seeing hemp plants filling every green space might be a bit hard to process positively.
But, Vancouver Island is getting drier and the fires keep on burning. The state of the climate and the damage that has been done to the planet is unacceptable. If we want to do something about it, we should seriously consider planting hemp everywhere.