Hello Prepcast crew. I have just recently gained an interest in preparedness and survival and have enjoyed your podcasts very much, though I dont agree with some of your political views, you offer a great deal of information that cannot be ignored. My question to you is: Have you done any research on the many uses of Hemp? Particularly from the self sufficiency and survival aspect.

If you have heard of Hemp but dont know much about it, let me first say that Hemp is not marijuana, you cannot get high from Hemp or Hemp seed. Its is in the same species as marijuana but completely different, just like all dogs are from the same species yet differ greatly in temperments and ability. Hemp is technically a weed that can grow virtually anywhere in the world and it has no pests. Nepalese citizens rely on Hemp for their survival, without it some would die of starvation and exposure. Hemp grows as a long, tall single stalk with no branches and each plant is grown inches apart from the other making it a high yield/small space crop.

Hemp can provide clothing and rope (from the stalks outer fibers), a protein rich food (from the seeds) second only to soybean, it provides oil for lamps or any other practical use for oil (from the seeds), and cement (using a mixture of lime & the woody core) it makes a lighter, stronger version of cement which can make a very well insulated building that doesnt require heating or cooling. Hemp seed contains the 20 known amino acids, it contains essential Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats, its high in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

This 1 plant would be very useful for self sufficiency in a post event world but its association and the legality of it keep it from the knowledge of the general public. Every other industrialized nation except the US grows and exports hemp products including seed. If you want to "do you own research" some good documentaries to start with are The Hemp Revolution and The Emperor of Hemp both document early uses of Hemp like the first paper developed in China and its status as a basic world food.

As you haven't checked back into this forum since you posted this, I have to wonder if this is a real post or a political (pro-hemp) statement. Either way...

Sure, any plant that allows you a wide diversity of uses is a good thing, whether it's hemp or cattail.