WE DON'T NEED ARAB OIL OR THE GULF WAR...

Hemp Can  Make America  Energy Independent,  and at  the  same
time:

PROTECT OUR  STANDARD OF  LIVING *  CREATE 1000S OF NEW JOBS *
STOP BURNING  FOSSIL FUELS  * REVERSE  THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT *
REDUCE ACID  RAIN AND  SMOG *  SAVE THE  FAMILY  FARM  *  STOP
NUCLEAR POWER * PRESERVE FREEDOM AT HOME

Adapted from "Energy Farming In America" by Lynn Osburn

     We can  be energy  independent without  nuclear power  by
using biomass,  the term  used to  describe  all  biologically
produced matter.  World production  of biomass is estimated at
146 billion metric tons/year, mostly wild plant growth.

     Biomass  conversion   to  fuel  has  proven  economically
feasible in laboratory tests and continuous operation of pilot
plants since  1973. Biomass  has a  heating value of 5000-8000
BTU/lb, with  virtually  no  ash  or  sulfur  produced  during
combustion.

     There is  a farm  crop that  can   proddce all our energy
needs. Hemp  is the  only biomass  resource capable  of making
America energy  independent. Both  Thomas Jefferson and George
Washington grew  hemp. But,  under pressure  from the  oil and
timber industries, our government outlawed it in 1938.

     About 6%  of contiguous  U.S. land  area  cultivated  for
biomass could supply all current demands for oil and gas. This
is the  basis of  the emerging  concept of  "energy  farming,"
wherein farmers  grow and harvest crops for biomass conversion
to fuels.

     We can  meet all  our  energy  needs.  Pyrolysis  is  the
technique  of   applying   high   heat   to   organic   matter
(lignocellulosic materials)  in  the  absence  of  air  or  in
reduced air  to produce  charcoal, condensable organic liquids
(pyrolytic fuel  oil), non-condensable  gasses,  acetic  acid,
acetone and methanol.

     It can be adjusted to favor charcoal, pyrolytic oil, gas,
or methanol, with a 95.5% fuel-to-feed efficiency. It uses the
same technology  now used to process crude fossil fuel oil and
coal.

     Pyrolytic fuel  oil has  similar properties  to #2 and #6
fuel oil  and can  be transported  economically  by  trucking,
creating more jobs for Americans.

     Pyrolysis charcoal  has nearly  the same heating value in
BTU as  coal,  with  virtually  no  sulfur.  Charcoal  can  be
transported by rail to power plants generating electricity.

     Clean energy  for  America:  When  we  use  sulphur  free
charcoal instead of coal, the problems of acid rain will begin
to disappear.  And when the energy crop is growing it takes in
CO2 from  the air,  and releases  oxygen, ss when it is burned
the CO2  released creates a balanced system. Global greenhouse
warming  and   adverse  climactic  change  will  automatically
diminish.

     Hemp is self-fertilizing, pest resistant and can be grown
in rotation  with food  crops or  on marginal  land where food
production is not profitable.

     Saving our  Farms: Farmers  must be  allowed to  grow  an
energy crop  capable of  producing 10  tons per acre in 90-120
days that  can grow in all climactic zones in America. Hemp is
drought resistant,  making it an ideal crop in the dry western
regions of the country.

     Hemp is the number one biomass producer on earth: 10 tons
per acre  in approximately  four months.  It is  a woody plant
containing 77% cellulose. (Wood produces 60% cellulose.)

     This energy  crop can be harvested with equipment readily
available.  It   can  be   "cubed"  by  modifying  hay  cubing
equipment, and  the cubes  are ready  for conversion  with  no
further treatment.

     National Security:  By the  year 2000,  America will have
exhausted 80%  of her  petroleum reserves.  Will we then go to
war with the Arabs for the privilege of driving our cars; will
we stripmine  our land  for coal, and poison our air so we can
drive our  autos an  extra 100 years; will we raze our forests
for our energy needs? Or will reason prevail?

     The argument  against hemp  does not hold up to scrutiny:
hemp grown  for biomass makes very poor grade 'marijuana.' The
20 to  40 million Americans who smoke marijuana would loath to
smoke hemp  grown for  biomass, so  the crop  is worthless  as
marijuana. And prohibitioo itself is unconstitutional.

     There is  THC-free hemp  that could  be grown,  but  even
that is blocked.

     During World  War II,  our supply  of hemp was cut off by
the  Japanese.   The  federal   government  responded  to  the
emergency  by  suspending  marijuana  prohibibiion.  Patriotic
American farmers  were encouraged  to apply  for a  license to
cultivate hemp  and responded  enthusiastically.  Hundreds  of
thousands of acres of hemp were grown.

     It is  time the  government once  again  respond  to  our
economic emergency  as thetheid  in WWII to permit our farmers
to grow  American hemp  so this  mighty nation  can once again
become energy independent and smog free.

     For information  on the  many uses of hemp, send $1 and a
self-addressed  stamped  envelope  to  Business  Alliance  for
Commerce in  Hemp, Box  71093, LA,  CA 90071-0093   213/ 288-
4152.
